Alternate Shadows History

2010s

2012

March:

Pantomime 'Beauty Sleeping' at Cuxton School, St Margaret's School.

February:

Pantomime 'Beauty Sleeping' at The Pilgrim School, Riverside School, St William of Perth School.

2011

December:

The annual Variety Show was on 3 December at Cleave Warne Hall.

November:

'Lord Westerton is Dead. Again!' a Pyramid Puzzles murder mystery on 12th and 19th November.

October:

The Battle of the Sexes! An all female cast one-act play and two all male one-act plays, at Cleave Warne Hall.

September:

2011 is Macmillan Cancer Support's anniversary, and to celebrate MHS Homes held a Hollywood Ball, Alternate Shadows participated, posing as paparazzi photographers at a glamorous evening of champagne and showgirls, in true old school Hollywood style.

Held at the Priestfield Conference and Banqueting Centre at Priestfield Stadium,
Gillingham, all proceeds to Macmillan Cancer Support, to help improve the lives of people affected by cancer.

The Autumn Quiz.

July:

2011 Duncan Rand One-Act Play Festival at Medway Little Theatre:
Alternate Shadows performed
'I Wish I Was Special', an original drama by Steve Perrin,
'Passion and Commitment', an original drama by Owen Beesley and
'Drinking Companion' by Alan Ayckbourn.
Awards we won:
Best Production - 'I Wish I Was Special' - Alternate Shadows
Best Original Play - 'I Wish I Was Special' - Alternate Shadows
Best Actor - Steve Perrin ('I Wish I Was Special')
The Adjudicators Award - Jayne Friend for directing and acting
Special Certificate for Best Stage Crew on 'Passion and Commitment' - Mick Harris
Runner up Lights on 'Passion and Commitment' - Tracey Mills-Maisner
Runner up for Best Supporting Actor on 'Passion and Commitment' - Richard Harding
Runner up for Best Actress - Natalie Bradbury ('I Wish I Was Special')
Runner up for Best Juvenile - Amy Lyons ('I Wish I Was Special')

Congratulations to Promenade and The Wayward Sons who gained 2nd and 3rd place, and to our friends Hamdram who won the Comedy Award, Best Dressed Set and a Certificate of Merit for Kerrie Thompson's directing of 'Ringside' by Bob Cooke.

'Bring on the Lions' an original comedy by Bob Cooke, and 'Passion and Commitment', an original drama by Owen Beesley, at the Brook theatre.

June:

'I Wish I Was Special' by Steve Perrin and 'Drinking Companion' by Alan Ayckbourn at Brook Theatre, Chatham.

May:

'Murder Amongst The Roses!' by Pyramid Puzzles, a joint fund-raising murder mystery with St Matthew's Church, at Cleave Warne Hall.

'The Stanley Crumpet Lecture' with Chris Brake, plus new sketch show 'Odds & Sods', at Chatham.

April:

New murder mystery 'Enigma' at Rochester Cathedral; a fund raising event for the cathedral.

March:

Pantomime 'Little Red Riding Hood' at The Pilgrim CE Primary School, St William of Perth RC Primary School.

February:

Pantomime 'Little Red Riding Hood' at St. Margaret's at Troy Town CE Primary School, Riverside Primary School.

2010

November:

27 November, the Alternate Shadows Variety Show 2010 at Cleave Warne Hall.

A joint fund-raiser with St Matthews Church of a brand new murder mystery:
'Murderous Intent' by Pyramid Puzzles, 20 November 2010 at Cleave Warne Hall.

October:

The Alternate Shadows Autumn Quiz, at Cleave Warne Hall.

July:

In the 2010 Duncan Rand One-Act Play Festival at Medway Little Theatre
Alternate Shadows performed 'A Touch Of Rose Madder' by Jim O’Connor and 'Stage Fright' - an original play by Owen Beesley. Our friends Hamdram performed 'Wrong Number' - an original comedy by Bob Cooke.

'What's for Pudding?' - a comedy by David Tristram at Cleave Warne Hall, 10 July 2010.

'A Touch Of Rose Madder' by Jim O’Connor and 'Wrong Number' - an original comedy play by Bob Cooke, at The Brook Theatre, Chatham, 7 July 2010.

May:

'Lethal Ingestion', a Pyramid Puzzles original murder mystery, 15 May 2010 at Cleave Warne Hall.

April:

Pyramid Puzzles Murder Mystery 'The Corpse in the Crypt' at Rochester Cathedral 16 April 2010.

Sketch show 'Mixed Nuts' at Brook Theatre 14 April 2010.

February:

'Henry's Magic Jam' by Ian McCutcheon. A Jam packed pantomime performed at The Pilgrim School, St William of Perth RC School and St Margaret at Troy Town CE School

2000s

2009

November:

Terry Pratchett's 'Wyrd Sisters', adapted by Stephen Briggs, at Chatham, 28 November 2009.

'The Jhansi Jewels Affair' at Cleave Warne Hall, a joint fund-raising venture with St. Matthew's Church, Borstal, 14th November 2009.

October:

The Alternate Shadows Autumn Quiz.

September:

'Ancient Stones - Untold Stories', in and around Rochester Cathedral, featured representatives from lots of local drama groups, including Alternate Shadows.

July:

In the 2009 Duncan Rand One-Act Play Festival at Medway Little Theatre Alternate Shadows performed 'Lest We Forget' by L.R.Johnson and our friends Hamdram performed *'Knightmare'* by Bob Cooke.
	'The Whole Story' by Matthew Fray, Sophia & Richard Harding, Chris Brake, Tim Cooke and Denise Lyons, 9 July 2009 at the Brook Theatre; 'Lest We Forget' by L.R.Johnson, 9 July 2009 at the Brook Theatre and 16 July 2009 at The MLT Duncan Rand Festival 2009.
Lest We Forget won two awards for Alternate Shadows: Best Actor (Steve Perrin as Bill) and Best Sound (Mick Harris). Also, two nominations: Best Supporting Actress (Christina Betts); Best Original Play. Congratulations to Promenade, who gained 1st place, Roan, who gained 2nd place, and Hamdram, who gained 3rd place.

Sarah Ireland and members of MLT Youth contributed some entertainment for the 5th July 2009 Borstal's Got Talent at The Pilgrim School in Borstal, as part of a combined church community fun day.

May:

'Inspector Drake & The Perfekt Crime' by David Tristram, at Cleave Warne Hall.

April:

The April Quiz.

March:

'The Jhansi Jewels Affair' at the Brook Theatre, 4th March 2009

February:

.	The annual variety show at Cleave Warne Hall, singers, monologues and sketches.

January &
February:

'The Frog Princess' by Trevor Suthers. A family pantomime at The Pilgrim School, St William of Perth RC School (sold out) and St Margaret at Troy Town CE School (sold out).

2008

November:

'Confusions' by Alan Ayckbourn at The Brook Theatre, Chatham.

October:

'Bombed Out', a Pyramid Puzzles Interactive Murder Mystery by Bob Cooke, at The Brook Theatre, Chatham.

September:

'Bombed Out', a Pyramid Puzzles Interactive Murder Mystery by Bob Cooke, at Cleave Warne Hall, Rochester.

August:

Horse Racing night at Cleave Warne Hall on 2 August 2008.

July:

In the 2008 Duncan Rand One-Act Play Festival at Medway Little Theatre
Alternate Shadows entered 'Mediocrity' by Anton Robert Krueger.
Hamdram entered 'Tragedy Tonight' by Bob Cooke.

'Mediocrity' won two awards for Alternate Shadows: Character Award (Chris Brake as Kenaf) and a Certificate of Merit for Sophia Harding as The Narrator.
Also, two nominations: Adjudicator's Award for Costume; Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role (Sophia Harding as The Narrator).

'Tragedy Tonight' won seven awards for Hamdram: Backstage Award, Best Comedy; Best Juvenile in an Adult Role (Shannon Harris), Best Original Play, Adjudicator's Award for Costume (Penny Dickson), a Certificate of Merit for Perdita Blinkhorn as Panic, and 1st place.
Also one nomination: Outstanding Actor in a Minor Role (Bob Cooke as Hermes, lightning-fast messenger of the gods).

Congratulations to Meopham Players, who gained 2nd place and Gravesend & District Theatre Guild, who gained 3rd place.

June:

'Mediocrity' by Anton Robert Krueger, plus 'The 5 Lines of Sheridan Crummey' by Steve Walker, at Cleave Warne Hall, 28 June 2008.
'A Better You' - a full length comedy by Mark C. Bourne at The Brook Theatre, Chatham, 4 June 2008.

May:

'A Better You' - a full length comedy by Mark C. Bourne at Cleave Warne Hall, 31 May 2008.
Original Murder Mystery 'Dolls, Dice, Villains & Vice' at BAE Systems Sports & Social Club, Hoo, Rochester, 24 May 2008.

April:

The spring Quiz, hosted for the first time by Tim & Kerrie.

March:

Casino Royale - a fund raising casino-style entertainment featuring the vocal talents of Sarah Ireland and standup comedy with Renato Abeydeera.

February & March:

'Robinson Crusoe - The Truth', a children's pantomime by James Barry, at Cleave Warne Hall and St. William of Perth School, Rochester.

January:

'A Ticket To Vaudeville', a variety show at Cleave Warne Hall; bands, singers, monologues and sketches.

2007

October & November:

Children's show 'Bad Day At Black Frog Creek' by John Gardiner & Fiz Coleman at Cleave Warne Hall and St. William of Perth School, Rochester.

August & September:

Original murder mystery evening: 'Arbuthnott's Demise' at Cleave Warne Hall and The Brook Theatre.

July:

Two one-act comedies at the Brook Theatre, Chatham: 'A Visit From Miss Prothero' by Alan Bennett, and the world premiere of Hamdram's 'Oh Rowleo', an original entertainment by Bob Cooke.

The 2007 Duncan Rand One-Act Play Festival at Medway Little Theatre
Alternate Shadows entered 'Are you Normal, Mr Norman?' by David Henry Wilson
and 'Cliff's Edge' by Paul Beard;
Hamdram entered 'Oh Rowleo' by Bob Cooke.

'Are you Normal, Mr Norman?' won four awards for Alternate Shadows: Best Actor in a Minor Role (James Copland); Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Sarah Ireland); Best Actor (Steve Perrin); and 3rd place.

'Oh Rowleo' won six awards for Hamdram: Backstage Award; Lighting Award (Kerrie Thompson); Best Comedy; Best Dressed Set; Best Character Role (Tim Cooke); and 1st place.

June:

Two one-acts at Cleave Warne Hall: 'A Visit From Miss Prothero' by Alan Bennett, and 'Cliff's Edge', a black comedy by Paul Beard.

May:

One act play night at Cleave Warne Hall: 'Two Screws, Then We'll Have It Off!' - an original, saucy comedy by Tony Williams, and 'Are you Normal Mr Norman?' a tense drama by David Henry Wilson.

March:

'Inspector Drake's Last Case' - a comedy by David Tristram, at Cleave Warne Hall.

January & February:

An original interpretation of the family pantomime 'Aladdin' by Helen Bradshaw & Mick Harris at Cleave Warne Hall and St. William of Perth School.

January:

Brand new sketch show 'Bottom of the Inbox' presented original skits from September's 'The Odd Squad', and 30 minutes of new skits, to an audience of friends and family at The Brook Theatre, Chatham.

2006

November:

Original murder mystery evening: 'Arbuthnott's Demise' at BAE Systems Sports & Social Club, Hoo, Rochester, 11 Nov 2006 and at Tunbury School, Walderslade, 18 Nov 2006.

October & November:

'Almost Haunted' an almost LIVE Ghost Watch Production at Rochester and at Chatham, where it sold out.

September:

'Bus Stop', a one-act modern comedy by Shirley Rae with an all female cast, and
'The Odd Squad', a new original sketch show written and performed by Alternate Shadows.

July:

'Saturday Matinée' presented by The Infinite Monkey Co. - a one act original comedy by Bob Cooke, plus 'Albert', Alternate Shadows' Tenth Anniversary Production - a comedy one act by Richard Harris. Both were presented at Cleave Warne Hall and also entered in the Duncan Rand One-Act Play Festival 2006.
Duncan Rand Festival Results:
Infinite Monkey Co. won Best Original Script (Bob Cooke) and Best Dressed Set, Chris Brake won The Adjudicator's Special Award for Nico in 'Albert' and The Good Guy in 'Saturday Matinée'.

June & July:

'Dolls, Dice, Villains and Vice' - a 1920's Murder Mystery Night by Pyramid Puzzles, presented at Rochester and Chatham.

May:

'Abigail's Party' by Mike Leigh. The classic 1977 comedy of manners.

March:

Double bill: 'The Walking Dead' a thriller by Michael Lambe, and
'All Men Are Wolves' an original thriller by Miranda & Richard Gray.

February:

'Mr. Macaroni and the Exploding Pizza Pie' a play for children by John Gardiner & Fiz Coleman, performed at Cleave Warne Hall and a local school.

2005

October:

Terry Pratchett's Book 'Mort', faithfully adapted by Stephen Briggs, performed at Cleave Warne Hall.

September:

A Pyramid Puzzles murder mystery - 'The Ambassador’s Assassin' at Cleave Warne Hall.

July:

Outrageously bawdy comedy 'The Rural Life' by Tony Williams and Christmas skit 'The Urban Life' also by Tony Williams, in association with CHIPS. Performed in Rochester, Chatham, Aylesford and at Medway Little Theatre Duncan Rand One-Act Play Festival ('The Rural Life' only) where it won Best Supporting Actor in a Minor Role - Richard Harding.

'The Unexploded Bomb' by Tony Williams was entered into the Duncan Rand Youth Festival, where it won the Adjudicator's Award, a Certificate for a Commended Performance for Callum Hardeman as Private Simkins, and a Certificate for Direction of a Young cast - Richard Harding.

June:

'An Affair To Dismember' - a Pyramid Puzzles murder mystery for Rochester Dickens festival.

May:

'Plunder in the Snow' by Julian Jacobs at Aylesford Community Centre, in association with CHIPS.
V E Day Celebrations: 'The Unexploded Bomb' by Tony Williams & 'Lest We Forget' by L.R.Johnson, accompanied by period music and songs and a rousing sing-along finale.

April:

Original full length comedy play at Cleave Warne Hall - the world premiere of Plunder in the Snow by Julian Jacobs. An Alternate Shadows/CHIPS co-production.

March:

Comedy double bill at Cleave Warne Hall -
'None The Wiser' by Anthony Booth, plus the world premiere of
'The Seventh Day' written and performed by Matthew Fray & Renato Abeydeera.

January:

An Agatha Christie double bill at Cleave Warne Hall:
'The Patient' & 'The Rats'

2004

December:

Victorian Variety Revue – a tribute to The Good Old Days, at Cleave Warne Hall and Medway Little Theatre.

October:

The annual horror double bill: 'Company Come' by Alec Baron and 'Frankenstein's Guests' by Martin Downing at Cleave Warne Hall.

July:

'The Edge' by Steve Carley and 'Would You Adam & Eve It!' by Don Hill performed at Cleave Warne Hall and entered into the Duncan Rand One Act Play Festival, at Medway Little Theatre.
For 'Would You Adam & Eve It!' we won Second Place, Best Actor, Best Dressed Play.
For 'The Edge' we won Best Supporting Actor, nominated for Best Actor, mentioned for Best Set.
Congratulations to our friends in Hamdram who won Best Character Actor, and nominations for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

June:

'Mr. Macabre's Inn' an interactive Murder Mystery by Pyramid Puzzles for Rochester Dickens Festival, at Cleave Warne Hall & Medway Little Theatre.

April:

Comedy double bill - 'Babysitting Calvin' by John H. Newmeir
and 'Dead Nice' by Andrea Macphail at Cleave Warne Hall.

January:

Children's Christmas show -
'Toffee Teddy & The Elf Who Stole Christmas' (a sequel to last year's Timothy's Teeth)
An original Christmas Panto for all the family by R.J.Harding and L.R.Johnson.

2003

October & November:

Spooky Double Bill: 'Death & Nellie Miller' by Jack Boswell, 'Out For The Count' (or How Would You Like Your Stake)' by Martin Downing, at Cleave Warne Hall.

September:

At Medway Little Theatre, Rochester, two one-act plays revolving around a dating theme:
'The Private Ear' by Peter Shaffer and 'Situation Vacant' by Ian Hornby.

June:

As part of the Rochester Dickens Festival, Pyramid Puzzles presented a brand new murder mystery set in Dickensian times: 'Dead to Rights', at Medway Little Theatre, Rochester.

May:

Comedy Sketch Show 'Polaroids from the Edge' reprised the best bits of the 1999, 2001 and 2002 shows.

March:

'A Dramatic Approach to Environmental Health Recruitment' - a special sketch show performed at local schools.

February:

Comedy Double Bill - 'George' by Derek Hickman & 'Irresistible Albert' by John Turpin.

2002

November:

Horror Triple Bill at Medway Little Theatre - 'The Tinker's Tale', 'Vacant Possession' and 'Horror at Hellfire Hall'.

October:

'Sketch Test Dummies' - the all new 2002 sketch show, performed in Chatham & Rochester.

July:

'Timothy's Teeth' An original Summer Panto for the young, and those still young at heart.

Also: Video of sketch 'Urban Spaceman' wins award at Kent film festival.

June:

'Lethal Ingestion' by Pyramid Puzzles at Medway Little Theatre. An original puzzling murder mystery set in an Explorers' Club.

April:

Gala Night in Rochester 27th April - Live music from 'Quirk', an excerpt from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (The Mechanicals) performed by Medway Little Theatre's Senior Workshop, 'Last Tango in Little Grimley' by David Tristram and some new comedy sketches - 'Not in Front of the Vicar'.

March:

'Last Panto in Little Grimley' by David Tristram and 'The Cherry Sisters' by Michael Green. Two one-act comedies got our 2002 season off to a sell-out start in Chatham on 2nd March.

2001

August:

'Twisted Tales', our fast-moving comedy sketch show (first seen as 'Tales from the Backside' last November) was performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

June:

'Jump Off' and 'Brenton vs Brenton' at The Royal Function Rooms, Rochester.
'Twisted Tales' performed in the open air at Shorne Country Park as part of an evening of music and comedy.
'Murder by Magic' by Pyramid Puzzles - another original murder mystery evening at The Royal Function Rooms, Rochester.

May:

'Twisted Tales' a fast-moving comedy sketch show by Alternate Shadows (previously titled 'Tales from the Backside').

March:

'Shirley Valentine' by Willy Russell, at The Royal Function Rooms, Rochester.

'Murder Amongst the Roses' by Pyramid Puzzles - our original murder mystery evening at The Royal Function Rooms, Rochester.

February:

'Gasping' by Ben Elton. Alternate Shadows made their first appearance at The Royal Function Rooms, Star Hill, Rochester.

2000

November:

'Tales from the Backside' - our all new sketch show premiered in Chatham and was SOLD OUT.

September:

'That Old Black Magic', 'Cliff's Edge' and 'Frank's Feathered Friend' at The Studio, Rochester Visitors Centre.

June:

'Ms Conception' & 'Nothing Twisted' by John Smythe, plus 'Power Cut' by Keith Edmund.

April:

'Shirley Valentine' by Willy Russell.

March & April:

Ms Conception' - a comedy by John Smythe.

January:

'The Affairs of Dilys Willis' - a comedy by David Walker, Medway Visitor Centre, Rochester, 29 January 2000. Dilys Willis - Sophia Hatchett; Mr Oldmanroyd - Richard Harding; Ronald Willis - Neil Parke; Sheila - Carolyn Harding; Charles - Renato Abeydeera. Sound - Derek Thompson. Directed by Richard Harding.

1990s

1999

August:

'Seven Deadly Sinners (plus one free)' went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for six performances and gained a favourable three-star review in The Scotsman.
Press Review | Publicity photos | Edinburgh Photos

July:

'The Merry Widows' performed at the 1999 Duncan Rand One-Act Play Festival, Medway Little Theatre, where we won second place.

Final Kent performance of 'Seven Deadly Sinners (plus one free)' supported by 'The Wrong Brothers' (Roger Rabbit & Roger Radio).

June:

'The Merry Widows' by Pat Bisson, Rochester Visitors' Centre.

April:

First Kent performance of our new comedy revue 'Seven Deadly Sinners (plus one free)' (see August).

February:

'The Games People Play' and 'Shadows Quietly Waiting' at Medway Little Theatre.

1998

August:

'The Flowers in the Park' by Tony Powell, the Edinburgh Fringe debut of Alternate Shadows, attracted a large amount of media attention.
Also, this website was created.

July:

'Stalag 69' by Michael Green was performed at the 1998 Duncan Rand Festival, Medway Little Theatre. Won the Best Supporting Actress Award.

April:

A mime show for children with special needs.

January:

'Stalag 69' by Michael Green and 'Four Slices Short of a Loaf' - an original comedy revue written by Alternate Shadows, performed at Medway Little Theatre.

1997

July:

In the Duncan Rand Festival we presented a modernised version of J.B.Priestley's 'Mothers Day', and won the Best Supporting Actress Award as well as further commendations.

1996

July & August:

Our first production, 'Albert', by Richard Harris, was entered into the Duncan Rand One Act Play Festival, held at Medway Little Theatre, Rochester, Kent. We won Third Place and Best Actor. The play subsequently came fourth in a national competition held at Tonbridge, Kent.

	Alternate Shadows:			The Story So Far...
Alternate Shadows, a drama group based in Rochester, Kent, UK, was formed in 1996. In reverse chronological order, this is what Alternate Shadows has done (click shows for photos):