A BUNCH OF AMATEURS 2018
The Play's the thing...
Keen to boost his flagging career, fading Hollywood action hero Jefferson Steele arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford only to find that this is not the birthplace of the Bard but a sleepy Suffolk village and the cast are a bunch of amateurs. Jefferson’s monstrous ego, vanity and insecurity are tested by the enthusiastic amateur thespians – who are not averse to a spot of ego, vanity and insecurity themselves. As acting worlds collide and Jefferson’s career implodes, he discovers some truths about himself and his relationships with other people… along with his inner Lear!
Cue comedy, frustration, culture-shock and a surprising finale in this acute but affectionate study of amateur theatre by Private Eye’s Ian Hislop and Nick Newman.
Keen to boost his flagging career, fading Hollywood action hero Jefferson Steele arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford only to find that this is not the birthplace of the Bard but a sleepy Suffolk village and the cast are a bunch of amateurs. Jefferson’s monstrous ego, vanity and insecurity are tested by the enthusiastic amateur thespians – who are not averse to a spot of ego, vanity and insecurity themselves. As acting worlds collide and Jefferson’s career implodes, he discovers some truths about himself and his relationships with other people… along with his inner Lear!
Cue comedy, frustration, culture-shock and a surprising finale in this acute but affectionate study of amateur theatre by Private Eye’s Ian Hislop and Nick Newman.
A Bunch of Amateurs 2018 Team -
Dorothy Lesley Phillips
Nigel Dewberry Duncan Sinclair
Mary Plunkett Helen Harding
Denis Dobbins Rob Thorpe
Jefferson Steele Stephen Rees
Lauren Bell Sam Winskill
Jessica Steele Georgina Volkers
Directed by Lesley Phillips
Theatre Manager (for KAs) - John Gale
Production Crew - Sarah Carter, Simon Coates, Rob Thorpe, Lesley Phillips
Lighting - Lucy Bailey
Sound - John Gale
Original Music - Chris Fletcher-Campbell
Poster images, cast photos and dress rehearsal photos by Mel Taylor Photography
What the audiences said ....
I really enjoyed last night, thought it was better than the film, I got to say, you certainly are NOT a bunch of amateurs :-)🍾 (TW, Wantage)
Brilliant show!! A mahoooosive well done!! Really enjoyed it :) (KD Faringdon)
Really enjoyed the show. Well done to all! (LP, Faringdon)
Congratulations to all the cast ... great production, we really enjoyed watching you all. Fantastic! (TT, by txt)
Yes! Go see it! A great evening's entertainment. Great acting and characterisation. Funny and pacy! We loved it! (LH, Hanney)
Congratulations on tonight! We really enjoyed it - Well performed by everyone, but have to mention Jefferson - thought he really was terrific! Enjoy the rest of the run! (SB, Wantage)
Well done AmEgos! Thoroughly enjoyed it! (PR, Shrivenham)
A brilliant show, well cast, well performed and well done for learning all those lines. Great comic timing by all. Congratulations on making it a fabulous Friday night out. (CW, Wantage)
Congratulations AmEgos on another fantastic show. What a talented ‘bunch of amateurs’ you are! (KM, Longcot)
Really enjoyed the play (and so did my daughter and her friend) hugely amusing, another Amegos hit x (SC, Wantage)
Absolutely brilliant, well done (KM, Facebook)
The Wychwood Players contingent really enjoyed themselves tonight. A terrific production. Well done everyone! (RW, Shipton under Wychwood)
Well done to you all for a very funny play. Break a leg for tomorrow night (FM, Faringdon)
Well done everyone! What a wonderful show - so funny! A very entertaining evening, thank you x (JC, Grove)
Really enjoyed this tonight. Superb Steve Rees and your cast! (ME, Wantage)
It was an excellent show and the actors were so good as was the set, props etc. All your hard work really showed and you should all be proud of yourselves (GR, Upton)
Brilliant show!! A mahoooosive well done!! Really enjoyed it :) (KD Faringdon)
Really enjoyed the show. Well done to all! (LP, Faringdon)
Congratulations to all the cast ... great production, we really enjoyed watching you all. Fantastic! (TT, by txt)
Yes! Go see it! A great evening's entertainment. Great acting and characterisation. Funny and pacy! We loved it! (LH, Hanney)
Congratulations on tonight! We really enjoyed it - Well performed by everyone, but have to mention Jefferson - thought he really was terrific! Enjoy the rest of the run! (SB, Wantage)
Well done AmEgos! Thoroughly enjoyed it! (PR, Shrivenham)
A brilliant show, well cast, well performed and well done for learning all those lines. Great comic timing by all. Congratulations on making it a fabulous Friday night out. (CW, Wantage)
Congratulations AmEgos on another fantastic show. What a talented ‘bunch of amateurs’ you are! (KM, Longcot)
Really enjoyed the play (and so did my daughter and her friend) hugely amusing, another Amegos hit x (SC, Wantage)
Absolutely brilliant, well done (KM, Facebook)
The Wychwood Players contingent really enjoyed themselves tonight. A terrific production. Well done everyone! (RW, Shipton under Wychwood)
Well done to you all for a very funny play. Break a leg for tomorrow night (FM, Faringdon)
Well done everyone! What a wonderful show - so funny! A very entertaining evening, thank you x (JC, Grove)
Really enjoyed this tonight. Superb Steve Rees and your cast! (ME, Wantage)
It was an excellent show and the actors were so good as was the set, props etc. All your hard work really showed and you should all be proud of yourselves (GR, Upton)
'The Stratford Players' on stage - More photos on ABOA Photo page
A Bunch of Amateurs Cast -
A Bunch of Amateurs promos-
A Bunch of Amateurs ... image by Mel Taylor Photography
Amateurs in rehearsal ... pics by Simon Coates ... more on photos page
