Red entries indicate shows whose dates I have no idea of, and may even be filed in the wrong year. Brown entries are those for which I would like confirmation of dates. If you can help, please do!
Mystery Play!
I found a mystery programme without a date, title or author (honestly!) but which appears, from style and adverts, to be from the early to mid ’80s. The play was produced by Kathleen Moore and was performed in the Town Hall. The cast included Bill Kenny, Ruth McKinley, Rosemary Mornin, Eleanor Beattie and Terry McAlinden as well as Kathleen herself. It was set in a suburban living room over three days. The address of the house is memorable — 29 Woodbine Avenue. The names of the characters suggest three English couples and two others. Anyone with info about this play please contact me…
Andrew.
1960s
| 1964 | |
| The Ingrate (one act) | Portadown Drama Festival (Mar) |
| 1965 | |
| Cock-a-Doodle-Doo by Wilson Barnes | Gateway Theatre (26-? Feb, 10,12 Mar) |
| Lights Out by Walter Hudd (one act) | Portadown Drama Festival (30 Mar) |
| Wanted: One Body by Raymond Dyer | Gateway Theatre (24 Sep – 13 Oct) |
| 1966 | |
| Friends and Neighbours by Austin Steele | Gateway Theatre (Mar) |
| Tandragee JHS (28 Mar) | |
| Dragons in the Caves (one act) | Portadown Drama Festival |
| Love’s a Luxury by Guy Paxton and Edward V Hoile | Gateway Theatre (May) |
| Make it Murder by Jack Last | Gateway Theatre (Sep) |
| Flat Spin by Derek S Royle | Gateway Theatre (Nov) |
| 1967 | |
| Honey Pot by Helen and Edward V Hoile | Gateway Theatre (13-19 Feb) |
| Wanted: One Body by Raymond Dyer | Portadown Drama Festival (8 Mar) |
| Pool’s Paradise by Philip King | Gateway Theatre (25-30 Sep) |
| Murder at Quay Cottage | Gateway Theatre (21-25 Nov) |
| Portadown Drama Festival (1968) | |
| Variety Show (1st xmas show) | Gateway Theatre (Dec) |
| 1968 | |
| Love in a Mist by Kenneth Horne | Gateway Theatre (20-24 Feb) |
| Aghalee Parochial Hall | |
| Figure of Fun by Andre Roussin adapted by Arthur MacRae | Gateway Theatre (May) |
| See How They Run by Philip King | Gateway Theatre (Sep?) |
| The Big Long Bender by Stewart Love | Gateway Theatre (26-30 Nov) |
| Portadown Drama Festival (Mar 1969?) | |
| 1969 | |
| The Whip Hand by B G MacCarthy | Gateway Theatre (Apr) |
| All for Mary by Harold Brooke and Kay Bannerman | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug?) first Portrush show |
| Gateway Theatre (30 Sep – 4 Oct) | |
| Mind Your Own Business by James Pattinson | Gateway Theatre (Dec?) |
1970s
| 1970 | |
| The Randy Dandy by Stewart Love | Portadown Drama Festival |
| Gateway Theatre (Feb) | |
| The Poker Session by Hugh Leonard | Gateway Theatre (Oct?) |
| I’ll Get My Man by Philip King | Gateway Theatre (Dec?) |
| 1971 | |
| Come Blow Your Horn | Gateway Theatre (8-12 Jun) |
| Big Bad Mouse by Philip King and Falkland L Cary | Gateway Theatre (Oct?) |
| Unhand Me Squire, or Much Ado About Sweet Fanny Adams by Richard Tydeman |
Gateway Theatre (Dec) |
| 1972 | |
| As Black as She’s Painted by Philip King | Gateway Theatre (19-24 Feb) |
| Lights Out by Walter Hudd (one act) | Portadown Drama Festival ? |
| Beside the Seaside by Leslie Sands | Gateway Theatre |
| Seaside Holiday ??? | Gateway Theatre |
| Crystal Clear by Falkland L Cary and Philip King | ??????? |
| 1973 | |
| Cat on the Fiddle | Gateway Theatre |
| Fish out of Water by Derek Benfield | Gateway Theatre |
| Boyd’s Shop by St. John Irvine | Portadown Town Hall (12 Sep) |
| Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward | Gateway Theatre |
| 1974 | |
| Three Young Ladies in a Temper | ????? |
| The Rats by Agatha Christie | ?????? |
| Pool’s Paradise by Philip King | Gateway Theatre ? (Sep? or 1975?) |
| Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring | (Dec?) |
| Portadown Drama Festival (14 Mar 1975) | |
| 1975 | |
| They Got What They Wanted by Louis D’Alton | Gateway Theatre (24 Feb – 1 Mar) |
| Ladies in Retirement by Edward Percy & Reginald Denham |
Gateway Theatre (3-7 Jun) |
| Brownlow Festival (26 Jun) | |
| Married Bliss by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre (7-13 Aug) |
| Gateway Theatre (4 Oct) | |
| When We Are Married by J B Priestley | Gateway Theatre (4-13 Dec) |
| 1976 | |
| The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams | Gateway Theatre (2-6 Mar) |
| Portadown Drama Festival (12 Mar) | |
| Newry Drama Festival | |
| Mid-Ulster Drama Festival | |
| Strictly for the Birds by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug?) |
| Portadown Town Hall (25 Sep) | |
| The Holly and the Ivy by Wynyard Browne | Gateway Theatre (1-11 Dec) |
| 1977 | |
| Boeing Boeing by Marc Camoletti and Beverley Cross | Gateway Theatre (22-26 Feb) |
| Portadown Town Hall ? (4,5 Mar) | |
| Portadown Drama Festival (9 Mar) | |
| Mid-Ulster Drama Festival | |
| Newry Drama Festival | |
| Tandragee JHS (19 May) | |
| Ulster Drama Finals, Ballymena (20 May) | |
| Milk and Honey by Philip King | Gateway Theatre (10-14 May) |
| Don’t Tell the Wife by Sam Cree | Shimna Hall, Newcastle (31 Jun – 6 July) |
| Portrush Summer Theatre (4-10 Aug) | |
| Warrenpoint Town Hall (18,19 Aug) | |
| Portadown Town Hall (23,24 Sep) | |
| Moodie in Manitoba by George Shiels | Gateway Theatre (29 Nov – 10 Dec) |
| 1978 | |
| Lucky for Some by John Dole | Gateway Theatre |
| All My Sons by Arthur Miller | Portadown Technical College (3,4 Mar) |
| Portadown Drama Festival (29 Mar) | |
| The Love Nest by Sam Cree | Gateway Theatre (Sep?) |
| Group Theatre, Belfast (18-23 Dec) | |
| All the King’s Horses by John McDonnell | Gateway Theatre (6-16 Dec) |
| 1979 | |
| Miranda by Peter Blackmore | (????) |
| Widow’s Paradise by Sam Cree | Gateway Theatre (????????) |
| Not Now Darling by Ray Cooney and John Chapman | Gateway Theatre (26-31 Mar) |
| Sink or Slim by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre ? (Aug) |
| Gateway Theatre ? (Sep) | |
| Doctor in the House by Richard Gordon adapted by Ted Willis | Gateway Theatre (12-22 Dec) |
1980s
| 1980 | |
| Fallen Angels | Gateway Theatre |
| Darling Mr. London by Anthony Marriott and Bob Grant | Gateway Theatre ? (11-13 Sep) |
| Portrush Summer Theatre ? (Aug ?) | |
| When Johnny Comes Marching Home by Ruddick Millar (Junior Group) | Gateway Theatre (29 Oct – 1 Nov) |
| 1981 | |
| Professor Tim by George Shiels | Gateway Theatre (19-23 May) |
| Portrush Summer Theatre (6-12 Aug) | |
| Don’t Drink the Water by Woody Allen | ???? (29-31 Oct) |
| 1982 | |
| Right Again, Barnum! by Joseph Tomelty | Gateway Theatre ? |
| The New Gossoon by George Shiels | Gateway Theatre (7-18 Dec) |
| 1983 | |
| 1984 | |
| 1st Panto – Aladdin | Portadown Town Hall (12-21 Jan) |
| Beside the Seaside by Leslie Sands | Gateway Theatre (30 Mar – 7 Apr) |
| Widow’s Paradise by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug?) |
| Portadown Town Hall ? | |
| 1985 | |
| 2nd Panto – Sinbad the Sailor | Portadown Town Hall (10-19 Jan) |
| How the Other Half Loves by Alan Ayckbourn | Portadown Town Hall ? |
| 1986 | |
| 3rd Panto – Babes in the Wood | Portadown Town Hall (9-18 Jan) |
| Cupid Wore Skirts by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre ? |
| Portadown Town Hall ? | |
| Basinful of the Briny by Leslie Sands | Portadown Town Hall (3,4 Oct) |
| 1987 | |
| 4th Panto – Sleeping Beauty | Portadown Town Hall (8-17 Jan) |
| Separate Beds by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre |
| Portadown Town Hall (11,12 Sep) | |
| 1988 | |
| 5th Panto – Robinson Crusoe | Portadown Town Hall (7-16 Jan) |
| The Patrick Pearse Motel by Hugh Leonard | Portadown Town Hall (13,14 May) |
| Friends and Neighbours by Austin Steele | Portrush Summer Theatre |
| Portadown Town Hall | |
| 1989 | |
| 6th Panto – Cinderella by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall (5-14 Jan) |
| Absent Friends by Alan Ayckbourn | Portadown Town Hall (12,13 May) |
| Lucky for Some by John Dole | Portrush Summer Theatre |
| Portadown Town Hall (13,14 Oct) |
1990s
| 1990 | |
| 7th Panto – Jack and the Beanstalk by John Morley | Craigavon Civic Centre (11-20 Jan) |
| Virtue Triumphant, or Her Honour in Peril | Craigavon Civic Centre (11,12 May) |
| Stop it Nurse! by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug) |
| Craigavon Civic Centre | |
| 1991 | |
| 8th Panto – Aladdin by John Morley | Craigavon Civic Centre (Jan) |
| Play On by Rick Abbott | Portadown Town Hall Theatre |
| Elementary My Dear | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug) |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Sep) | |
| 1992 | |
| 9th Panto – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (9-25 Jan) |
| Sink or Slim by Sam Cree | Ardhowen Theatre Enniskillen |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre | |
| Friends and Relations by St. John Irvine | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Oct?) |
| Christmas Party | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (11,12 Dec) |
| 1993 | |
| 10th Panto – Sinbad The Sailor by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| Wanted: One Body by Raymond Dyer | Ardhowen Theatre Enniskillen |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre | |
| Old Time Music Hall | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (18 Dec) |
| 1994 | |
| 11th Panto – Dick Whittington by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (13-29 Jan) |
| Roadshow – Comedy Revue | various |
| Strictly for the Birds by Sam Cree | Portadown Town Hall Theatre |
| Doctor in the House by Richard Gordon adapted by Ted Willis | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug) |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Sep) | |
| Victorian Evening | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Dec) |
| 1995 | |
| 12th Panto – Cinderella by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (12-28 Jan) |
| How He Lied to Her Husband | One Act Festivals |
| Gateway Rehearsal Rooms (Private Showing) (2 Dec) | |
| Joking Apart by Alan Ayckbourn | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (3,4 Mar) |
| Basinful of the Briny by Leslie Sands | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug) |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre (6,7 Oct) | |
| Victorian Music Hall | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (16 Dec) |
| 1996 | |
| 13th Panto – Jack and the Beanstalk by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (11-27 Jan) |
| Fluff | One Act Festivals |
| Lurgan Town Hall | |
| Craigavon Civic Centre (private showing) | |
| All the King’s Horses by John McDonnell | Portrush Summer Theatre (15-21 Aug) |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Sep) | |
| Old Time Music Hall | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (13,14 Dec) |
| 1997 | |
| 14th Panto – Robinson Crusoe by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| Out of Sight, Out of Murder by Fred Carmichael | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (4-5 Apr) |
| Married Bliss by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre (21-27 Aug) |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Sep) | |
| 1998 | |
| 15th Panto – Goldilocks and the 3 Bears by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| Mystery at Greenacres by JB Priestley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre |
| Stop it Nurse! by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug) |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Sep) | |
| 1999 | |
| 16th Panto – Aladdin by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| Separate Beds by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug) |
| Ballyearl Arts Centre, Newtownabbey (Sep) | |
| Loughry Agricultural College, Cookstown (Sep) | |
| Newtownhamilton High School (9 Oct) | |
| Comber Leisure Centre | |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Oct) | |
| Three Hisses for Villiany; A selection of melodramas | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (16-18 Dec) |
2000s
| 2000 | |
| 17th Panto – Mother Goose by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| Lucky for Some by John Dole | Portrush Summer Theatre (July) |
| Ballyearl Arts Centre, Newtownabbey (Sep) | |
| Loughry Agricultural College, Cookstown (Sep) | |
| Newtownhamilton High School (Sep) | |
| Comber Leisure Centre (Sep) | |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Oct) | |
| 2001 | |
| 18th Panto – Sleeping Beauty by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| Just Between Ourselves by Alan Ayckbourn | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Apr) |
| Cupid Wore Skirts by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug) |
| Annaghmore Church Hall, Portadown (Sep) | |
| Loughry Agricultural College, Cookstown (Sep) | |
| Newtownhamilton High School (Sep) | |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Oct) | |
| Inspector Drake and the Perfekt Crime | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Dec) |
| 2002 | |
| 19th Panto – Dick Whittington by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| Widow’s Paradise by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug) |
| Loughry Agricultural College, Cookstown (Sep) | |
| Newtownhamilton High School (Sep) | |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Oct) | |
| 2003 | |
| 20th Panto – Babes in the Wood by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| Don’t Utter a Note by Anton Delmar | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Apr) |
| Our Day Out by Willie Russell (Junior Group) | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (14 Jun) |
| Strictly for the Birds by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug) |
| Edenderry Methodist Church (Sep) | |
| Tandragee Golf Club (Cancer Research) (Sep) | |
| St. Columba’s Church Hall (Sep) | |
| Loughry College, Cookstown (Oct) | |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Oct) | |
| Variety Show (Juniors) | Millennium Court, Portadown (Dec) |
| Bedside Manners by Derek Benfield | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Dec) |
| 2004 | |
| 21st Panto – Cinderella by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| Married Bliss by Sam Cree | LaGrange, Georgia (Apr) |
| Portadown Town Hall (10th Apr) | |
| Basinful of the Briny by Leslie Sands | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug) |
| Touring venues | |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Oct) | |
| Let It Be Me by Carey Jane Hardy | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Dec) |
| 2005 | |
| 22nd Panto – Sinbad the Sailor by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| I’ll Get My Man by Philip King | Portadown Town Hall Theatre |
| Love and Land by Lynn C Doyle | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug) |
| Touring venues | |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre | |
| Pull the Other One by Norman Robbins | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Dec) |
| 2006 | |
| 23rd Panto – Mother Goose by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| Ten Times Table by Alan Ayckbourn | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Apr) |
| Sink or Slimby Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug) |
| Touring venues | |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Oct) | |
| The Odd Couple (female version) by Neil Simon | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (8-9 Dec) |
| 2007 |
|
| 24th Panto – Jack & The Beanstalk by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| Table Manners by Alan Ayckbourn | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Apr) |
| Cupid Wore Skirts by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug) |
| Touring venues | |
| Portadown Town Hall (Oct) | |
|
Daphne and Grandad from Cupid Wore Skirts |
 Ronnie seeks help with his knitting pattern in Cupid wore Skirts |
| Good Things by Liz Lochhead | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Dec) |
| 2008 | |
| 25th Panto – Goldilocks & The Three Bears by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| Separate Beds by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre (Aug) |
| Touring venues | |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Oct) | |
| Plaza Suite by Neil Simon | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Dec 11, 12, 13) |
|
2009 |
|
| 26th Panto – Robinson Crusoe by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| Cuckoo by Emlyn Williams | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (April 17 & 18) |
| Holiday Snap by Michael Pertwee & John Chapman | Portrush Summer Theatre (August 5th-8th) |
| Touring venues. | |
| Portadown Town Hall(October 23rd & 24th) | |
| Scarlet Hood (Juniors) |
Portadown Town Hall |
| Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward | Portadown Town Hall (Dec 11th-12th) |
| 2010 | |
| 27th Panto Sleeping Beauty by Norman Robbins | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| Ladies Day by Amanda Whittington | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (May 14th/15th) |
| Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen (18th/19th June) | |
| Stop it Nurse by Sam Cree | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Dec 10th/11th) |
| 2011 | |
| 28th Panto Aladdin by Norman Robbins | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Jan) |
| Widows’ Paradise by Sam Cree | Portrush Summer Theatre (3rd – 6th August) |
| Touring Venues | |
| Portadown Town Hall (28th & 29th October) | |
| ‘Goldilockpick and the Little Red Riding Hoodlum’ by Todd Barty (Junior Group) |
Portadown Town Hall (19th October) |
| Round and Round the Garden by Alan Ayckbourn | Portadown Town Hall (Dec 9th & 10th) |
| 2012 | |
| 29th Panto Beauty & The Beast a version by Simon Hylands | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (January) |
| Married Bliss by Sam Cree | Portadown Town Hall Theatre(11th & 12th May) |
| Kindly Keep it Covered’ by Dave Freeman | Portrush Summer Theatre, (Aug 1st to 4th) |
| Newcastle Summer Theatre (18th Aug) | |
| Touring Venues | |
| 2013 | |
| 30th Panto Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by John Morley |
Portadown Town Hall Theatre (January) |
| Don’t Dress for Dinner | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (April) |
| Loanends | |
| Look No Hans by John Chapman & Michael Pertwee |
Portrush Summer Theatre |
| Touring Venues | |
| Portadown Town Hall Theatre | |
| 2014 | |
| 31st Panto: Sinbad the Sailor by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre |
| Clerical Errors by Georgina Reid | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (December) |
| 2015 | |
| 32nd Panto: Cinderella by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre |
| Tick, Tick, BOOM | Portadown Town Hall Theatre, April |
| Separate Beds by Sam Cree | |
| 2016 | |
| 33rd Panto: Mother Goose by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre |
| The Green Room | Portadown Town Hall Theatre (Touring Venues) April |
| Anyone Can Rob a Bank by Tom Coffey | Portadown Town Hall Theatre December |
| 2017 | |
| 34th Panto: Dick Whittington by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre, January |
| Be My Baby by Amanda Whittington | Portadown Town Hall Theatre |
| Stop it Nurse by Sam Cree | Portadown Town Hall Theatre, October |
| 2018 | |
| 35th Panto: Goldilocks and the Three Bears by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre, January |
| Widows Paradise by Sam Cree | Portadown Town Hall Theatre, November |
| 2019 | |
| 36th Panto: Sleeping Beauty by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre January |
| 2020 | .. |
| Jack and the Beanstalk by John Morley | Portadown Town Hall Theatre January |
| 2021 | .. |
| Pantomime cancelled | .. |
| .. | .. |
| .. | .. |
| .. | .. |
| .. | .. |
| .. | .. |
Just looking over the schedule. I think my first was Flat Spin in’66. Certainly my last was All My Sons, with Woolesey Gracey, in ’78.
In Lights Out in ’72 (or was it ’73?), we did perform in the Portadown Festival, where we won the One Acts (and, modestly, I won Best Actor!) and performed in the NI finals at the Harberton Theatre.
Best wishes, Victor
Well, isn’t this a trip down memory lane and very happy memories at that? I drifted in and out of the Gateway for a few years in the early 80’s and thoroughly enjoyed it. My name is Fergy (properly Fergus) Campbell and I have been living in london for 25 years now. I don’t know if anyone might remember me. This has stirred so many memories of the pantos, “straight” plays and the wonderful fun we used to have. I suppose this is one of the joys of the internet.
To be honest, I really don’t know how I got involved in the group, I suspect one too many in the old Bennetts and I think Nevin Hunniford may have had a hand in it. Starting as a stagehand, lighting rigger, general humper, FX man or whatever needed to be done I somehow got roped into the pantos. I do have a vague memory of Millie sweet-talking me in a little snug in McConvilles one night, although I must stress there were others there present!
I remember playing Little John on one panto as I had to order green woollen tights specially from the little shop down near Bridge Street. I also played “Wotta Woppa” the cannibal Queen with Nevin taking the part of Man Friday as I reacall. I recently found a photo of the two odf us “blacked up”, not a pretty sight.
Looking on this page, I also remember that I was onstage in Ayckbourn’s “How the other half loves” (1985). I remember we had set it around a cruciform dinner table so that two conversations were going on at once, apparently in different places. If it helps slightly for this website, I do remember we took it out of the Town Hall, t some smaller hall (Women’s Institute gig perhaps) in the country. I am thinking somewhere down towards Markethill. The reason I remember it so distinctly was that I was suffering (I use the word advisedly) from a dental abcess and was in agony not to mention half out of my head on prescribed industrial strength painkillers! I can do no more than I did then and apologisee to my fellow cast members. We never really got into the concept of understudies, did we?
I have read elsewhere on this site about the passing of Bertil, and that saddens me whilst it is not actually suprising, given the poor man’s medical problems. What an absolute gentleman, in the proper sense of the word, a complete font of knowledge regarding stage matters (I learnt so much from him) and just a really nice guy. Sorry to hear of your passing, my friend.
I have proabably rambled on long enough here so I shall sign off now but I am so glad I stumbled on this site. My very best wishes to you and your continued success.
Fergy.
Your name ‘Fergy’ has cropped up many times as members recall many happy memories of past productions.
Hi Fergy
We don’t know each other. I was a member from about 1966 to 1978.
But I would want to endorse your comments about Bertil. He was a fine friend for many years.
Of course, if I started to list the good friends from the Gateway who have passed, I would just get very sad.
I have the very best memories of my time with the Gateway…and the craic was mighty.
Regards
Victor Allister
I recently unearthed some programmes from the 60’s and 70’s. I find it strange that we didn’t put the dates of performances on them!
Anyway, the schedule above indicates that we put on Lights Out in 1972. In fact, it, along with The Rats and Three Young Ladies in a Temper, were performed at the Portadown Drama Festival in March 1974. I remember that they were also produced at the Gateway, presumably before the Festival, but cannot recall the date. Lights Out went on to the NI One Act Finals at the Harberton Theatre.
All best,
Victor Allister
Long before my time there but, knowing some of the “characters” involved, I am sure you had a blast. Great memories.
As for the play, I think I remember it. It was an Alan Ayckbourn piece where there were several different dialogues going on around a cruciform dinner table (Bertil Gallagher’s work) with each couple studiously ignoring the others. I seem to recall we took it to Tandragee Golf Club where I was half out of my mind on drugs prescribed for a dental abcess. I don’t think I have ever been in as much pain in my life. I seem to remember we also took it to a WI or some such away miles out of town, possibly Markethill way.
Hope this assists,
fergy.
Hi, Fergy. I remember the play you’re thinking of – it’s “How the other half loves”. The tables represented two dinner parties that took place on different days but were played simultaneously on stage.
http://howtheotherhalfloves.alanayckbourn.net/styled-4/index.html
Unfortunately it’s not the mystery play…