The Southport Dramatic Club are hoping three is the magic number after sadly having to postpone their last two shows.
The three hander Di and Viv and Rose opens this Friday, 1st April and runs until Saturday 9th April at the Little Theatre on Hoghton Street.
This warm, witty and well-crafted celebration of female friendship has a stellar sisterhood behind it.
Di and Viv and Rose was penned by actor and writer Amelia Bullmore. She is known for her serious on screen roles as Steph Barnes in Coronation Street and DCI Gill Murray in Scott & Bailey, as well as light hearted roles in Alan Partridge, and Big Train. She was also part of the writing team for Scott & Bailey and Big Train amongst other things.
Bullmore says she was inspired to write the play in 2009 when she spotted the calves of a woman that were just like the calves of a friend she had not seen in some time. She wanted to capture the ‘lurch of longing’ that she felt with such strength and she has done that with this piece.
We meet our three women as freshers at an unspecified Northern university in 1983. Life pulls them in different directions, some planned and others borne of circumstance. The blend of comedy and tragedy is woven into their tapestries in such a way that you will feel as though you are on the journey with them, and make you reflect on your own relationships.
In the director’s seat is Adrienne Ledson. Adrienne is known to many of our regular audience members as a wonderful actor. Her solo directing debut was One Man, Two Guvnors in 2019.
She is passionate about this poignant piece and delighted to be ably assisted by Amy Palmer-Farrar. Amy also assisted on our pantomime this season and is enjoying the change of pace. The third woman behind the production table is their attentive and efficient prompt, Laura-Jane Palmer-Farrar.
Adrienne says “This lovely play has been an absolute pleasure to work on over the last couple of months and we hope you enjoy it as much as we have.
One review of the play said it was, “A deeply felt account of female friendship.” And, “It’s written with a remarkable economy and freshness, and rings true even, or especially, in its moments of absurdity…This is a story of female friendship that is neither sentimental, nor nostalgic. It just feels real.”
This description resonates with us. It is a play that feels very real. The emotions, the experiences, the stories all feel like things anyone of us could go through. It a very honest and believable exploration of relationships. It all sounds terribly serious. But I can assure it is not! The play is funny and fun, and we have all certainly had a great time bringing this play to the stage.”
Three experienced and versatile actors portray the triple act who are thrust together by university and linked for life through hard times as well as happiness.
Ceri Watkins plays sporty business studies student Di Chapman; she is the stem of the wishbone and bonds well with both of her eventual housemates early on. Michelle Pappini is Viv Platt, the no nonsense Sociology student who is focussed on earning a first. Di’s flatmate, Rose Willoughby is portrayed by Jen Corcoran. Rose has travelled to ‘the North’ from a sleepy Buckinghamshire village to study Art History. When her stepfather purchases property in the area, they move into ‘Mossbank’; which is almost the fourth character in the play.
Many additional volunteers have worked hard to bring to life the fashions and furnishings of the 1980s and 1990s, as well as selecting songs from the charts and creating the right lighting.
It will be a treat for those who lived it as well as those getting to look back. Why not round up some of your friends and join us.
Please note that the play does contain strong language and some sensitive themes. If you have any queries about this, contact the SDC using the links below.
The show starts at 7:30pm each evening, there is no performance on Sunday 3rd April. The bar and servery are open before the show and during the interval, and the bar opens is open after the show too.
To book tickets click here or call 01704 530521 from 11am to 1pm/two hours before curtain up when there is a performance.
For more information about our season and the club visit our website here. For queries, updates, pictures, trivia and competitions follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
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