A summer of drama in Whiting Bay
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Words and photographs: Colin Smeeton
A packed Whiting Bay Hall enjoyed an evening of top-notch theatre when Whiting Bay Music and Drama Club gave the first of two performances of their summer plays last week.
The trilogy of one-act plays included Victoria Station by Harold Pinter; Sleuth School, written and directed by Andy McNamara; and Anger Management, written by Robert Scott and directed by David Simpkin.
The three plays provided the capacity audience with a welcome return of the performing arts by well-rehearsed, accomplished and experienced actors who skillfully used a minimum of props and backdrops to convey the plot lines.
Most of the actors featured in all three productions with hasty costume changes during and behind the scenes.
In addition to the performances by club members, one of the plays, Sleuth School, was written and directed by Andy McNamara who flawlessly portrayed Hercule Poirot in the production.
Well-known actor with gravitas David Simpkin, who performed as a foul-mouthed cab controller in Victoria Station, also doubled his duties to direct the last play, Anger Management.
Husband and wife duo Patrick and Beverley Scott put in solid and dynamic performances, along with acting stalwarts Allan Nicol and Shannon Galbraith. Another well-known performer on Arran, Rhodri Herapath, joined convincing performer James Mutch to round off a compliment of talented actors who keep Arran audiences coming back for more.
The shows by Whiting Bay Music and Drama Club have, once again, highlighted the wealth of acting talent on the island, as well as an appreciative audience base which filled the village hall for both performances.
Knifton, played by Shannon Galbraith, reaches boiling point with her old school friends in Anger Management. 01_B26WBD01
Cab controller, played by David Simpkin, tries to keep his composure when dealing with a cab driver. 01_B26WBD02
Allan Nicol, playing a cab driver in Victoria Station, responds gleefully to the controller on the microphone. 01_B26WBD03
Sherlock Holmes (James Mutch) and Hercule Poirot (Andy McNamara) search for clues in Sleuth School. 01_B26WBD04
Sherlock Holmes (James Mutch) comes up with another brilliant deduction which leaves Hercule Poirot (Andy McNamara) decidedly unimpressed. 01_B26WBD05
Velma Dinkley (Shannon Galbraith) plays the fictional Scooby-Doo character in Sleuth School. 01_B26WBD06
Anne Barnard (Rhodri Herapath) and Sherlock Holmes (James Mutch) take a moment to contemplate a mystery in Sleuth School. 01_B26WBD07
Patrick and Beverley Scott (Mr James and Jane Marple) in a scene from Sleuth School. 01_B26WBD08
Famous detectives unravel the mystery presented to them in Sleuth School. 01_B26WBD09
Mr James (Patrick Scott) is apprehended by Anne Barnard (Rhodri Herapath) and Velma Dinkley (Shannon Galbraith). 01_B26WBD10
Polston (Beverley Scott) and Knifton (Shannon Galbraith) in a scene from Anger Management. 01_B26WBD11
Mr McGowan (Allan Nicol) addresses his pupils in Anger Management. 01_B26WBD12