Nobody had warned me they were coming. The first contact, was when my wife asked me to be home at lunch time, as two men wanted to see me. I arrived home a little late, and the pair were already sat there. In their hands, were official looking documents. It was put to me, that unless I undertook the role they had earmarked for me, the plan could not go ahead. What choice did I have; the press gang had claimed another victim. That was how I got into Fulstow Players. The role was the Dame in the pantomime. How could I turn them down. I assumed they had asked everybody that they could think of, and I was the last resort. I had never been on a stage before in my life, and I certainly couldn't sing, but that didn't seem to matter, as they put it, none of us can. Anyway I went through with it.

Whether my liver will ever recover, is debateable, but many years on I can reflect on the effect, that this fateful meeting has had on my life. I have now a lot more self confidence, and at this moment I am trying to make a success of comedy script writing, and speechwriting. I have met hundreds of lovely people; that is all the different people over the years who have had parts, or have helped in the productions. All the children who have been in the pantomimes, including my own. Many are now adults. None of them will ever forget, the fun and happiness, which they had with us.

People stop me in the street, in shops, at work, and they all say the same thing. We love coming to see the shows. Some people regard them as being the highlight of their year, some people have said, better than the West End, although which West End they are talking about, is debateable. The "Talk of the Town" shows are so popular, they are a box office nightmare. Tickets are like gold dust , there is far more demand than space in the hall permits. The thing that has most impressed me about the Fulstow Players, is the professional approach that has always gone into all the productions. This has been carried on down the line, from the founder members to the present day. Ok, it is still amateur dramatics, any thing can go wrong, and it sometimes does; but just like Les Dawson with his quirky off tune piano playing, you have to be able to play the piano well, for that to be funny.
Anyway I will sign off now, but don't forget if you haven't seen a show, next time you hear of a production coming up, in the words of the now deceased Fred Pontin, "Book Early".

Malc Perkins.

Upcoming Productions

Murder Mystery Night late January 2003


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Productions to Date          Top

1985 - Christmas Revue
1986 - Cinderella
1986 - Why Spring Spook?
1987 - Aladdin
1987 - Off the Rails
1988 - Robinson Crusoe
1988 - Dry Rot
1989 - Puss in Boots
1989 - Reluctant Heroes
1990 - Dick Whittington
1990 - Simple Spyman
1991 - Mother Goose
1991 - Bang Bang Beirut
1992 - Rumplestilskin
1992 - She's Done it Again
1993 - Goldilocks and the Three bears
1993 - Wild Goose Chase
1994 - Babes in the woods
1994 - Oh Clarence
1994 - Talk of the Town
1995 - Sinbad the Sailor
1995 - Talk of the Town
1996 - Jack and the Beanstalk
1996 - Wanted One Body
1996 - Talk of the Town
1997 - Little Jack Horner
1997 - Talk of the Town
1998 - Little Miss Muffet
1998 - Talk of the Town
1999 - It Runs in the Family
1999 - Talk of the Town
2000 - Sleeping Beauty
2000 - Talk of the Town
2001 - Uproar in the House
2001 - Talk of the Town
2002 - The Mystery of Talbot Manor

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