Countdown to Diamond Gems

By director Jocelyn Robinson

With less than a week to go until Diamond Gems, our Diamond Anniversary celebratory production, takes to the stage, everyone is working hard to make sure it’s a resounding success.

The individual short plays, dances, and musical items have all been well-rehearsed over the summer and the last week has been spent bringing the show together and smoothing over the joins between the acts. I’m delighted to have been helped in this by Rakhi Drennan, our stage manager, and our compere Peter King, who will be leading the audience through the programme.

We are excited to have two new people – Paul Robinson and Jess Leonard – helping us out with sound and lighting for this production, with our usual sound operator, James Field, having swapped his role this time for an on-stage presence as part of our band The Rough Diamonds. We also have a new lighting set-up to play with, following the lighting upgrade work partially funded by the Polehampton Trust. This includes movable lights that can change colour at the touch of a button – a welcome new facility.

In addition to all of this, arrangements and decorations for Loddon Hall have been organised, Front of House volunteers recruited, and Souvenir Programmes designed and ordered. All that’s left now are the tech and dress rehearsals over the next few days to ensure the whole team is fully prepared for opening night on Friday.

We really hope you come along and join us to celebrate our 60^th anniversary – if you haven’t already got your tickets, book some today! Don’t forget, tickets for this show won’t be available on the night, so remember to get yours in advance.