Ken Ludwig’s The Game’s Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays – winner of Best Play 2012 from The Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allen Poe Award.
The danger and hilarity are non-stop in this glittering whodunit set during the Christmas holidays. It is December 1936, and actor William Gillette, admired the world over for his leading role in the play Sherlock Holmes, has invited his fellow cast members to his home for a weekend of revelry. But when one of the guests is stabbed to death, the festivities in this isolated house of tricks and mirrors quickly turn dangerous. It is then up to Gillette himself, as he assumes the persona of his beloved Holmes, to track down the killer before the next victim appears. The Little Theatre, Letchworth Settlement, 229 Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 4UB Thursday 16th ,Friday 17th and Saturday 18th November 2023, Curtain Open 7.45pm
The 2023 AGM will take place on Tuesday 21st November 2023
The Annual General Meeting of Letchworth Educational Settlement will be held in Kincaid Hall, Letchworth Educational Settlement, 229 Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City SG6 4UB on Tuesday 21 November 2023 at 730pm.
All are welcome to attend but only Members of the Settlement are able to vote.
The danger and hilarity are non-stop in this glittering whodunit set during the Christmas holidays. It is December 1936, and actor William Gillette, admired the world over for his leading role in the play Sherlock Holmes, has invited his fellow cast members to his home for a weekend of revelry. But when one of the guests is stabbed to death, the festivities in this isolated house of tricks and mirrors quickly turn dangerous. It is then up to Gillette himself, as he assumes the persona of his beloved Holmes, to track down the killer before the next victim appears.
Please note our new online provider is Ticket Source, a simpler, streamlined and more convenient way to buy Players tickets online.
The danger and hilarity are non-stop in this glittering whodunit set during the Christmas holidays. It is December 1936, and actor William Gillette, admired the world over for his leading role in the play Sherlock Holmes, has invited his fellow cast members to his home for a weekend of revelry. But when one of the guests is stabbed to death, the festivities in this isolated house of tricks and mirrors quickly turn dangerous. It is then up to Gillette himself, as he assumes the persona of his beloved Holmes, to track down the killer before the next victim appears.
Please note our new online provider is Ticket Source, a simpler, streamlined and more convenient way to buy Players tickets online.
Some Autumnal weather this week, so here’s some news to warm you.
We are delighted to report that the Settlement Players performance of Fake or Fortune, Written and Directed by our very own Claire Hogan won a number of awards, and received a number of nominations, at the Cambridge Drama Festival last week.
Fake or Fortune by Claire Hogan – Cambridge Drama Festival 2023
Won: Best New Play Won: 3rd Place Trophy
Nominated: Adjudicator Award (Katie Alcock) Nominated: Best Supporting Role (James Barnard and Amanda Thurman) Nominated: Technical Achievement
Well done everyone, a great job by both cast and crew.
Those who attended thought It was a very good festival with a number of excellent performances by both youth and adult groups. There was also much praise for the quality of the adjudicator, with his insightful and entertaining adjudications. Well done to the organisers of the festival. Players Eyes are already being cast to festivals in 2024!
Prior to the Festival, on 8th and 9th Sep, saw performances of Fake or Fortune, and Here Comes the Sun written by another Player, Stuart Cocks. Both were very well received on both nights by our own audiences. Also on those evenings we had a display of items from the Settlement archive and a special performance of our Centennial poem, written and performed by Jo Roskilly, another Settlement Player. The poem can be found below.
During our centennial one act play evenings, we announced the rest of the 23/24 season. Following our production of Ken Ludwig’sThe Games Afoot, for whichtickets will be available in early October, we have a strong line up for March and June 2024.
14-16 March 2024 Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, Directed by Sam Powell
20-22 June 2024 Absent Friends by Alan Ayckbourn, Directed by James Barnard
And put in your diaries, on Wednesday 29th November 2023, a New Members/Old Members Evening with drama games, laughs and a chance to flex your theatrical muscles.
September 8th and 9th, Two one act double header evenings. Both Plays will be performed on both nights. There will also be a small exhibition of items from the Players archive.
Two short plays written and performed by the Settlement Players. Here comes the Sun, a short drama based around science, and, Fake or Fortune, a comedy about the almost true tale of how the Settlement was saved!, which will also be performed at the Cambridge Drama Festival on 14th September, in the new play category.
September 8th and 9th, Two one act double header evenings. Both Plays will be performed on both nights. There will also be a small exhibition of items from the Players archive.
Two short plays written and performed by the Settlement Players. Here comes the Sun, a short drama based around science, and, Fake or Fortune, a comedy about the almost true tale of how the Settlement was saved!, which will also be performed at the Cambridge Drama Festival on 14th September, in the new play category.
ONE ACT EVENINGS September 8th and 9th, Two one act double header evenings. Both Plays will be performed on both nights. There will also be a small exhibition of items from the Players archive.
Two short plays written and performed by the Settlement Players. Here comes the Sun, a short drama based around science, and, Fake or Fortune, a comedy about the almost true tale of how the Settlement was saved!, which will also be performed at the Cambridge Drama Festival on 14th September, in the new play category.
Tickets, £5, available, online and on the door only, for 8th and 9th September at the Little Theatre, Settlement, Letchworth Box Office – Settlement Players Settlement Players (settlement-players.co.uk)We also plan to have a small exhibition of Players items from the Players archive on the 8th and 9th September.
Cambridge Drama Festival 14-16th September. Players performance of Fake or Fortune is Thursday 14th September. Tickets available ADC Theatre, Cambridge. What’s On | ADC Theatre
Here, Claire Hogan the author of Fake or Fortune, talks about the play and the inspiration behind the play.
“The play takes place inside on the stage of the local amateur dramatics group home venue of The Settlement. Covid has left the Arts Centre badly impacted financially. With months to go to The Settlements Centennial anniversary, the centre faces closure leaving the local Am Dram group with two dilemmas’, what play will they chose for their centennial anniversary the following year and would they need to find a new venue as well as a play? Can the cast use their talents on and off the stage to keep the Settlement open and a home for their dysfunctional group of actors?”
Claire further explained “Although, there is an element of this being meta for us; in the sense we really did nearly lose the venue due to the impact of Covid. Not to mention that this is our play to celebrate our 100th Anniversary. The reality is that arts centres and theatres are still suffering the long term effects for Covid and now austerity.”
