© Jonzac Players

Last Updated • 20th August 2008

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Who Are Jonzac Players?

Our Association, originally named G&S à Jonzac,  was founded in 2002 by a very enterprising lady, Beryl Fairey. The idea to form a theatre group, principally for performing “opera comique” in the English language, stemmed from successful “workshops”, where singers would get together for a day and in the evening give a concert performance of the work they had rehearsed.

Our association has grown from strength to strength and we now number some 40 members. Not all our members are singers or performers…thank goodness. We also have friends who make costumes, paint scenery, make props, create advertising and so on.

Our main show each year, is performed in the beautiful Théâtre du Château in 17500 Jonzac, Charente-Maritime usually in the week leading up to Easter.

Up to the present our main show has always been an operetta by Gilbert & Sullivan. In 2002 it was “HMS Pinafore”, 2003 “The Mikado”, 2004 “Iolanthe”, 2005 “The Gondoliers”, in 2006 “The Yeomen of the Guard” and in 2007   “Ruddigore”. At Easter 2008 we will perform, by overwhelming demand, “HMS Pinafore” , but in an entirely new and exciting manner.

In 2005 we decided to expand our activities and as a result staged a second show each year around the Christmas period.

In December 2005 we presented our “Edwardian Music Hall”. In January 2007 “Victorian Extravaganza” hit the stage with the Première of Jim Parker’s “Mayhew’s London” and in January 2008 “Aladdin – The Pantomime” performed to absolutely packed houses.

Our Association is not just an am-dram theatre group. We also have a strong social side which is expanding rapidly with the launch and rapid growth of our “Friends” club.

This gives the opportunity for people to meet, make new friends and also learn more about theatre in general. We also build links with other associations and share activities.

Two links which are already flourishing are with the international chorale “La Chantonge” based in St Jean d’Angély and with the Ecole de Danse in St Germain de Lusignac (Jonzac).

The chorale took part in our “Christmas Music Hall” in December 2005. The Musical Director of La Chantonge, Caroline Bradley, directed our “Victorian Extravaganza” in January 2007, allowing our resident Musical Director, Allan Mottram, to strut his stuff on stage and several Chantonge members have also joined our association. In return several of our members have joined la Chantonge.

Our link with the Ecole de Danse under the direction of Christine Bourguignon also started with the “Christmas Music Hall” and continued with their wonderful dance sequences in “Mayhew’s London”. Christine also choreographed the dances in “Ruddigore” and “Aladdin” for her corps de ballet.

The biggest single vote of thanks from our Association must go to the Hervé Sardin and his staff at the Ecole de Musique in St Germain de Lusignan (Jonzac) who allow us to use their magnificent facilities for all our rehearsals.

We rehearse there on Sundays starting at 10:30am and after a picnic lunch and a chat we continue to about 3pm.

Merci beaucoup Hervé !

We welcome new members with open arms in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

There is no bar to age, nationality or gender! The prime requirement is to enjoy making theatre with like-minded people.

Above all we have a great deal of fun and laughter and manage, at the end of the day, to put on good shows to satisfy our audiences.

Beryl Fairey