SavoyNet Productions at BuxtonThe HistoryThe first Savoynet "production" was The Gondoliers as one of the "Pot-Luck"-style sing-throughs at the Festival Club one night during the Philadelphia leg of the Festival in 1996. There was a lot of discussion and preparation beforehand on Savoynet, allocating parts and preparing a shortened version of the dialogue. The following year SavoyNet did another Festival Club Pot-Luck sing during the Philly leg of the Festival, this time of The Sorcerer and a Pot-Luck sing of Iolanthe at the Berkeley leg of the Festival.Mike Nash then got together a small group of SavoyNetters who lived in the north of England to put together a production of Cox & Box: a fully-staged production, no less, with costumes, props and something approaching a set. Clive Woods played the piano, assisted by Karen Ann Loxley; Mike Nash produced the show and played Bouncer, Nick Sales was Box and Kelsey Thornton Cox; Stephen Hill stage-managed, and others helped out on the day. It took place on Sunday 10th August 1997 at 10.30 in the morning in the Paxton Theatre, and despite a few hiccups made a nice little splash. Encouraged by this first dip into the choppy waters of performing at Buxton, the next step was an adjudicated performance of Trial by Jury at The Opera House the following year. Mike Nash again Produced and David Cound was Musical Director with various SavoyNetters giving technical support. Rehearsals for Trial by Jury started only four days before the performance at the Palace Hotel whilst torrential rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the international cast. Thus on Thursday 6th August 1998 Trial by Jury was the third production in a splendid night's entertainment following The Zoo (Pennine Players) and Cox & Box (Lincoln G&S). In her post performance comments Festival Adjudicator Beryl Dixon praised the production and cast, and at the Awards Ceremony awarded Best Male Voice to SavoyNetter Nick Sales, who played The Defendant. With the success and camaraderie enjoyed by all who took part in Trial by Jury a full production was proposed on the SavoyNet for 1999. Bob and Jackie Richards suggested and instigated cyberspace elections, and under the watchful computer screen of Don Smith, Stephen Hill was elected as Producer, David Duffey as Director, and Larry Garvin as Musical Director. The Opera suggested by Festival Organisers was Ruddigore, a choice readily accepted by the SavoyNet. Since then the SavoyNet productions at Buxton have gone from strength to strength.
The Shows
Authors: Bob and Jackie Richards Date: 9 December 2006 |