‘Emotionally rich’ adaptation of Pride & Prejudice coming to Cleethorpes – for two nights only!

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A local theatre group is kicking off its 2024 season with a “visually stunning and emotionally rich” adaptation of a Jane Austen classic – but it’ll only be for two nights only!

Class Act Productions’ senior class will perform Pride & Prejudice at Cleethorpes’ Parkway Theatre on April 25 and 26, adapted by Claudia Haas and produced by special arrangement with Eldridge Publishing Company.

The courtship of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy (the role that Colin Firth played with great success in the serial TV dramatisation that set the pulses of the nation racing) is among the most famous in historical fiction, with the production showing how the headstrong Elizabeth navigates the challenges and even her own prejudices in identifying the true qualities of Mr Darcy as her sisters pursue their own romantic endeavours.

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A spokesperson for Class Act said: “This costume drama promises a visually stunning and emotionally rich journey through Regency England; an elegant, yet often humorous adaptation of Jane Austen’s much-loved book. This stage play is written by Claudia Haas and will captivate the audience with a beautiful portrayal of love overcoming social barriers set in 19th Century England live on stage for two nights only.”

Looking ahead, they added: “Next, the Youth group (aged 7-13) and the Senior group collaborate to present Jessie’s Tree by Bev Clark, and produced by arrangement with Stagescripts Ltd. Jessie’s Tree is a play in four acts, set in 1918, 1940, 1967 and 1999 and each is a charming and often amusing story in its own right but all have a common thread – Jessie.

“Childhood is at the heart of this wonderful play; the emotional journeys, the love, the loss and the experiences along the way. It’s a story of friendship and love; of family and what binds us all together.”

Jessie’s Tree will be showing on Sunday, June 23 at 5pm and 7.30pm, also at Parkway Theatre Cleethorpes.

Pride & Prejudice is coming to Parkway Theatre, Cleethorpes

Class Act say they are still looking for a young male aged between 7 and 13 for one of the roles in this play. They said: “It’s a great opportunity for someone who would love to get on stage and perform! If you know anyone who might be interested, then please do get in touch with Amanda Pearce on 07796 097022 or via email to info@classactproductions.co.uk”

Finally, the adults (aged 18+) will be performing The Three Musketeers by John Nicholson and Le Navet Bete, produced by arrangement with Nick Hern Books, on July 4 and 5.

Join hot-headed D’Artagnan as he travels to Paris full of childish excitement and misplaced bravado to become a Musketeer. Will things go to plan? It’s unlikely. He immediately encounters the dangerous femme fatale, Milady de Winter. After discovering that the musketeers have been disbanded, he makes it his mission to get them reinstated. But will his feud with Milady thwart him? And who the heck is she?

This riotous adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel by John Nicholson (Hound Of The Baskervilles, Peepolykus) was originally performed by physical-comedy theatre company Le Navet Bete on a UK tour in 2019, with four actors playing more than 30 characters. It was co-produced by Le Navet Bete and Exeter Northcott Theatre.

Tickets for all three shows are now on sale direct from the Parkway Box Office.

Class Act was founded in 2001 by local playwright David Wrightam whose vision was to launch a theatre school that offered the best training in the area. Over the years, Class Act has staged numerous plays all written by David himself. When he retired in 2020, Class Act Productions Ltd was setup as a non-proﬁt company to continue David’s legacy.

While the shows above have all now been cast and rehearsals are well underway, Class Act is always welcoming new members. Adults (Aged 18+, £6/week) rehearse every Wednesday between 7.30pm and 9.30pm, Youth (Aged 7-13, £6/week) rehearse every Friday between 5pm and 6.30pm and Seniors (13+, £7/week) rehearse across two classes on Saturdays at either 10.30am-1pm or 2pm-4.30pm. All rehearsals take place at St Peter’s Church Hall, Cleethorpes.

For more information, contact Class Act on 07796 097022.

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Governments pledge to ban trail hunting in spotlight as Boxing Day hunts meet

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There were also 553 reports of “hunt havoc”, in which hounds caused disruption such as chasing other wild animals or pets, worrying livestock or causing traffic incidents, or disturbing the public, the organisation said. Emma Judd, head of campaigns at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “It’s 20 years since the Hunting Act was passed but, since then, figures we compile consistently suggest hunts still chase and kill foxes as they did before the ban. “Hunts may claim they are following a pre-laid animal scent trail, known as trail hunting, but this has been shown to be nothing but a smokescreen to conceal old-fashioned illegal hunting.” She said trail hunting and loopholes in the Hunting Act made it “all but impossible” to enforce the law, and called for the Government to strengthen the legislation and introduce custodial sentences for those hunting wild animals with dogs, and to set out a timetable for doing so. 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But Mr Bonner accused parts of the Labour Party of the politics of “perceived class and prejudice” and said: “It’s very sad that we may be going back to a point where we have to waste even more parliamentary time on this irrelevant issue. “If they are claiming that somehow this law needs to be changed to address illegal behaviour, then it needs to be very carefully thought through, and any proposals are brought forward do just need to address that. “Because what there can’t be any any case for is stopping people going into the countryside with a pack of hounds or dogs, and carrying out a completely benign activity, which is what hunts are doing.” He said there were 12,000 hunting days carried out each year which were legal and legitimate. While he said moves to require hunts to lay non animal-based scents and bring in a “recklessness” element to the offence would be survivable for most hunts, he warned Labour against “opening Pandora’s box” by revisiting the legislation, as he said it could become a toxic political battle. In the wake of widespread anger with Labour in rural communities over issues such as changes to inheritance tax for farm businesses and an acceleration of the phaseout of farming subsidies in favour of environmental payments, Mr Bonner also said it would be extraordinary to push a ban. “Given where the government is in its relationship with the countryside already, frankly it would seem extraordinary that they’d want to double down on an issue which really doesn’t matter.” While there are hundreds of jobs supported by hunting, it is a relatively niche activity, he said, but added it plays a key role in parts of rural Britain where farming is tough and mental health and loneliness are big issues. “It’s one of those elements that brings the rural community together and to remove that through an act of spite, if that was to happen, would be something which I think people would react extremely badly to,” he said. Joe Emmett, master and huntsman of the South Devon Hunt, said: “The hunt plays an important role in our local community and meets like Boxing Day are the perfect opportunity for locals and visitors to the area to come together.” The League Against Cruel Sports said polling earlier this year showed more than three quarters (76%) of the British public supported strengthening the Hunting Act, but the Countryside Alliance pointed to a survey over the weekend of more than 2,000 people in which just 5% put it in their top three issues for voting in the next election. Published: 26/12/2024 by Radio NewsHub

Train reliability hits the buffers as annual cancellations exceed 360000

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‘Emotionally rich’ adaptation of Pride & Prejudice coming to Cleethorpes – for two nights only!

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