Discovering the Roseland – and a bit beyond.
By Lindsay Brooke
As some of you might be aware I am a newbie to the Roseland. To discover more about what goes on here I have set myself a goal. I will try something, or go somewhere new, at least once a month – even if it means venturing out on my own.
17 November 2022
The Veryan Players Hell Fire Corner – the play that nearly got away
Hell Fire Corner – The play that nearly got away
The Veryan Players
Performances 24th, 25th, 26th November
It is a dark, wet, windy night but down in Veryan Parish Hall the lights are burning bright.
I’ve had an invitation from the Veryan Players to watch the first on-stage rehearsal of their latest production Hell Fire Corner. So, armed with my trusty torch – it is a long time since I lived in a village with no street-lights – I brave the wind and rain and head out into the night.
I am drawn to the warm glow emanating from behind the closed curtains. Away from prying eyes the Veryan Players are putting the finishing touches to the play that very nearly got away.
The show must go on
Their original plans to stage Hell Fire Corner by the Cornish author DM Thomas in 2020 were scuppered just a week before opening night when the first lock-down was announced. But the show must go on, and over two and half years later, much to the delight of cast and crew, that is exactly what’s happening.
The play explores the lives of people living and working in the tin-mining communities of Cornwall at the turn of the 20th century. It was hard and unhealthy work fraught with danger. Against this backdrop of harsh living and working conditions the story follows the life of Jack a young man who struggles to provide for his wife and family. Jack and the community he lives in are keen followers of real-life rugby player Bert Solomon – a lad from Redruth who famously played for England.
This year’s production is being staged under the direction of Shelagh Kester: “We take it turns to direct, it is a shared job and I love it. It is always a bit chaotic at this stage, especially when you’ve got a big cast, but it will be fine. We are very lucky to have some new younger players join the group recently.”
Everyone in the group lives in Veryan or has or has had connections with the village.
Issy Keat, who plays Amy, is new to the group: “I recently moved to the village, and I mentioned that I wanted to join something that was community based. I turned up for a reading and told I was in!”
Many hands make light work
Everyone chips in, as well as a part in the play members of the cast get involved in designing the set, building the stage, sorting out props, technical support and making much-needed cups of tea between rehearsals.
The village hall doesn’t have a stage, so it is purpose built every time there is a new production. And because the village hall has many uses the stage can only go in no earlier than two weeks before opening night. So, just ten days before opening night this was the first time the cast had rehearsed on-stage – although for many of them it was a case of deja-vu.
Sarah Wilson, who plays Florrie, has been involved with the Veryan Players for many years: “It was really disappointing when we had to cancel the play because of lockdown so it is great to be revisiting it.”
Veryan Players have a long history. The Society was originally formed in 1957. After a period of inactivity, they were back in 1991 and have been staging productions ever since.
You can get involved
The Society is looking for more acting members – particularly between the ages of 18 and 45. They are also on the look-out for people to help backstage and front of house. Father Doug Robin, an active member of the society since he retired, said: “There are plenty of opportunities to have a go. Many hands make light work and amateur dramatics can be great fun.”
The Veryan Players aren’t the only drama group on the Roseland. If you live further afield Tregony and St Mawes have their own drama groups and Portscatho are setting up a new one. There’s plenty of co-operation to make sure performances don’t clash.
Hell Fire Corner performances
Performances of Hell Fire Corner are at Veryan Parish Hall on 24, 25 and 26 November. Curtain up at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 and are available from Veryan and Portloe Stores. If you want to get involved with the Society contact Michelle Couch, michellecouch72@gmail.com or Graham Webb, gwhillside@btinternet.com – you are sure of a warm welcome.
10 November 2022
First stop – Hall for Cornwall
First stop – Hall for Cornwall. Yes, a bit beyond the Roseland I know, but very much in need of our support.
Wow! What a building
I stuck my nose through the doors one Saturday morning during a visit to the Truro Farmer’s Market. For someone who loves a farm shop it was a wonderful surprise to turn the corner into Lemon Quay – the Piazza as I now know it – to find a one stop shop for locally produced meat, fish, bread, cheese, gin, arts and crafts and much more. I confess the market has become a regular haunt for me and no visitor of mine goes home without a visit. But I digress.
Having been up to my neck unpacking packing boxes I had escaped to Truro to spend an hour or two in the late summer sunshine soaking up what the city had to offer. I found myself in the Hall for Cornwall Green Room Cafe. One look at those comfy sofas and I was tempted to order a coffee and put my shopping down and my feet up. Sadly, for me other shoppers had got there first. So, I drifted off in search of the box office. I soon discovered I had come through the back door – or had I?
Behind the scenes
The very helpful staff directed me through the theatre itself – the Cornwall Playhouse. The house lights were low and the splendid three-tiered auditorium was slumbering between performances. So, I took a few moments to look around and soak up the ambience of this remarkable building. Even without the buzz of an audience and actors on stage you get a sense of how much this building has to offer. And if I thought I was getting special treatment I was wrong.
Unbeknown to me I was taking the Opeway, Cornish for an alleyway between two buildings. It runs through the heart of the building from Lemon Quay to Boscawen Street. The Ope gives anyone who comes inside the chance to glimpse what goes on behind the scenes.
Past and present
Then the “show stopper’ the jaw dropping foyer, or front of house. It was only then that I got a real sense of the history of this remarkable Grade II Listed building. The box office and bar nestle at the foot of huge granite pillars that hint at what has gone before. This building has been many things. It was once the City Hall, a meat and vegetable market, a fire and police station, a roller-skating rink, a cinema. And now, after a £26m three-year refurbishment, it has metamorphosised as Cornwall’s leading theatre and arts venue.
At the box office I was greeted by a team of very helpful staff and before I knew it, I was buying tickets and signing up for annual membership. My first show – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. But it won’t be my last.