MEMBERS of The Castle Players are in the final throes of rehearsals for their forthcoming winter tour production of Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale of buccaneers and buried gold.
Giving it their own twist, audiences will be treated to an evening of classic 1930s-style radio drama with the story played out by Radio Revellers, a troupe of fading stars of the silver screen.
They will create a host of madcap sound effects using some ingenious items as they hit the high seas and breathe life into some of literature’s most iconic characters.
At the centre of the story is the narrator, young and old Jim Hawkins, who will be played respectively by two of the Players’ newest recruits, Sam Phillipson and Emma Curran.
Sam, 21, thinks nothing of regularly walking from Cockfield to Barney for the Sunday afternoon rehearsals rather than wait around for the bus.
“It’s very creative and a lot of fun for me. I’m loving working with everyone,” he said.
“Playing Jim, who’s the sort of anchor character, is a different experience for me, I’ve never done this kind of voice acting before and it’s nice to have a main part that’s my age range.”
Professional voiceover artist Emma, whilst never having done radio plays before, is no stranger to this format.
Her voice will be familiar to public transport London commuters and visitors. Instead of telling people to mind the gap on the London River bus she will be transporting the audience aboard the Hispaniola, in search of long-lost treasure.
“It’s been quite a steep learning curve for me, I think I last acted when in a panto in 2001, but I’m amazed how easy it’s been to feel at home with the cast.
“There are similarities to my day job, blabbing away into a microphone, so it’s good fun to take what I do normally out of the studio. I have a habit of talking with my hands – I’m forever hitting the microphone mid recording – so it’s fun to be able to talk with my hands as much as I like in this.”
Director Gordon Duffy-McGhie added: “Although not the first book about pirates, Treasure Island is considered by many to be the best with its evocative atmosphere and vivid descriptions of one-legged seamen, black-sailed ships, treasure maps and the dreaded black spot, and formed the basis of many familiar blockbusters like Pirates of the Caribbean.
“We hope to convey the element of adventure and a certain romanticism along with a hefty dose of hilarity. Audience anticipation will be encouraged.”
The Treasure Island tour sets sail from The Witham, in Barnard Castle, and plots a course around various village halls in Teesdale and surrounding area.
The Castle Players are always keen to welcome new people, like Sam and Emma, who want to try their hand at anything both on and off stage. Contact the group via the Facebook page.
Tour dates
Saturday, January 14, The Witham, Barnard Castle, 7.30pm, tickets online at www.thewitham.org.uk, by telephone 01833 631107, or in person at The Witham, Barnard Castle (£12/£10 students).
Sunday, January 15, Scarth Hall, Staindrop, 3pm, tickets £9 from 07881 248478, Staindrop Post Office or ticketsource.co.uk
Friday, January 20, Dalton & Gayles Village Hall, 7.30pm, tickets £7.50/£4 U16s. Email
alison@rcdalton.co.ukor call/text 07751 120424.
Saturday, January 28, Mickleton Village Hall, 7.30pm, tickets £8/£3 children, call 01833 640909 or go to ticketsource.co.uk.
Sunday, January 29, Gainford Theatre, 3pm, tickets £12, call 01325 730922.
Friday, February 3, St Mary’s Parish Hall, Barnard Castle, 7.30pm, tickets £8/£5 U16s, call 07708 586676 or 01833 630102 or go to ticketsource.co.uk.
Sunday, February 5, Whorlton Village Hall, 3pm, tickets £10, call 01833 627419.
Sunday, February 12, Cotherstone Village Hall, 3pm, tickets £12/£3 children, call 01833 651980/07732 571416 or email cotherstonevh@live.co.uk.
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
