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As we begin our 2008 season we hope to have something for everyone.

Stage To Screen

The October production is to be a “Revue” of song and dance.

Wednesday 29th, Thursday 30th and Friday 31st of October 2008 at 7.15 nightly

This will be a tribute to all those wonderful musicals that were taken to the screen by MGM and others. Of course some of these were first seen as films and then re-written for stage. So for all of you who enjoyed Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Judy Garland, Howard Keel, with some up to date shows as well, this is the one for you!

Booking details are here.

Rehearsals

Rehearsals begin on Tuesday 29th April at 7.30pm at Gateshead Fell Cricket Club. We're always looking for new talent, so if you're interested, why not come along and get involved.

Young Men Wanted

Rehearsals have begun for our October concert but we are still in need of young men! This is always the problem. We have gorgeous young ladies who need to be partnered in the chorus pieces. Dancers are especially welcome!!

There is still time to come along and join us. We enjoy a good social side to our society, and as we rehearse in the Cricket Club the bar is very close at hand after the rehearsal. Please feel welcome to come along any Tuesday night and see what we are all about. We start 7.30 till about 9.30pm.

A New Venue

We have a new venue for this show:-

  Gateshead College Theatre,
  Baltic Campus,
  Quarryfield Road,
  Quayside,
  Gateshead.

This will be an exciting venture to be the first to use this venue. We hope to attract new members and audiences with this change. There is a secure multi storey car park and a bus service from both Gateshead and Newcastle which stops right outside the main entrance.

The facilities include disabled access, a Bistro for pre show meals and tea and coffee points. All in all we feel this is a far better deal for our patrons and our members and we look forward to seeing you there

Production Team

Bea Atkinson - Director

Bea has been involved with many Amateur Operatic Societies for over 40 years, going from chorus member to leading lady. She began her theatrical career with Gateshead A.O.S. in the sixties, performing at the Empire Theatre, Gateshead and joining Felling the following year.

Before long she was taking principal roles and she has also "guested" with most of the local societies, including Newcastle A.O.S, Chester le Street A.O.S, Riverside, Cestrians, Caprians, Jarrow, Walkerville. In fact it sounds like a North East A-Z .! Bea was also a member of the Tyne Theatre Group, and performed there under the direction of Jack Dixon. She feels lucky to have been directed by some of the best people in the area over many years.

Having been on stage for most of her career, she has also been Secretary, Chairman, Prompt, Props, Wardrobe Mistress and successfully ran her own Theatrical Costume Company for a number of years.

Bea attended the "Directors Course" at NODA's Summer School in 2002, when she decided that Follies was to be her last show on stage. It seemed a natural progression that she become a director.

The King and I will be the first production for Bea and she hopes to pass on all the experience she has gained and is greatly looking forward to the challenge of keeping our society up there with the best of amateur musical theatre.

Graham West - Musical Director

Graham began his theatrical career with the Tyne Theatre Stage school and progressed to assisting the musical director. He became Musical Director in his own right at the tender age of 19 with Whitley Bay A.O.S. He went on to M.D. for Sunderland A.O.S., South Shields G&S and West End A.O.S. with credits for Evita, Chess, The King and I, Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story and then Follies for Felling. Once again we are delighted to have Graham as our Musical Director.

Peter Allsop - Accompianist

We are very lucky to have Peter for another year and we are sure the rehearsals this year will be just as enjoyable as last year.

Hazel Thompson - Assistant Director

Hazel is a well respected performer and director with many successful shows under her belt! We first dragged her out of retirement to play the part of "Solange" in Follies which she enjoyed so much she has happily agreed to become a member and help us with our next venture. Welcome back Hazel we are delighted to have your expertise and your lovely voice !

Helen Wilson - Choreography

Helen began dancing when she was four years old at the Elsa Wilkins School of Dance in Sunderland, now the Kathleen Knox School of Dance. Her love of musical theatre came at the age of eleven when her parents took her to see Cats in London. Having danced with many musical theatre societies in the North East her first appearance with Felling Stage Society was at the age of 18 in a production of Calamity Jane, she returned to the society the following year to take the part of Virtue in Anything Goes. Her most recent appearance was last year in The King and I and she is now delighted to be returning to the society as choreographer.

When she isn't teaching dance classes or taking rehearsals she is a lecturer at City of Sunderland college.

This is her first time as choreographer with Felling Stage Society and she is very excited. She would like to thank her dancing teacher, Kathleen Knox for all her teaching and support over the years