History of the Abergavenny Pantomime Company

The Company had a go at performing two shows a year, with its traditional Pantomime during February half term and a Summer Show in July. One of the main aims of staging a summer show was to give experience to the younger cast members and chorus, to ensure that their enthusiasm did not wane before rehearsals for the next major Pantomime. During the eighties Tony Brinkworth and Bob Symons shared the roles as Producers, with Shirley Wallace undertaking the role of Choreography. In 1987 a new Musical Director was found - Nick Leek and Jane Griffiths undertook the role as Chorus Director. In 1988 the Company staged Puss in Boots with the talented Tim Ward playing Puss the Cat.

In 1989 the Company was unable to provide the town with its traditional pantomime at the Borough Theatre because it was undergoing major refurbishment. Instead we performed our 'Winter Review', in King Henry VIII School and Pandy Village Hall, which contained sketches written by one of our experienced members Alan Chisslett. The format of the show contained magic time, Company Dancers and a brief version of the pantomime Jack & the Beanstalk. With Bob Symons acted as Compeer. During this year we lost our Choreographer Shirley Wallace.

In 1990 Abergavenny was celebrating its 900th birthday, our Production was Mother Goose. We recruited a new Choreographer; Julie Gasson and the whole show was Produced by Alan Chislett. The Curtains opened outside the cottage of Mother Goose which was played by our usual dame Neil Harvey.

For our 60th season a milestone in the history of the Company, in 1993 we staged a pantomime classic ‘The Sleeping Beauty’. During our Diamond Jubilee the Company recruited lots of new faces. Nick Leek our Musical Director also undertook his new position asChairman.

In 1994 our production was to be The Grand Old Duke of York, which was set in the late 16th Century. Bob Woodford and Lynne Stock played their first major parts on stage as acting out The Grand Old Duke of York and Maleficent, a bad-tempered fairy. Alan Chislet decided to make this his last show and he wrote and devised one of the scenes 'The Lost Patrol'. The Junior Section also performed the musical West Side Story during July, which was one of the best shows performed by the younger members.

Dick Whittington was staged for the fourth time in 1995 with the fortunes of Richard Whittington from Gloucester, who appears at the start of the show about to walk all the way back to his home from London, who is eventually made Lord Mayor of London. Our Principal Girl – Rachel Grey, who would probably had been our youngest ever, had to drop out mid-way through December due to her selection to ’The National Music Theatre’ in Edinburgh, followed by a trip to Hong Kong, which was on the same time as our show. The junior chorus doubled in size from thirty to well over sixty. The Production Team also attempted to utilise the wonderful young talent by showing, during Dick Whittington’s inauguration, London memories through the ages.

A couple of months after the totally sold out Pantomime Week at the A.G.M Malcolm Brinkworth decided for Personal family reasons and also friction with a couple of newer Company Members to resign his post as Producer. He had voiced his concerns about certain issues at the A.G.M and at previous Committee meetings. He remains a Life Member after 31 years service. Unfortunately, despite his asking others not to do so, very many Committee, Cast and Company Members also left. His brother Tony Brinkworth who was the President and also a Life Member with 41 years in the Company also finished. The Company had to recruit many new faces to fill the void left, which we have achieved and as Malcolm had always said, the Company's interest and not individuals is the most important thing when decisions are made. In the summer the Junior Section performed ‘We kept a Welcome’, although this was not as well attended as previous summer shows.

In 1996 Lynee Stock, Shirley Wallace and Bob Woodford Co-Produced Jack and the Beanstalk. The Company welcomed some new comers such as Ken Jones and Stephen (Snowy) Clark from AAODS, proving themselves to be talented and skill full performers. The script was also written by Paul Alexander from Jasper Publishing and most of the scenery and the set was designed and made by Peter Sutton and Bob Woodford. The Company shared volunteers from AAODS and ALOC to help back stage with props. It proved to be a wise decision, as older members returned and new members joined, despite the fact that disaster struck during a rehearsal a couple of days before the show. The main electric curtain rail came down with the entire front of house curtains on to cast and chorus who were practicing on stage. The remainder of the rehearsal had to be cancelled and the curtain rail could not be repaired in time for the show, although the show did carry on as normal.

Cinderella was the Pantomime for 1997, Lynne stock decided to leave the Company and we welcomed a new Director Jaci Brickley-Clark. Bob Woodford undertook the role of Production Manager. The Production Team decided that Members should audition for parts. As in the past, parts were given out only on previous talent. An extra performance was put on Saturday evening for the first time which turned out to be a success. On a sad note, however, our Production Manager and Dame Bob Woodford died later that year after a short illness. Jaci went on to Direct Aladdin in 1998 and the show was dedicated to the late Bob Woodford. Peter Holder played his favorite role ‘Abanazer’, his villainous tendencies came in handy especially as being Company Treasurer. APC also decided to affiliate to the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) at the end of that year.

‘The Pied Piper’ was the next challenge for our Company in 1999, with Jaci Brickley-Clark taking a year out as Director. Her husband Stephen (Snowy) Clark took over as Producer as well a playing his usual role as the Village Idiot on stage. Snowy deserved credit for another successful show. Snowy, in fact, went on to produce the next six years. The Pied Piper was played by the familiar face of Len Lane. All the costumes were hired for the first time which made less work for the Wardrobe Department.

The show had even more reason to be remembered, with fifteen minutes to go in the final act during a Tuesday night performance the fire alarms went off. Cast, chorus, theatre staff and audience alike were evacuated into "Red Square" with the Fire Brigade turning up. Ten minutes later everyone went back inside and the Company resumed with the show.

The most traditional pantomime Snow White was our Millennium production. In fact it was the first time the Company had ever staged it, as it had never been performed before. Stalwart member Rachel Grey gave a polished performance as Snow White before she embarked on her university degree. The Company for the first time used a full orchestra under the lead of Jaci Brickley-Clark and they also decided to introduce personal microphones for the cast.

Nick Leek decided to retire from his position as Musical Director but carried on as Chairman. At the beginning of the year Bob Symons who was awarded for outstanding service died at the age of 58. He performed in and produced many shows and was a semi-professional to the Company. At the start of 2001 the sudden death of our Membership Secretary and Drummer Ted Hunt was reported. Ted gave so much time, skill and friendship to everyone. In mark of respect the Company decided to award annually a Ted Hunt Memorial Shield to the best boy and girl. During that year we staged Red Riding Hood. Another extra performance was included, this time on a Friday Matinee which meant the Company increased its performances to eight.

In 2002 we decided to produce Robinson Crusoe. For the first time in while the script was written by its Production Team and was orchestrated by Janette Disson. Also at its AGM in May saw Nick Leek step down as Chairman and our Company dame Ken Jones took over to keep the Committee of the oldest Pantomime Company in Wales in order.

The 2003 production was somewhat unique as we performed Peter Pan, which is usually seen as a stage show. However our talented producer Stephen (Snowy) Clark had written and transformed the story into Peter Pan the Pantomime. The show saw a first for APC with the principals and some of the chorus "flying" above the stage. Following criticism from past audiences that they were unable to hear the singing over the loud orchestra, the Company decided to get rid of the full orchestra and hire its own personal band for the week of the show from The Music Studio in Abergavenny. As the band was so professional, it was decided that they should be hired for future productions. Producer Stephen Clark, Musical Director Jaci Brickley-Clark and Choreographer Shirley Wallace deserved credit for ones of its best ever shows. In addition the Company decided to revitalise its logo, in which a cow logo was designed.

In 2004 once again the theme of flying continued, although not out of the window but on a magic carpet to the Orient. Therefore Aladdin was our next challenge in 2004 and provided most of the older members with parts. Shirley Wallace decided to resign due to her increase workload in her new job and her other wok commitments. Geraint Webb took over as Company Secretary whilst Jaci decided to undertake the role of chorography as well as her usual role as M.D. The Company managed to retain most of its regular cast but as ever there had been a turnover of some of our younger members. It was also Stephen (Snowy) Clark’s last year as Producer with newly appointed Assistant Producer Len Lane who would take over the reigns for next year.

Cinderella was again performed in 2005, Snowy also handed the Producers role to Len Lane, although Snowy remained with the Company and decided to explore his feminine side by playing one of the ugly sisters. The Cinderella script and set was hired from Owen Money Theatre Company. The end result was very entertaining and pleased Producer Len Lane who was making his debut as Producer.

Dick Whittington was performed in 2006. A pantomime classic that is loosely based on a distant past Mayor of London. Rumour has it that Dick did have a cat and that whilst on a journey overseas, he took his cat with him and it earned him a lot of money killing rats. Once again the scenery was hired form Owen Money Theatre Company, although the script was written by Bob Heather. The plot was criticised as being sketchy and thin in places and perhaps failed to live up to past scripts.

Although led by the same Production Team as the previous year, Len Lane and Jaci Brickley-Clark and accompanied by the Music Studio Band, the chorus and principals raised the roof at every opportunity. Lively musical numbers included: "Is this the Way to Amarillo","The Lambeth Walk" and "Warts and All". In addition the sheer enjoyment of the large cast shone through and infected the audience which played along in true panto fashion. The end result once again notched up another rousing success.