Hellos, goodbye and more hellos!
Ten years ago today, The Chameleons said goodbye to a wonderful week performing Sleeping Beauty. Little did we know we were also saying goodbye to the Brent Town Hall, a venue filled with memories for us and generations of theatre goers.
Whether you were a Chameleon, a helper or an audience member through the years you had a story or two to tell involving one of the largest of amateur performance venues around. First you pulled open those oh so heavy front doors, then passed the smallest of boxes offices before rushing up those grand foyer steps in anticipation? Then, perhaps, you stopped at the tombola stall and collected a programme or a foam hand before, tickets checked, you entered the huge auditorium across carpeted floors ready to leave your cares aside for a couple of hours in the magical world of pantomime?
If you were chosen to come up on stage, you performed in a show or were part of the vast back stage army of volunteers you saw even more of this venue. A wide stage with even wider possibilities for creating memories for generations to come. With wing space to cleverly store all manner of items but also to peek (if the Stage Manager wasn’t looking) at fellow cast members singing, acting, ad-libbing and covering each other in shaving foam. To catch a glimpse of various versions of Cinderella’s ponies and coach, magic carpets, and growing beanstalks or wizards rockets that through hours of tech time, you marvelled would even work!
Most of all you’d want to see how audiences reacted to a certain set piece or number you’d seen rehearsed for weeks. If this hall was full you’d know immediately what they liked with their appreciation reverberating across raised seating and faithful front of house staff holding them back!
Moving further back stage passed tech corners only the brave would approach, passed hastily prepared props tables, out of the dark and into the light of the dressing room areas. A Green Room that took on a life of its own with everything from make-up to last minute sewing jobs, from forty winks to vocal warm ups and final pep talks from directors, this room had seen it all. Tight corridors and steps led up to dressing rooms barely touched for years on end. Mirrored walls, favourite corners, rails of costumes, jokes, songs and well, what goes on dressing rooms stays in dressing rooms...maybe...sort of...
Returning to the stage for your next scene you witnessed the joy on the faces of kids both young and old. As another pantomime came to an end, accompanied by cheers, you looked right to the back of this great hall, tried to remember your dance steps but never forgot to smile. You’d be sad it was over but excited for the next year.
Finally, of course would come the get out. After five, full days of building a fantasy land fit for Princesses, Fairies and talking Snails, the performances rushed past in a blink of an eye. At The Chameleons everyone pitches in and barely hours after the final curtain, the hall is empty, save for some tired faces debating the pub or the curry house.
That was that. Show week over. We couldn’t know what the future held. Panto would go on that much we were sure of. No matter what. First we moved on to Claremont High School before our current home at Bushey and Oxhey Methodist Church where, funnily enough, we were due to perform Sleeping Beauty in December. Just as was the case with the Town Hall, we’ll be back for sure. Very soon you’ll hear detail of a radio play we’ll perform on Zoom in a few weeks which we’d love you to join us for. Right now, we wish all our members, patrons and friends the very best of health and, if you do have memories of our shows at Brent Town Hall, we’d love you to share them right here. ...
Photo
On Xmas Eve we tend to use this post to look back on all the entertainment The Chameleons have brought you throughout the year. When we performed our revue show, ‘What’s your Drama’ in February we didn’t think for a second that it would be the last time we would tread the boards in 2020.
Life has changed to so much for so many since then and we raise a glass to those we’ve lost along the way. Here at Chameleons HQ we wait patiently for a safer and happier time filled with opening nights and, of course, you.
We wish our audiences, our members, patrons and friends the very best of health over the coming days and onwards to a better time. We thank those in all the key and front line areas for their continued dedication and spare a thought for those working, separated from family or struggling in anyway at this time.
Below is a link to just one of the amazing organisations out there for those who reach out. Stay safe, Merry Christmas and most importantly, here’s to a better 2021 for all.
www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/christmas-and-mental-health/useful-c... ...
Photo
