It’s that time of year again when lofts and garages are ransacked in search of all manner of dated paraphernalia – winged back chairs, bureaus, sugar shakers, a 1965 Daily Telegraph. Charity shops are scoured for outfits – tweed suits, brogues, pork pie hats and the like. The stage of our local village hall here in Northumberland undergoes total transformation thanks to a team of dedicated handymen (and handywomen) who perch precariously on ladders to ensure the floral pattern wallpaper reaches to every corner and the scene outside the French windows really does look like an English country garden and not the local refuse tip. And don’t slam that door too hard on ‘exits left’ or you will cause an earthquake in the vicarage of Stebbington Fawley. Yes it’s time for the grown-ups version of the dressing up corner – our local village amateur dramatics’ annual performance.
This years it’s ‘I’ll Get My Man’, a farce by Philip King and the whole process of putting it together is in itself somewhat farcical. Those normally sane and rational, are observed, preoccupied and chanting as they walk about the village: the dress rehearsal looms and lines must be learnt. Preparation has been underway for three months and now comes the fruition of everyone’s labour. An intensive and frantic four nights practice on the stage including dress rehearsal before 3 nights’ performance means that nerves are jangling and the luvvies must be handled like radioactive isotopes. Assembly and organisation of props is an operation of military precision right down to that all-important teaspoon but fingers crossed that the Heath Robinson arrangement of wires and switches really will deliver the authentic sound of a bakelite telephone precisely when it’s needed.
I have been grandly named as Assistant Director on the programme, which means I filled in for a few rehearsals, rather ineffectively, when our director wasn’t there. (No-one who has been in every performance for the past 30+ years is going to take a bit of notice of an upstart like me). I also used my recently acquired skills from a radio production course to record the sound effect of women screaming – great fun and very therapeutic for those involved. Despite all the tension, when it comes right on the night it’s a wonderful feeling and you realise that you’re all part of a team and (hopefully) all pulling in the same direction.
And I am very grateful to my friends in the village am dram for all their support in performing and allowing me to record my audiodramas. As a writer they have allowed me the great joy of hearing my words brought to life. Thanks to Jodie, Mark and Karen for their endless patience and enthusiasm in my pilot audiodrama Couple (approx 8 mins), an imaginary conversation between the two figures created by sculptor Sean Henry and sited on the breakwater off Newbiggin-by-the-Sea on the Northumberland coast.
Couple - an Audiodrama by Rachel Cochrane
Also the play Village Notes (approx 45 mins) which stars the wonderful character actor Howard. It's the story of a middle class, middle aged woman and her less than respectable goings on to find news for the hard pressed Editor of the local newspaper.
VillageNotes final edit
I hope you enjoy listening to them as much as I did creating them.
After a short break for the festive season and taking time to publicise Celia - The Film, I'm looking forward to bringing you some great spoken word over the next 12 months. 
Pit Strike 1984-1985 by Mary Nightingale Bell 
Staying with the mining theme, 16 January 2012 sees the 150th Anniversary of the Hartley Pit Disaster and the death of 204 men and boys. A book has been compiled by Tyneside poet Keith Armstrong of Northern Voices Community Projects, who is also a regular on listenupnorth.com. Contributors to this book, including myself, will be reading out their work at a special launch event at The North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers, Newcastle (next to the Lit & Phil) on Thursday 26th January 2012 starting from 5.30pm for coffee then a talk at 6pm by Norman Jackson & at 7pm readings from the book and music. All welcome.
