Sense and Sensibility

by Jane Austen, adapted by Jessica Swale

17th to 19th May 2018 | Lincoln Drill Hall

New member Julia  Ross made her debut as a Common Ground director by taking on an ambitious yet hugely successful production of Sense and Sensibility, adapted for the stage from Jane Austen’s novel by Jessica Swale.

Again we were able to look beyond our membership to cast some younger actors, among whom Sarah Cliffe (Elinor),
Laura Potente (Marianne) and Jordan Leith (the Ferrars brothers) were outstanding. They were ably supported by some
of our regulars such as Fraya Grove (Margaret), Vicky Ashberry (Mrs Dashwood) and Suzannah Turner (Fanny) in an ensemble cast which was a joy to watch.

Julia also made many of the period costumes which helped to give the production such visual appeal.

Our audience numbers were hampered by an unforeseen clash with both the FA Cup final and a royal wedding, but the show was well received by all who saw it.

Reviews:

“The whole cast was cohesive and it flowed, so very good in that way. I really enjoyed it. I’ve seen lots of different stuff over the years and that was one of the best and really professional. Very very good. You wouldn’t have thought some of the cast were novices – some seemed as good as professional actors.” – Zara Healey via Facebook.

“Brilliant performance by all the cast. Well done everyone.” – Karen Potente via Facebook.

Romeo and Juliet

By William Shakespeare
18th to 20th May 2017 | Lincoln Drill Hall

We haven’t tackled a Shakespeare play since 2007, when we joined forces with the now defunct Lincoln Shakespeare Company to stage Julius Caesar. So we were excited when Vicky Ashberry volunteered to direct Romeo and Juliet, and it turned out to be one of our most successful and most favourably received productions to date.

It was a production that was not without its problems: three cast members pulled out for various reasons in rehearsal, so a certain amount of re-casting was involved. We also had far more women than men at the auditions, which led to the decision early on to cast the play gender-blind with women playing Mercutio, Benvolio, Escalus and Father Laurence. This decision, along with the updating of the play to Verona in the 1960s, the echoes of fascism and the live music, made this a truly interesting performance.

The music really took the play to another level, and it was great to hear 1960s songs from the period combined with original music composed for us by our musical director Robert Steadman.

We were determined to find young actors to play the title roles and we were lucky to unearth two university drama students – Aiden Clark and Sophie Marlowe – who worked extremely hard on their roles and produced performances of remarkable maturity and solidity.

They were supported by a cast which featured a good deal of experience – Colin Brimblecombe as Montague, Jez Ashberry as Capulet, Stephen Gillard as Tybalt and Ruth Andrews as Escalus – as well as a sprinkling of youngsters. Georgina Wilmer and Emily Ashberry in particular brought a whole new dynamic to the relationship between Mercutio and Benvolio.

We sold 430 tickets over three performances of the play and managed to make a small profit, which was a bonus for us. We also welcomed 100 pupils from two local schools who, we hope, enjoyed this refreshing and thought-provoking production of a well known play.

What they said:

“We were very impressed with what we saw; in fact… I doubted if I could find anything wrong with the production. It was excellent both from the actual staging to the acting all round. Not only that but the diction was pretty good, too.

“The fight scene was quite superb; very well choreographed and executed. I thought the musical interludes were delightful and added much to our enjoyment.” – Anne Huckerby

“What a brilliant production of Romeo and Juliet! Everything came together so beautifully: the action, the music, the stage, it was such a slick and professional show. Huge well done to everyone involved.

“For such a well known script there were so many fresh aspects, including the musicians, that I’m not sure I’ll ever see it topped! I can’t wait to come and see the next production! Bravo!” – Kerri Saxby

“Thought it was a brilliant production – funny, poignant and touching. What triumph!” – Elaine Howells

“Not a big Shakespeare fan but this lively interpretation kept my interest. The period, the stylish minimal set, the lighting, all backing up sensitive, well directed performances all round. And with a classic 1966 McCartney ballad for added potency! What was not to like? Well done!” – Ray Longmore

“I very much enjoyed Romeo and Juliet. Strong cast throughout… I particularly liked the way the emotional power of the performance grew as the show went on, drawing the audience in through the performance.” – Michael Church

“We had a great evening and the students really enjoyed the performance – we even had some tears at the end!” – Melissa Scott, Banovallum School

“Thoroughly enjoyed Romeo and Juliet last night. Especially good to see young actors being given opportunity and a young audience watching accessible Shakespeare.” – Phil Hamlyn Williams

Little Women

By Louisa May Alcott – Adapted by Emma Reeves
13th to 15th October 2016 | Lincoln Drill Hall

Long-standing Common Ground member Martin Noble made his directorial debut with this ambitious and well received production of Little Women.

Emma Reeves’ adaptation actually included two books – Little Women and Good Wives – and was a faithful re-telling of the well known story of sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy as they grow up without their father in the United States during the civil war.

The production required a good sprinkling of young people, which were able to find thanks in part to help from Lincoln’s two universities, and an array of 19th-century costumes which our wardrobe ladies Su and Carolyn managed to put together on a shoestring as usual!

We sold almost 400 tickets over three performances of the play, which also featured singing and live music. Performed on a simple set, and telling the story through flashbacks from the point of view of Jo, Little Women was one of our most successful productions; it was extremely well received by the audience and we even managed to make a small profit!

The production was dedicated to our founder member and committee member Gaynor Little, who passed away in September.The production was dedicated to our founder member and committee member Gaynor Little, who passed away in September.

Reviews:

“I saw Little Women at Lincoln Drill Hall last night. A truly excellent production. I’m normally very critical of amateur theatre (even though I’m involved myself) but this was outstanding. The talent on stage, particularly the younger, less experienced members of the cast, was a match for many professional productions. The dedication and passion from the actors was very obvious. It was the best I’ve seen from Common Ground Theatre Company (I caveat that by saying I have only seen six or seven of their productions) and most probably the best amateur production I’ve ever watched.” – Simon Harvey, via Facebook.

“Don’t miss it! A thoroughly enjoyable night out on many different levels. It was great to see a young, lively, talented cast (even the older ones looked young and lively). Music, costumes, lights – well done Martin Noble with your directing debut.” – Dot Howes, via Facebook.

“Fantastic performance of Little Women last night, thoroughly enjoyed! Well done everyone!” – Shona MacLean, via Facebook.

Dancing at Lughnasa

By Brian Friel
23rd to 25th September 2015 | Lincoln Drill Hall

Our autumn 2015 production in the main auditorium at Lincoln Drill Hall was Dancing at Lughnasa by the celebrated Irish playwright Brian Friel.

Directed by Gaynor Little, the play tells the story of an impoverished family of sisters living in rural Ireland in the 1930s and the effect on them of the return of their older brother Jack, who has been working in Africa as a missionary priest.

A fabulous ensemble cast really brought this play to life, aided by an ingenious set (which cost £30!) and some suitable down-at-heel costumes and props.

As usual with Common Ground we welcomed several newcomers, but to the untrained eye it seemed that the cast had been working together for years! Dot Howes, Pam Marnie, David Thew, Dene Woodman and Louise Ross all appeared for us for the first time, joining Common Ground stalwarts Su Toogood and John Leighton and relative newcomer Fraya Grove.

Sad to relate that just a week after our performance Brian Friel passed away, but we felt we did justice to one of his best loved plays despite the small audiences over three nights at Lincoln Drill Hall.

The Fisherman’s Wife

A sex farce, with sea creatures – By Steve Yockey
30th April to 2nd May 2015 | The Room Upstairs, Lincoln Drill Hall

We have staged all kinds of plays in our 14-year history, from Shakespeare and Dickens to coarse acting and contemporary drama. But it’s fair to say that we’ve never performed anything quite like The Fisherman’s Wife, which was our offering in spring 2015.

Never before performed in the UK, this is a new play by American author Steve Yockey which takes as its inspiration The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife, a 19th-century Japanese woodcut which depicts a raunchy encounter between a female pearl diver and two tentacled sea creatures.

From that starting point Yockey wrote a crazy, surreal sex farce featuring an unhappily married couple, a sexually opportunistic travelling salesman and a pair of magical sea creatures who assume human form when on dry land.

Our hilarious show in The Room Upstairs at Lincoln Drill Hall featured live music, vivid underpants, drug misuse, a puppet show, sex, violence, a singalong and much more besides.

Once again we had several new faces in our cast – Matt Noakes and Suzannah Turner as the sea creaures Octopus and Squid and Fraya Grove as the eponymous Vanessa Minnow – while old stagers Philip Little and Jez Ashberry played the fisherman Cooper Minnow and Thomas Bell, the travelling salesman, respectively.

The play was a virtual sell-out and certainly enhanced our reputation as a theatre group which is prepared to push the boundaries wherever possible!

Review: “We went to see The Fisherma’ns Wife on Saturday night, had a thoroughly fun evening with lots of laughs – well done!” – Jill Cook via Facebook.