see programme - Hitchin Thespians

HITCHIN THESPIANS
Founded 1902
The Gondoliers
Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th March
The Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage
Box Office 01438 363200
www.gordon-craig.co.uk
2011 PRODUCTIONs
Spring Concert
Saturday 9th April 7:45 pm and Sunday 10th April 2:30 pm
Woodside Hall, Hitchin
Box Office 01462 641575
boxoffice@hitchinthespians.org.uk
The Wiz
Young Thespians
Thursday 14th to Saturday 16th April
Woodside Hall Hitchin
Box Office 01462 434181
anncrook@btinternet.com
'On A Lighter Note' Summer Concert
Thursday 14th to Saturday 16th July
Woodside Hall, Hitchin
Box Office 01462 641575
boxoffice@hitchinthespians.org.uk
For more details of these and other events visit our website
www.hitchinthespians.org.uk
For Woodside Hall Bookings contact: Ann Crook, Woodside Hall Manager on
01462 434181 or anncrook@btinternet.com
HITCHIN THESPIANS
Present
Christmas at Woodside
Conductor Alan Childs
Accompanist Robert Day
Thursday 9th, Friday 1oth and
Saturday 11th December 2010
Woodside Hall, Hitchin
Winners of the NODA Best District Production Award for
1997, 1999, 2004, 2006 & 2009
Affiliated to the National Operatic & Dramatic Association
HITCHIN THESPIANS is a Registered Charity, Number 1005332

Soprano
Jane Baxter, Gwenda Beech, Anna Carter, Gill Cheaney, Joanna Chugg,
Diane Cliffe, Margaret Coxall, Lesley Greasley, Viv Hamilton,
Wendy Hazelwood, Jane Homer, Lynne Leggat, Katherine Males,
Susan Osbourn, Sandra Page, Ann Peacock, Melanie Plowman,
Sheila Soothill, Pat Staff, Ellen Ward, Rosamunde Ward, Jenny Wilson.
Alto
Gill Clough, Brenda Cundell, Lilian Dixon, Pauline Gimson,
Antonia Homer, Sheila Mole, Jan Nash, Judy Page, Keryle Rutherford.
Tenor
Fred Ardron, Jamie Brown, Andrew Carmichael, Alan Dickinson,
Peter Goff, Peter Gordon, Andy Johnson, Howard Roberts,
Iain Rutherford.
Bass
John Beal, Ron Burton, Eddie Cullum, Ian Hamilton, Jack Lardent,
Nick Morgan, Keith Mortland, Mike Steele, Andrew Wyllie.
HITCHIN THESPIANS’ BUILDING FUND 2011
NEW BIGGER HUNDRED + CLUB
'Roll up, Roll up' and help raise funds for 'The Society'.
I am pleased to announce that for 2011 we shall be running a bigger and
better 100 + Club. We aim to make it into the 200 Club. This will mean
bigger prizes and more money to help Thespian Funds. We will now be
selling tickets to all who wish to help us, so I am asking you all, please buy a
ticket.
This is how it works:
For £12, paid upon application, you are allocated a number from 1 to 200 (or
more!) The numbers are allocated in strict rotation, based on when you
apply. Although I would appreciate applications as soon as possible you can
still buy numbers early in 2011!
Draws will take place every month, usually on a rehearsal night at
Woodside. We aim to sell 200 tickets, so the prizes will be £250 in June and
in December a mammoth Christmas prize of £750. All other monthly
winners win £50.
If we do sell fewer than 200 numbers, unfortunately the prizes will be scaled
down. Winners will be notified immediately and winning names and
numbers for each draw will appear in our Newsletter, Spotlight.
Remember, you can only win ‘if you are in’, so PLEASE complete and return
a form to me. Please be sure to enclose both a cheque, payable to 'Hitchin
Thespians' (for £12 per number) AND a stamped addressed envelope.
You should find forms on your table, or next to the main entrance.
Or, contact me at :-
.
Andrew Carmichael,
19a, Tilehouse Street,
Hitchin,
Herts. SG5 2DY
Tel. 01462 433866

Acknowledgements
Part One
Choral Managers:
Concert Manager:
Box Office Managers:
Front Of House Manager:
Programme Editor:
Lighting:
Raffle:
Rehearsal Pianist:
Punch Makers:
Hall Decoration:
Susan Osbourn & Charles Langford
Andy Johnson
Nick & Nicky Morgan
Ann Crook
Susan Osbourn
Alan Bailes & Team
Vivienne Tadman
Robert Day
Jane & John Tunesi, Paul Adams,
Charles Langford, Mark Savage
Brenda Cundell, Gill Clough, Ann Crook,
Lilian Dixon, Antonia Homer
Choir: Gaudete arr Ben Parry
Verse 1 Iain Rutherford
Verse 2 Mike Steele
Verse 3 Ian Hamilton
Verse 4 Andy Johnson
Reading: A Christmas Lesson by Tom Krause
Viv Hamilton
Solo: Rejoice Greatly From Messiah by G F Handel
Jane Homer
Mince Pies supplied by the Hospitality & Catering Department of
North Hertfordshire College
Choir corsages worn to support The Garden House Hospice, Letchworth
Carol For All: Sussex Carol Traditional
On Christmas night all Christians sing,
To hear the news the angels bring,
On Christmas night all Christians sing,
To hear the news the angels bring,
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our merciful King's birth.
Then why should men on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad,
Then why should men on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad,
When from our sin he set us free,
All for to gain our liberty?

When sin departs before his grace,
Then life and health come in its place,
When sin departs before his grace,
Then life and health come in its place,
Angels and men with joy may sing,
All for to see the newborn King.
All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night,
All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night,
Glory to God and peace to men,
Now and for evermore. Amen.
E'en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen,
And i o, i o, i o, by priest and people sungen.
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis.
Pray you, dutifully prime your matin chime, ye ringers,
May you beautifully rime your eve-time song, ye singers
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis.
Choir: We Wish You A Merry Christmas arr Gwyn Arch
Choir: The Linden Tree Carol arr Ben Parry
Verse 1 Jane Homer
Verse 2 Melanie Plowman
Choir: Fum, Fum, Fum arr Gwyn Arch
Reading: The Spirit of Christmas Anon
Joanna Chugg
Choir: A Polish Lullaby arr Gwyn Arch
Verse 1 Katherine Males
Verse 2 Ian Hamilton
Verse 3 Susan Osbourn
Choir: Taladh Chriosta arr Ben Parry
Soloist Jane Homer
Hitchin Thespians would like to wish you all a very
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
If you have enjoyed this concert and are interested in joining the Society, as either
a member or a patron, please contact:
Lynne Leggat, Secretary
Hitchin Thespians
Woodside Hall
Walsworth Road
Hitchin
Herts SG4 9SP
or
secretary@hitchinthespians.org.uk

Reading: P.S. To Santa by Ivor Davis
Alan Dickinson
Choir: Designer Christmas by Errollyn Wallen
Rapping Paper
by Ben Parry
Reading: The Office Christmas Party Anon
Mike Steele
Solo: Miss Hooligan's Christmas Cake Anon
Susan Osbourn
Reading: Christmas Fruit Cake Anon
Margaret Coxall
Choir: Christmas Is Here Again arr Ben Parry
Choir: Silent Night arr Gwyn Arch
Verse 2 Melanie Plowman
Carol For All: Ding Dong Merrily On High Tune by Charles Wood
Ding dong merrily on high in heav'n the bells are ringing
Ding dong verily the sky is riv'n with angels singing
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis.
Carol For All: Rocking Czech
Little Jesus sweetly sleep, do not stir,
We will lend a coat of fur.
We will rock you, rock you, rock you,
We will rock you, rock you, rock you,
See the fur to keep you warm,
Snugly round your tiny form.
Mary's little baby sleep, sweetly sleep
Sleep in comfort, slumber deep.
We will rock you, rock you, rock you,
We will rock you, rock you, rock you,
We will serve you all we can,
Darling, darling, little man.
Solo: O Holy Night Adolph Adam
Iain Rutherford
Reading: Christmas Bells by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Sheila Soothill
Choir: Child Of God arr Ben Parry
Il Est Ne
arr Ben Parry
Carol For All: While Shepherds Watched Este's Psalter, 1592
While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.

'Fear not' said he, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind,
'Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.
To you in David's town this day
Is born of David's line
A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign.
The heavenly babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid .'
Thus spake the Seraph, and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song
'All glory be to God on high,
And to the earth be peace,
Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men
Begin and never cease.'
INTERVAL
Part Two
Carol For All: O Little Town Of Bethlehem arr R V Williams
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light,
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
O morning stars together proclaim thy holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth,
For Christ is born of Mary and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep,
The angels keep their watch of wond'ring love.
Verse 3 to be sung by the choir only
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray,
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell,
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel.
during which mulled wine and mince pies will be served
Choir: Just A Tale Howard Goodall
O Mary Where Is Your Baby
arr Gwyn Arch
Solo: Deck The Hall Traditional
Ian Hamilton