The time has come again to look back on another year and as we all prepare to mark the passing of 2007 and the dawning of 2008 I thought the time was right to look at 2007 from an STF angle.
It’s hard to believe that a year ago myself and the STF productions team were preparing for the auditions to find the company for ‘We Will Rock You’, in the run up to Christmas last year we were fielding calls from interested performers and accepting applications to join the company, indeed I remember spending my birthday on the phone to one very nervous young lady whom I had never met before and who was a little nervously needing some encouragement to audition, she needn’t have worried as she became one of our principal cast members who did an outstanding job.
It would be most difficult not to look back on 2007’s achievements from an STF point of view without focusing on WWRY. From a personal point of view this production has been the most fulfilling work I have ever been involved with for so many reasons, it was certainly one of those times where I was constantly pinching myself, such was my conviction that the whole experience was so incredible that I must have been dreaming it!
It is really only now that the scale of this achievement is finally sinking in, what everyone on the good ship STF achieved with this production is awe inspiring and we have been blessed with the finest talent available with far and away the most brilliant group of human beings I could have dreamed of, all being a part of something magical and hopefully a little ground breaking. More importantly though we raised a substantial amount of money for a very worthy cause. What I loved about the whole process was the sheer speed with which it was all put together, a three month prep once the rights were acquired, a month of auditions, then a rehearsal process of two and a half months before we hit the stage, bearing in mind that when we bought the rights we had no company, production team or more importantly…..funding! To everyone involved in any way, thank you all.
The year of course saw the normal exceptional high standards of amateur productions across Scotland and I know many of our members took part in many and enjoyed supporting others in their endeavours, there were so many highlights over the year, too many too mention here, but our congratulations to all companies across Scotland for your fantastic work which thrilled audiences up and down the country, It is lovely to be able to read the great feedback on these boards and we look forward to another year of great shows, from the list of what is coming up in 2008 across the regions my mouth is watering already and we at the STF look forward to getting out and about far more this year to support our colleagues across Scotland.
The forum itself has seen many changes this year as we start to expand our remit, after a lot of reflection on how we are evolving and the positive and supportive feedback I decided to revamp the site itself, a work which is still ongoing, and with the decision to keep STF as an ongoing charitable production company we have started to merge the forum and production arm into one umbrella body under the STF banner. There are many good causes that deserve our support, some theatre related, some not and as a consequence the STF will continue to provide support to others whenever and wherever it can.
I also hope that over the course of the New year the forum can strengthen it’s support of Amateur performing bodies across Scotland, the SCDA, NODA and many others do tireless work in looking after the interests of amateur performers across Scotland and we look forward to strengthening our ties to these organisations and supporting their great work, building a positive and forward thinking support to all participants in amateur entertainment.
The STF also are looking forward to supporting the efforts of The Alhambra Company to restore the Alhambra Theatre in Dunfermline to a fully operational live entertainment venue, this marvellous building has the capacity and will have the technical support to become one of the countries leading entertainment venues and will be able to stand alongside the countries existing prominent venues in offering the Scottish public a varied and high profile programme of entertainment as well as being a natural home to community groups and amateur performance companies. It is hoped to have phase one of the restoration complete and the theatre opened by spring 2009, over the course of the 2008 we will be supporting the Alhambra Trust by assisting with many live events over the year to raise awareness. I have been honoured to be asked by our good friend Paul Gudgin to take an active role in the Alhambra team and look forward to involving as many of you as would like to help in our various endeavours throughout the year. The spectacle that was The Alhambra Alive launch party and Open day weekend will live long in the memory and to have 250 people in The STF Inter Company Choir on stage singing three songs from ‘Les Miserables’ led by the incomparable Jeff Leyton was an incredible experience. Special mention too for the STF Alhambra ‘Big Sing’ at the close of the open day which reunited many of the cast from WWRY.
So that’s about it for one year, my personal thanks must go to all of my STF team who support me brilliantly and without whom there would be no site to maintain. Iain, David, Alan and Martin for all their great work, friendship and support over the last twelve months, a special thanks to Jason for being our tech Guru on the STF and for his continued sponsorship of the forum and for hosting us on his own servers. It really is hugely appreciated. My thanks also to the STF Marketing team and in particular to the WWRY Management and production team, Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all your exceptional work. When do we do it again?
From all of the team to all members of The Forum, Thank you for your support and may we wish you all a Happy, prosperous and successful New Year.
Yours in Theatre,
Mark.
