Welcome to our "Pre-Show" newsletter. The session has certainly flown by and it is hard to believe that "The Full Monty" is almost upon us! Please do feel free to come along to rehearsals to see what has been going on and to lend support to the production team and cast – it would be much appreciated and would allow the company to become used to an audience. As many of you will know, that always adds to the final preparations and gives a sense of the show being "on stage"!

Rehearsals have been going well and it would be fair to say that, not only have members shown a very high level of commitment and enthusiasm, but also patience, in a show, which, by its very nature has needed to be put together in small chunks. The end result is going to be spectacular!
The cast has now been into the Arts Centre to get a feel for the space and atmosphere and adrenaline is kicking in during these final few weeks of rehearsal. A huge vote of thanks must go to the Production Team for their dedication, good humour and continued patience and hard work – their efforts are sure to be rewarded in March.

Thanks to all cast members who have been diligent in their punctuality and attendance at rehearsals – the success of the show depends on this. In the remaining few weeks, please do your utmost to be at all rehearsals and remember to let us know if, for any reason, you are going to be absent. Missing cast members really do have a very significant impact and at this stage, it is crucial that everyone is available at every rehearsal.

We always thought we were on to a winner with this show – and so it is proving! Ticket sales are going very well, particularly for the weekend performances and many thanks to Edna and Sinclair Forbes who have their hands full coping with the orders! Well done to Society members who are clearly working very hard to sell tickets – we have a very innovative way of monitoring the progress towards our monetary target – if you'd like to know more, come along to a rehearsal and see for yourself!
Please keep selling to friends, family, acquaintances, passers-by in the street! What a fantastic achievement it would be if we could sell out the week!

Members have been doing their best to increase uptake of our sponsorship packages, with a great deal of success. Many thanks to Craig Pike for the significant role he is playing in co-ordinating this effort. It's not too late if you wish to sponsor any aspect of this production or to place an advert in the programme. Please contact me in the first instance if you would like to know more (Tel 318518).
We have also enlisted the help of another contact, in order to maximise publicity opportunities. We are very hopeful that some significant publicity will result from this…….. watch this space (or your local press!)

We were absolutely delighted with the turnout for the "poster blitz" this year. A large number of Society members turned out to persuade/cajole local shopkeepers into displaying our excellent poster. Well done everyone – there is a lot of yellow and red to be seen around the town (and beyond!). If you do happen to notice an "uncovered" area or have places where you could put a poster, please contact us – we need as much coverage as possible!

The Casino night planned for 24th February has, unfortunately had to be cancelled. However, another social night is planned for shortly after the week of the show – more details to follow.

Membership and performance fees are now overdue – if you have still to pay, please contact Susan Begg as soon as possible. Fee amounts are as follows:

Membership fee (2006) £30
Performance fee "Full Monty" £60
Performance fee "Singing Group" £15

If you do not wish to continue your membership, but would still like to maintain an interest in the Society, please consider becoming a Patron. More details are available from Sheila Smith,
Membership Secretary (Tel: 575130)

This is arguably the busiest time in The Lyric calendar, with the show fast approaching and a whole variety of tasks which require to be undertaken, from continuing to elicit sponsorship and arranging publicity features, to putting together the programme. We are very grateful to those who have offered help and are busy working away on various projects.

We should also like to ensure that front of house runs smoothly once we are in The Arts Centre. With this in mind, we should be grateful for volunteers to help in the foyer to welcome the audience and to sell raffle tickets, as well as to sell programmes in the auditorium. We should also be very grateful for donations to the raffle, in order to encourage our audience to buy tickets! If you feel that you could spare any time to help out, or are in a position to donate a prize, please do contact me as soon as possible. Thank you!

………..and to all involved in The Full Monty – BREAK A LEG!! Well done - We are looking forward to a fantastic show!


Jen Sutherland
Chairman