PODS and Our Productions | Pershore Operatic and Dramatic Society

PODS

Our Story

On 25th January 1989, Judy and Stuart Megarry held an inaugural meeting above Pershore’s Baptist Church,

having posted leaflets around the town for anyone interested in forming a Musical Theatre Society.

They arrived on a freezing January evening and waited. There was lots of interest, with 74 people attending. This was no ordinary meeting, by the end of the evening everyone was up and singing "There’s no Business Like Show Business" and so PODS began.

PODS performed their first show 14 weeks later at Pershore High School and had to put out extra seats for all three performances in the school hall, which held 400 people. Later shows were put on at Pershore Leisure Centre, where impressive sets were built from scratch by the blood, sweat and tears of society members over a four day "get in".

PODS have also put on shows at the Frank Parkinson Lecture Theatre at Pershore Horticultural College and the Swan Theatre in Worcester.

In 2004 Number 8 Community Arts Centre opened its doors and PODS became its resident theatre company.

Rehearsals throughout the years have been held in numerous venues including: the New Inn, Cherry Orchard House, The Almonry, various village halls, the Old Music Hall, then at the back of the derelict former Co-op which later became Number 8.

Rehearsals now take place at Number 8.

Costumes have also been stored in a variety of places, including: Special Occasions, Sue Clasen’s cellar, the back of Bradford and Bingley, the Old Music Hall, the Wilson’s property on the High Street, then round everyone again before finally into Number 8 with a

dedicated wardrobe store.

Scenery for shows has been built in: the Old Magistrates’ Court Room where flats were painted on their side, then Jim Hutcheon’s factory, the Old Music Hall, a barn at Drakes Broughton and now at Steve Miller’s barn. Props have been stored in a trailer on Pershore’s former Aerodrome and are now in our trailer on Marshall’s yard.

Between performances, PODS have performed local cabarets for different organisations, entered floats in Pershore Carnival and taken part in other community events.

Many people who have come through our Society have also gone on to be professional performers entertaining in: Disneyland, the West End, on Cruise Ships, for Birmingham Rep, Pantomimes on tour and in lighting for West End shows to name but a few.

PODS have always put on quality shows where a combination of great talent, hard work, productive rehearsals and great team spirit have given the public, in and around Pershore, some wonderful entertainment which we hope will continue for many more years to come.

FORTHCOMING PRODUCTIONS

PAST PRODUCTIONS

Puss in Boots

At Christmas our pantomime Puss in Boots

'whiskered' our audience away

on a fairy 'tail' journey of love and danger, passion and

puns, excitement, surprises, and tunes which left

everyone 'feline' great!

Our 'fur-bulous', foot-tapping, fun-filled pantomime proved 'purr-fect' for the whole family at Christmas.

With Kings and castles, magic and monsters, the clever capricious kitty and friends demonstrated their natural wit

and wiley ways to save the kingdom from tyranny, and help their friends find true happiness,

in a superbly successful show !

Puss in Boots once again demonstrated the broad range of talent and skills across our acting and production teams, brought together so successfully under PODS' first-time Director Rob Watts, ably supported by Producer Andrew Myatt, also making his very successful debut as Producer for a PODS show.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

3rd - 8th June 2024

PODS Summer show took us to the Australian Outback.

Based on the smash-hit movie, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT was a heartwarming, uplifting adventure of three friends, Tick, Bernadette and Adam, a glamorous Sydney-based performing trio who agree to take their show to the middle of the Australian outback. They hop aboard a battered old bus (nicknamed Priscilla) searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they ever imagined. With a dazzling array of outrageous costumes and a hit parade of dance floor favourites including “It’s Raining Men,” “I Will Survive,” “Hot Stuff,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “Go West,” “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” and “I Love The Nightlife,” this wildly fresh and funny musical was a journey to the heart of FABULOUS!

PODs received a standing ovation on all nights of the performance, which was sold out weeks before the show started!

Christmas Spectacular from Stage Right (175)

Christmas Spectacular from Stage Right (67)

Winter show 2023

PODS Christmas Spectacular

4th - 9th December 2023

PODS took us on a whistle stop tour of everything we love about a Christmas Show, with something for everyone.

We evoked the true spirit of the stage with brilliant vocals, stunning choreography, super sketches, a spectacular light and sound show enhanced by imaginative back projections and backed in the pit with a live band and our resident musical director, not forgetting hundreds of fabulous and 'spectacular' costumes.

We treated you to an evening of sheer enjoyment from Bing, Barlow and Bublé, from 'Polar Express' to 'Elf', 'Sister Act', 'A Christmas Story', tap and ballet numbers plus Rod Stewart, Elvis, Kelly Clarkson and Britany Spears. We had something to suit everyone's taste.

Christmas Spectacular from Stage Right (41)

Christmas Spectacular from Stage Right (182)

Christmas Spectacular from Stage Right (201)

Christmas Spectacular from Stage Right (166)

Guys And Dolls

NODA review by Bruce Wyatt June 2023

In this PODS version of the iconic musical based on two stories by Damon Runyon, Matthew Owens and Victoria Annis directing their debut musical comedy, had the courage to explore some unusual influences resulting in a comic book style of production, which explained the garish bright suits, unusual backcloths and projections, and in the main this worked.

Out of necessity rather than by design, several of the male roles were taken by ladies, which was a pity, but each was undertaken with full commitment. You could not help however but enjoy the individual performances including the four main characters; Steven Miller as Sky Masterson, Rachel Sampson as Sarah Brown, Paul Tapley as Nathan Detroit and Loren Howland as Miss Adelaide.

Produced and Directed by Victoria Annis and Matt Owens

Maid Marian and The Merry Men

In December our audience cheered a good dose of girl power as Maid Marian and her Merry Men saw off the evil Sheriff and put Nottingham (and Pershore!)

to rights just in time for Christmas !

Packed houses and amazing audience reactions helped PODS start the Christmas holiday period off in style with another quality show with something for all the family !

Written by Kit Hunter and Directed with style by our very own first-time directors Hannah Burton and Lindsey Kirby,

this hilarious new take on the Robin Hood legend stretched preconceptions further than Marian's longbow, much to the enjoyment of our discerning audience, young and old alike.

'Maid Marian and The Merry Men' joins PODS' long list of entertaining and memorable Christmas productions, and we would like to thank our audience

for your continued generous support and patronage.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

from

Maid Marian, The Merry Men, and everyone at PODS !

Mad About Musicals !

Mad About Musicals took Pershore Operatic and Dramatic Society to new heights, with a discerning audience knowing an amazing performance when they saw and heard one !

No opening night jitters in this show, as early applause built as the show went on, through to loud cheers of appreciation and a long and well-deserved first night standing ovation.

By Tuesday morning the word was all over Pershore, and the last few tickets were selling fast. By Wednesday the remaining shows were sold out, with anxious people calling the box office and asking for returns !

That rapturous applause and standing ovation on the opening night, was followed by even greater appreciation every night thereafter, and a huge wave of glowing reviews have come from every direction. From people in the street, via email, across social media, and on BBC Local radio.

As the curtain falls on our show, under the direction of Judy Megarry,

PODS have done it again,

and Pershore is Mad About Musicals !

SNOW WHITE

December 6th to 11th 2021

As the pandemic began to recede and life began a tentative return to normal, PODS determination to be at the forefront of returning to the stage brought the theatre at Number 8 back to life.

It was at this point that Victoria Annis and Matt Owens took the plunge, and applied their well-established stage experience to the twin challenges of Producing and Directing a show for their first time, while steering the cast and crew safely through constantly changing Covid rules. Supported by the talented Andrew Hemming as musical director, PODS were back in business !

ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND AND THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

December 2nd to 7th 2019

NODA review by Bruce Wyatt 5th December 2019

Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, are two of the most famous nineteenth-century children's fantasy novels. Director Sue Price created an inspired musical version, involving all the well-known original characters, plus a variety of modern musical numbers, which blended in without feeling contrived.

For some, the story lines are perhaps a bit like Marmite and maybe illogical at times, bizarre or sometimes dark and the script retained these themes closely aligned to the original stories. However no better opening than ‘A Million Dreams’ from the Greatest showman, with the beautiful voice of Sue Poultney.

We are introduced to Alice, played on the night I was present by Mia Brotherton. A completely accomplished performance, well projected and sung, displaying Alice’s imagination and curiosity. Mia even looked as you would hope Alice to look. Alternating with Mia during the run was Kiaragh Brown, who provided an equally convincing performance and I understand looked like Alice too!

The scenes followed many of the chapters from the novel, when we meet some excellent characterisations including the White Rabbit (Steve Miller), the Cheshire Cat (Rob Watts) and the Cook (Marianne Jones).

THE PRODUCERS

10th - 15th June 2019

NODA review by Bruce Wyatt 13th June 2019

Adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan from Brooks's 1967 film of the same name, we arrive in New York, 1959. Max Bialystock was once the king of Broadway, but now all his shows close on opening night. After putting together another Broadway flop, down-on-his-luck Producer Max Bialystock teams up with timid accountant Leo Bloom in a get-rich-quick scheme to put on the world's worst show and pocket money from the ‘old lady’ backers when it closes prematurely… or should do.

Paul Tapley (Max) and Steven Miller (Leo) set the bar high with their performances, both fully capturing their respective characters and in fine voice. They both hold the stage with ease from Paul’s opening and well- paced ‘The King of Old Broadway’ number through to the difficult ‘Betrayed’ which was very well handled and Steven’s sparkling company number ‘I wanna be a Producer’. ‘Mr Marks’, Leo’s inconsiderate boss was a well-played cameo by Dominic Hayne.

Having found the world’s worst show they need to sign up the writer ‘Franz’, played with great comedy by Matt Owens. ‘Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop’, at the physical expense of Leo was very funny. Having signed up the writer, they go in haste to find the world’s worst director and find ‘Roger De Bris’ (Matthew Tebbatt)with his common law assistant ‘Carmen’ (Sean Phillips) both excelling in their respective scenes particularly ‘Keep it Gay’ and later in Roger’s ‘Springtime for Hitler’.

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (BROADWAY VERSION)

3rd to 8th December 2018

NODA Review by Bruce Wyatt 6th December 2018

The Broadway version of this well know operetta provides an opportunity for a new comic dimension to be added to the standard format and PODS took many opportunities to explore this, with great success.

The story remains centred on a roguish Pirate King and his band of pirates and an adventurous Apprentice called Frederick, who goes in search of treasure and romance. Amongst others, he meets a bevy of beautiful girls and their befuddled Father, the Major General, falls in love with one of them and overcomes an unfortunate technicality which almost prevents their happiness.

The ‘Pirate King’ (Paul Tapley) was played with great strength in voice and presence throughout with a splash of comedic naïve devilment, most suited to his character. ‘Frederick’ his apprentice, played by Tom Wilson-Dowdeswell was equal to the task with some accomplished singing which the score frequently demands. Suzie Tapley provided an endearing characterisation of Frederick’s nursemaid ‘Ruth’ who Frederick tactfully explained may not be as beautiful as she would have him believe.

The arrival of Major General Stanley’s daughters increased the momentum and their innocent antics added to the fun, led by Loren Howland as ‘Edith’. Frederick soon meets ‘Mabel’ (Briony Stevens) and is not surprisingly swept off his feet with her good looks, matched by her beautiful singing. Their Father arrives and Tim Shackley completely rises to the occasion with his superb rendition of ‘I am the very model of a modern Major General’, complimented with relevant back projections.

THE BEST OF WESTEND AND BROADWAY

11th to 16th June 2018 at Number 8 Community Arts Centre

NODA Review by Andy Brown for Bruce Wyatt December 15th June 2018

The show was billed as ‘The Best of West End and Broadway’. This was indeed what we saw and more, bringing the songs from these iconic theatrical locations to the historic town of Pershore in Worcestershire.

The show itself consisted of music and dance from 33 musicals! Some titles more well-known than others however, it was likely the audience would at least have known the music selected if not the title of the show. The cast of 45 members and superb orchestra took us on an amazing evening of entertainment with no less than 650 costumes and stunning lighting.

With so many cast members, many of whom took part in numerous numbers, it is impossible to name everyone. Even if looking for the outstanding musical numbers it would still be a tall order as they simply came one after another and the quality of this show came out time and time again.