CESP Newsletter

The DECEMBER ISSUE

Dear Readers,
The December Newsletter finds CESP
preparing for the Christmas Concert (2nd January at
Ilford Hospital Chapel), having only just finished our
successful 'Tunes From Toons' concerts!
Our chairman, Jackie Mitchell, organised and
conducted 'Tunes From Toons', which was a great
success, and I am pleased to say we had a good
number of children in the audience, a bit of a change
from our usual audience demographic.
Of course, as soon as we have presented the Ilford
concert, the next item on our schedule will be the
first rehearsal for 'The Pirates of Penzance'. I should
stress that this will be an Open Rehearsal, and
anyone who is even slightly interested is welcome to
come along! Then on 12th, we have our open
auditions. Our director for 'Pirates' is Clare Bradley
who has already come up with a logo for this
production and who is the subject of this months Q & A.
Richard Wheatley (Social Secretary)

Q & A with Clare Bradley

How did you first hear about CESP?
Last summer I had a call from the Rathbones
inviting me to join CESPs Gallery Singers for
The Gondoliers. I have known both Helen and
Jonathan from university days and still sing
with them on occasions. I was immediately
impressed with the tops of the companys
heads, their singing standard and their
friendliness. Sally then asked me whether I
might be interested in performing in the next
production, but when it turned out CESP were
looking for a Director and the production was
Pirates I felt that was where I really had
Clare with her BAFTA

something to contribute. Im thrilled to have been offered the job and am enjoying
getting to know the company.

What is your previous experience of the G & S operas?

Being a somewhat nerdy child, I fell in love with the Savoy Operas watching the G&S
prom on TV when I was about 8. More specifically it was Gilbert in particular that
caught my attention; I had never
heard anything like a patter song
before and I was just amazed at all
those words. I went the next day to
the local second-hand bookshop and
asked if they had any Gilbert &
Sullivan. I think the owner must
have been tickled by this as he gave
me a beautiful hardcover copy of
Pirates and Mikado in one edition
for the price of my pocket money a
shilling.
Clare as Pitti-Sing (L) and Helen as Peep-Bo (R) in The Mikado
My first G&S role was as one of the
Stanley daughters at school when I was 11, a part which I repeated when I went to
university this time at the Minack Theatre with the Cambridge University Gilbert &
Sullivan Society (alongside Helen Rathbone). In my Uni years I progressed from
chorus to principal roles with CUGS and finally became their Director. I was most
proud when my production of Patience won the Minacks Production of the Year
Award.

How do you like to spend your time when not directing G&S?
When I became a TV director and then Producer the
long and irregular hours meant that I was unable to
make the regular commitment so my theatrical
endeavours had to be put on hold. However, as I
worked largely in pre-school TV my imagination and
creativity was still being exercised; I was a main player
in setting up the CBeebies Channel and created many
series for it. I have always been an all-rounder I
sing, dance, design, make costumes and write - this
has always been very useful when budgets are tight.
When BBC Childrens TV moved to Salford I took
redundancy and have since been working as a writer.
And finally I now have time to return to my beloved
G&S.

Clare started her TV career on PlaySchool

Are you planning a traditional production or one with a twist?

My productions are always quirky and definitely have a few twists though
hopefully still remaining within a satirical spirit of which W.S.G would approve.
Im still formulating my plans but I promise you its all going to be a lot of fun!