Billy Liar
September 2023
Written by Keith Waterhouse & Willis Hall
Directed by Janine Hewlett
This production celebrated the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Oasthouse Theatre by reprising the first production staged.
A gala performance of Billy Liar was given on Thursday 7th September to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Oasthouse Theatre which took place on 8th November 1963. Guests at this special performance included the Deputy Mayor of Medway, Cllr Marian Nestorov and his wife, Cllr Barry Kemp and patrons, Phil Gallagher & Nicholas Robinson. They were joined by past members including former Treasurer and Box Office Manager, Val Warn, Joy Garlick, Pam Balderston, Pauline Harley and Julie Jenner.
In his speech, the Deputy Mayor said "Let us express our deepest gratitude to the Rainham Theatrical Society for their unwavering commitment to the arts, to this theatre and the local community. Six decades of captivating performances, of laughter and tears, of stories that have touched the hearts of young and old alike. Your tireless efforts have kept this beacon of creativity and connection alive for 60 extraordinary years, enriching our lives and reminding us of the enduring power of the stage". Cast List (in order of appearance)
Florence Boothroyd
Kerry Bailey
Alice Fisher
Mia Heathcliffe
Geoffrey Fisher
Kevin Lane
Billy Fisher
Andrew Deamer
Arthur Crabtree
Joe Pritchett
Barbara
Alice Tilley
Rita
Amanda Miller
Liz
Amy Metcalfe
Stage Manager
Hugh Bailey
Set Construction
Hugh Bailey, Alan Godman, Geoff Bolden, Brian Redding, Steve Berry,
Gerald Flanagan, and David Neale
Prompt
Gloria Knight
Props
Jill Balderston
Lights & Sound
Steve & Janine Hewlett
Costumes
Claire Feekings and members of the cast
NODA Review
7th September 2023
Firstly, I congratulate RaTS on sixty years of bringing exceptional theatre to Medway. I can remember some of the first, and it has been an honour over the past 12 years to be able to review your performances. Keep this up and I hope to be there on your 70th year.
For many, us of a certain age, we can remember this period of Billy Liar, and I must compliment RaTs on their set and props they were exceptionally good. Kerry Bailey is a delight as Grandmother Florence, not liking anything in the 50s it seems. Her monologues in the first act of the play were a delight. Andrew Deamer as Billy Fisher I felt was adequate in the role, but I felt at points his comedy was lost. Billy is a comedy and should be a laugh a minute for all the cast, this didn't happen in this production. I've seen 'Billy Liar' as a play and as a musical many a time, and I laughed all the way through. Billy's highlight of his performance and perhaps the highlight of the evening is Billy replying to his father (Kevin Lane) about being "grateful" it was a nice piece of acting between the two of them. Alice Fisher (Mia Heathcote) was perfectly cast as Billy's mother, as were the four supporting roles, each giving us great performances, Arthur Crabtree (Joe Pritchett), Barbara (Alice Tilley), Rita (Amanda Miller), and Liz (Amy Metcalfe) the differences of their characters stood out as they should.
Jannie Hewlett directed this 'Billy' on the stage of the Oasthouse theatre with nice direction of her cast, but I felt that it was a little slow on dialogue at times, this maybe because of first night nerves, and loss of lines in some places. I feel sure this could pick up as the run progresses.
Thank you RaTS for inviting my guest and I and once again congratulations on reaching 60 years.
Gordon Harris,
NODA SE District 5
Firstly, I congratulate RaTS on sixty years of bringing exceptional theatre to Medway. I can remember some of the first, and it has been an honour over the past 12 years to be able to review your performances. Keep this up and I hope to be there on your 70th year.
For many, us of a certain age, we can remember this period of Billy Liar, and I must compliment RaTs on their set and props they were exceptionally good. Kerry Bailey is a delight as Grandmother Florence, not liking anything in the 50s it seems. Her monologues in the first act of the play were a delight. Andrew Deamer as Billy Fisher I felt was adequate in the role, but I felt at points his comedy was lost. Billy is a comedy and should be a laugh a minute for all the cast, this didn't happen in this production. I've seen 'Billy Liar' as a play and as a musical many a time, and I laughed all the way through. Billy's highlight of his performance and perhaps the highlight of the evening is Billy replying to his father (Kevin Lane) about being "grateful" it was a nice piece of acting between the two of them. Alice Fisher (Mia Heathcote) was perfectly cast as Billy's mother, as were the four supporting roles, each giving us great performances, Arthur Crabtree (Joe Pritchett), Barbara (Alice Tilley), Rita (Amanda Miller), and Liz (Amy Metcalfe) the differences of their characters stood out as they should.
Jannie Hewlett directed this 'Billy' on the stage of the Oasthouse theatre with nice direction of her cast, but I felt that it was a little slow on dialogue at times, this maybe because of first night nerves, and loss of lines in some places. I feel sure this could pick up as the run progresses.
Thank you RaTS for inviting my guest and I and once again congratulations on reaching 60 years.
Gordon Harris,
NODA SE District 5
The semi-comical story about William Fisher, a working-class lad living with his parents and grandmother in the fictional town of Stradhoughton in Yorkshire at the end of the 1950s. Bored by his job as a lowly clerk for an undertaker, Billy is an incurable liar, idle and dishonest, and to escape from his dull job spends his time indulging in fantasies and dreams of life in the big city as a comedy script writer. His family is unable to understand or control him, though they realize that he is a good for nothing. There are also the three girls to whom he is simultaneously engaged! But when he is given the chance to start a new life, he turns it down, preferring his dreams to reality.