The three one-act plays are done and dusted.  For ELAPs Juniors, this was the first time that they had been integrated into  ELAPs' Spring production, repeating their award-winning performance of Tom Stoppard's abridgement of Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.  The increase in their self-esteem and confidence as they took to the stage in the Village Hall was inestimable.

Several of the youngsters have told us that their teachers have recommended that they join ELAPs to get the experience and the fun of working in amateur theatre - a fantastic accolade for the group.

Gill Bowness, not quite repeating the role that she had in Play On! two years' ago, was overwhelmed by the reception of her first play, 'Hindsight', which was the second feature of the evening.  Starting at the end and working backwards, the two-handed play traced the course of a doomed love affair, matching the course of the relationship with the year's seasons.  'Hindsight' has reached the final of NANDA's Playwriting Competition to be held at Radcliffe On Trent Village Hall on 7th July 2007, the 60th birthday of NANDA, and has been entered into NANDA's One Act Festival at the The Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton on 17th June 2007.  

Finally, we had a hugely enjoyable black comedy, 'Miss Glossop's Weekend Break,' to send the audience home chuckling.  Some of the double entendres only became apparent to me, as Mrs Jarvis, once I was up on stage and in front of an audience.  I have to confess that I broke one of the cardinal rules of theatre, and had to try and conceal my laughter.  I was supposed to play it straight!  Maybe I'll do better tonight.

But there's no time for a breather.  We shall be straight into planning entertainment for East Leake Carnival.  This year, we actually have an entire float to ourselves for the parade.  It's all hush-hush, and I'm not being told what the theme is, so you'll just have to go out to join the throng on June 23rd, to find out.  

And once the carnival is over, the summer workshops, which we use as a preparation for the December production, will begin.  On June 28th, Sue Hutton will be leading a workshop in improvisation, aiming to encourage creative performance and interaction with other players.  On July 5th and 12th, we welcome the return of Julia Gaunt, a professional voice coach who has links with the Leicester College of Performing Arts, and the Midlands Academy of Dance & Drama in Nottingham, and Zak (we only know him as Zak!).  Julia will be giving tips on vocal technique, and Zak will be opening our eyes to business and characterisation on stage.

That's it for today.  Check out www.elaps.co.uk for information and to drop us a line.  You can come to meet us every Thursday in the Village Hall at 7.30 pm.  Everyone is welcome.