Play Reading A
PLAY READING A - Group Leader: Evelyn Russell
All my life I have loved being in plays and tried to join Redbridge U3A Play Reading group but got no further than the waiting list. I noticed during lockdown that Play Reading was no longer happening so decided to start a new Zoom group. I contacted U3A subject adviser and started downloading the on-line play scripts. When the new group was advertised there were plenty of people interested and somehow I muddled through on Zoom – more by luck than judgement!
After about a year was more than happy to start in-person meetings as had exhausted plays available online which were right length and number of actors. Unfortunately Redbridge libraries were of no use to me in this regard but two members of the Group had attended the original group and thought the plays came from somewhere in Leytonstone. So began Sherlock Evelyn. The first 3 people I spoke to at Leytonstone Library had worked there for five minutes and tried to direct me to their children’s play group. Then jackpot – the 4th person took out a key and showed me into a tiny room which was their plays archive. We were in business.
We have read various farces including ones I remember slightly from theatre going in the 60’s. I chose one play on the basis that the National Theatre was going to put it on last year. Not one of my best choices – as we have no Welsh language speakers in the group! We have read An Inspector Calls and Rebecca, two of my favourites. Next month – who knows?
We do a small physical warm up (beloved by group members) and then a verbal warm up. Most plays are for 8-10 people so this restricts the size of the group. We have fun in our group and I would like to thank the members for consistently attending and many of them for offering to host our meetings.
Evelyn Russell