Gordon Craig Theatre      Blackfish Academy      Paul Burton Radio Project      Haven House Hospice

Built as part of the Stevenage leisure complex, The Gordon Craig Theatre was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on 3^rd November 1976. Over the next fourteen years, the theatre amassed a strong and loyal audience following and in 1990 an independent club, known then as The Gordon Craig Theatre Club was founded. The purpose of the club was to provide support for the theatre in terms of  financial donations for projects such as the community spring and summer musicals from membership subscriptions and also contribute towards fundraising for certain items to benefit its customers. In return members were offered substantial benefits in terms of ticket price reductions to certain performances, first night parties with the stars, trips to West End productions, a regular newsletter, backstage tours and various other social events. The original membership of 213 quickly grew resulting in the formation of a 12 strong committee to ensure the smooth running of the club and in 1998 following her first professional engagement at the theatre, Vicki was invited to become club patron.

 ‘The invitation came as a great surprise,’ she explains. ‘I was both honoured and delighted to accept.’ In 2007, with ever changing technology and increasing workloads, the committee and members voted to hand over the day to day running of the club to the theatre itself with Vicki remaining as patron of the newly established Friends of the Gordon Craig Theatre. ‘The committee did a wonderful job for 17 years particularly in the last few months when they were working on much reduced numbers and all voluntarily,’ Vicki continues. ‘In addition to everything else they have done, the club has gained a great reputation among visiting performers for their generous hospitality and welcome at the first night parties. I have been immensely proud to act as club patron over the last 9 years under their regime and am equally excited to be carrying on under the new.’ So far in her role as patron, Vicki has been called upon to attend first night parties and club dinners as well as make presentations and speeches at various events. ‘Due to work commitments I can’t always get to as many first nights and events as I would like but I really enjoy taking part whenever possible,’ she explains. ‘I especially enjoy the first night parties. They are a great way for us as performers to meet our audiences, get feedback and find out what people want. To date, the club has also played a major role in encouraging new members, therefore increasing audience numbers. This is vital to the future of live theatre because let’s face it, without an audience, there is no theatre. I have no doubt that the Friends under its new direction will continue in a similar vein and look forward to the adventures that the future holds’

Vicki's first role under the new regime was to star in the latest of the theatre's summer musicals Annie in which she returned to one of her favourite roles, that of the tyrannical and drunken Miss Hannigan. 'I was absolutely delighted to be asked to play Hannigan again,' says Vicki. 'Especially here at the Gordon Craig. It was a wonderful experience and one I shall never forget.'

Vicki is delighted to announce that she has recently accepted an invitation to become Honorary Patron of the Blackfish Academy, based at The Roundhouse Theatre, in Dover, Kent.

Blackfish Academy was formed in 2005 by Richard Esdale, professional actor and director, while working in Ireland for BBC Television and during a national theatre tour. The Academy is an evolution of an original company formation that took place in 1998 known as Jig in the Box Productions. Blackfish provides professional workshops in all aspects of performing arts including:- acting techniques, physical theatre, contemporary dance, stage combat, stagecraft, stage management, circus skills, set design and much more. It is the intention of Blackfish to create a premier arts and entertainment centre giving people of all ages within the Dover area an outlet for their talents. Plans include facility expansion, creation of a strong employment and entrepreneurship training programme and expansion of the community theatre project. It was as a result of one such community production that the link between Vicki and Richard Esdale was forged. They met in 2005 while working together in the musical Annie at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, produced by Kevin Wood.

The production was just one of many in a series annually produced at the theatre to provide talented youngsters and amateur performers with the opportunity of working alongside high profile professionals. Says Vicki, “ I am thrilled and delighted to have been asked to become a Patron of Blackfish Arts Academy. I first met Richard, the Founder when we worked together in the musical Annie for Kevin Wood last year. The production was a particularly happy experience for me working with such talented youngsters and I was so impressed by Richard’s own drive and enthusiasm that I had  no  hesitation  in  accepting  his  request  to become a patron of the Academy. For me, it is so

important that our young people are given every opportunity to nurture their creative talents in all aspects of the business and the Blackfish Academy not only provides that opportunity but helps to build confidence and communication skills, acting as a major stepping stone to prospective professional careers. I feel this is so vital to the future of live theatre and as such, am honoured to be involved in the project in this way. I wish everyone concerned the very best of luck and look forward to watching developments with eager anticipation.” Performances in Jersey prevented Vicki from being present at the official launch which took place on the 30^th September 06 but she was able to send a personal message of support which was read on her behalf. Those attending included local County Councillors, MPs and community members.

Blackfish Academy is proud to announce the launch of their summer musical We Will Rock You. Blackfish are one of the few companies who have been granted permission to perform the musical outside the West End and the show is due to open on Tuesday 3^rd July running to Saturday 9^th July. Subject to finalising work commitments, Vicki very much hopes to be in attendance on the First Night.

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The purpose of the project is to record new radio dramas, written, directed and produced by Paul. The specially made recordings are then circulated to a number of hospital radio stations in Leicester and London for broadcast. In addition to benefiting patients and hospital staff, the project is designed to help amateur actors by giving them the chance to gain practical experience in radio drama and in many cases alongside high profile professionals. Such is the enthusiasm for Paul’s work that many of his celebrity patrons have already volunteered to take part in his productions themselves. Most recently, Paul Daniels offered his services as a supporter appearing in the drama The Wedding and it is hoped that Vicki may take part in a production herself sometime in the future. Says Vicki, “I think Paul’s project is a wonderful idea and I am delighted to be one of his patrons.

Vicki travelled to Quad studios in Leicester on Sunday 8^th July to take part in Paul’s latest radio play Brides to Be co starring Jeffrey Holland of Hi de Hi fame and Judy Buxton from On the Up, with Marilyn Ann Bird and Paul Burton himself completing the cast. Simon (Jeffrey Holland) and Grace (Judy Buxton) live together in near perfect harmony and are making plans for their forthcoming wedding. As part of the preparations, Grace invites best friend Julie (Vicki Michelle) and work colleague Emily (Marilyn Ann Bird) over to their flat to help her choose the perfect wedding dress aided by several glasses of a particularly acceptable wine. Unfortunately, plans for a convivial girl’s night in go drastically astray when Julie discovers the man her best friend intends to marry is the same man who left her standing at the alter two years earlier. How does Julie react and what will it do to Grace’s future happiness if she finds out. Also dragged into the tangled love triangle are Emily and an innocent and bemused pizza delivery man (Paul Burton). The play is written, produced and directed by Paul Burton and is currently being edited for transmission on hospital radio later this autumn.

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