Unfriend Thank Yous

Good evening everyone,

Producing a show is a strange thing. At the beginning, you start with a script, some ideas, a few conversations, and a lot of crossed fingers. Then somehow, over weeks and months, something incredible happens. A group of people stop being individuals and become a company, a team… and very often, a family.

You spend evenings together, weekends together, send far too many messages to each other, laugh together, panic together and occasionally wonder why on earth you volunteered for this in the first place. Then suddenly opening night arrives, and you realise that all those little moments became something much bigger.

This is a really proud moment in PBDS history because as you know, this our first play we have produced for over 6 years and as well as that, entering into the KDA festival for the first time. Our adjudication was absolutely fantastic and I hope it has inspired everyone to do more in the future.

We welcome some new members, Gemma, Cici and Steve. Thank you for coming to the auditions all that time ago for helping to bring our story to life. A very official welcome to the PBDS family.

And so, without further ado, I have some very important thank yours.

To our cast — thank you for trusting the process and throwing yourselves into this production.

To Scarlett, Cici, Gemma, Dan, Damon, Michelle and Steve Moore — thank you for your talent, your patience, your humour and your commitment to this show. From the weeks of late night rehearsals to the line learning. Thank you for bringing Peter Lindel, Debbie Lindel, Alex Lindel, Rosie Lindel, Elsa Jean Krakowski, The Neighbour, and PC Junkin into our lives — thank you for making them feel real, making us laugh, and giving audiences characters they'll remember long after they leave tonight.

But as wonderful as what happens on stage is, theatre has never been built by the people standing in the spotlight alone.

I want to thank our production coordinator, Elizabeth who has worked tirelessly to being all the backstage elements together. Joy for assisting Elizabeth on this journey as well as being the Artistic coordinator along side Elizabeth who both have really worked hard to ensure our first play in a long time was a mighty success.

I want to thank Madeline McCubbin, Our Director, who has brought her vision to life. Thank you for all the time and energy you have out into this play. We really do appreciate it.

Now to the amazing set design team Avril, Dawn, Sandy, Fran, Claire and Barry. You guys have put all your heart and sole into this and my goodness did all the hard work pay off, the set is simply fantastic. Thanks so much for all your time and effort.

Chloe, Amanda – Thank you for all your hard work in the costume department. A massive thank you for your time, sourcing these costumes. They fitted so well with the play.

Gemma Stevens for all your marketing efforts and getting our show out to the wider community.

To Darren Anne, Paul Hughes, Julie, Fiona, For all your backstage and chaperone efforts. A massive thank you!

To Claire and Ben for driving the show technically, ensuring all the technical elements happen with massive success.

Thank you to Richard and the front of house team for ensuring all of our audience members, feel welcome and watered despite the crazy temperatures.

You all painted, built, rigged, organised, sold tickets, moved scenery, solved problems before anyone else even knew there was a problem, and worked quietly behind the scenes without expecting applause.

Most importantly, thank you all for giving your time.

Because that's what community theatre really runs on.

Time.

People giving up evenings with their families, weekends, bank holidays, energy after long days at work, and choosing to spend it creating something together for other people to enjoy.

That is an extraordinary thing.

Please join me in giving one final huge round of applause to everyone who made The Unfriend possible.

Thank you. This play will truly go down in the history books!