WamDram, thank you man

A THEATRE group will be turning back the clock by a century when it revisits the eve of the First World War.

Warrington amateur dramatics group WamDram will be staging murder mystery The Last Summer at Walton Hall on July 26.

The play is set during the wedding of an Army cadet and the heiress to a family fortune but something more sinister is afoot.

And the performance will have particularl relevance as it is set exactly 100 years ago – just days before Britain joined the First World War on August 4, 1914.

Phil Black, WamDram’s chairman, said: “I think it is great to honour the memories of our fallen heroes in this unusual way.

“We have been invited by Walton Hall to stage our murder mystery in the venue and we felt such a stage would warrant a grand storyline.”

Phil, who plays Home Office minister Sir Oliver Illingworth, added: “I have no details of family that served in the the First World War.

“But many friends and family have been in service in other conflicts from Burma in the Second World War through to friends that have served in Northern Ireland and Iraq.

“Some came through unscathed, others did not. So I respect all our service personnel.

“At the same time we are hoping to pass knowledge down to young people so that they understand the sacrifices that people made.”

The self-funded group also hope to raise £2,000 towards the £55,000 project to erect a statue of Victoria Cross winner Thomas Mottershead in Widnes.

But they still need some help from Weekend readers to sponsor the costs of costume hire, wedding flowers and makeovers for the actors.

Genuine 1900s memorabilia is also being sought to use as props.

WamDram formed in January 2011 from the ashes of Acting Up which disbanded at the Pyramid centre due to council cutbacks.

Their first play was Bob Larbey’s Sandcastles at Penketh High School in the summer of 2011 and now their permanent home is Cinnamon Brow Farm Club.

Being WamDram’s chairman is a far cry from Phil’s day job as a trainer and health and safety officer.

The 44-year-old, who hopes to set up a young people’s theatre group called WamDram Minis, said: “I have had to sing badly in John Godbers ‘Men of the World’ and appear as the Genie of the lamp.

“With the support of my friends in the group it is so much easier. You don’t fear making mistakes because we all do. You also learn to accept friendly banter from group members just like in a family.”

*http://wamdram.org.uk If you are interested in sponsorship or want to buy a ticket to The Last Summer, visit wamdram.org.uk

DAVID MORGAN