Press Release 

Below is the press release that was supplied to local media.

Merry Wives of Windsor  - a family affair

Longsdon Amateur Dramatic Society - LADS are really thrilled with the cast of their latest saunter into Shakespeare. Following the success of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” their choice for the autumn production is “The Merry Wives of Windsor”. The play employs a huge cast of twenty three which has proved to be a real family affair.

The two “merry wives” alias Suzanne Edwards and Liz Carpenter, are getting merrier by the minute, and will be playing opposite their husbands John Edwards and Gordon Carpenter – all very popular faces with LADS audiences. To add to this Suzanne and John will be acting with their grandson James Bate who is no stranger to the Longsdon stage.

Richard Johnston Jones takes the stage alongside his father Tim and his grandfather David Briggs, scoring a first for LADS with three generations of renowned actors in the same play. We all welcome the return of Mike Shadforth to the Longsdon stage acting alongside his son Mark, both masters of comic timing, and the ultimate come-back-kid Alan Greener in a larger than life comedy role. Ken Weir fresh from his intrepid fundraising trek to Mount Fuji features with other stalwarts and LADS favourites including the smooth talking Arne Swithenbank.

Tony Shaw once more electrifies the stage together with the award winning Glen Naden creating a splendid duo. Kelly Pointon so aptly plays the girl they all want to marry and the inimitable Mary Hall is just the icing on the cake. Our talented young newcomers include the very promising Jordan Williams, Emily Jeffery, Lucy Johnston Jones. James Bate and Cathrine Nadin have given splendid performances in Ayckbourn’s “Man of the Moment” and Sean Holdsworth the little “star” of our 1998 production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” becomes a seasoned performer of Shakespeare at the age of nine.

Finally what can we say of John Sillitoe who is cast in the role of Falstaff ? – probably not a lot other than it will be entertaining. So come and see them all in Shakespeare’s superb farcical comedy “The Merry Wives of Windsor”.

“Merry Wives” will run from November 17th – 20^th at Longsdon Hall. Our licensed bar will be open before, during and after the play as usual.

 LADS are now taking party bookings of 12 or over at discounted rates contact us on 01538 373212 or 01782 503969 for details.