Chesil Theatre Winchester held a highly successful themed quiz night and charity auction on 4th December 2015. The auditorium and bar of this intimate studio theatre was transformed with dozens of 007 posters, pictures and photos – even the balloons featured the super spy himself.
 
On arrival guests enjoyed a martini provided by Winchester’s own gin distillery, Twisted Nose. Then came the quiz devised by long-standing Chesil Theatre member Paul Riddell. This was preceded by personal good wishes sent from actor and Sherlock writer Mike Gatiss via Skype. Paul’s carefully researched audio-visual presentation included a hilarious “what came next” round with cliffhanger extracts from 12 Bond films. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was voted the favourite.
 
Tension mounted as online bids were carried forward to the live auction. Savills’ Charlie Seligman swapped his 30 different roles in the forthcoming Chesil production of The 39 Steps to speed brilliantly through 38 lots. Popular items included meals at many of Winchester’s top restaurants as well as theatre, sports and concert tickets. Unlucky for some but fortunate for the lucky bidder at £660 was a tour of Aston Martin Racing’s brand new facilities at Banbury. Others in the audience will be looking out to see themselves as film extras in a forthcoming production. Of the extensive Bond memorabilia on offer, some donated by Roger Moore, a signed photo of Judi Dench as M fetched £177 and Shirley Eaton as “The Golden Girl” £85.
 
In all, funds around £3,500 were raised in aid of the Chesil Theatre Development Appeal which aims to extend and improve this much loved arts venue in one of the most cherished medieval buildings in the heart of the City.
 

Set in 1908 Yorkshire, J B Priestley’s play is a witty insight into Edwardian marriage and a timeless exposition of what is both tender and ridiculous in human nature. And it is funny, very funny. Three middle-aged couples meet to celebrate their wedding anniversaries – all married on the same day in the same place. Their comfortable middle-class bubble is burst when it transpires their marriages may not have been solemnised by a fully qualified clergyman. How can they possibly keep up appearances? However, after much chaos and confusion all ends happily.
 
Chesil Theatre did full justice to Priestley’s well-crafted dialogue and characterisations. Norma York’s faultless comedic timing as the mischievous charlady, Mrs Northrop, stood out. Harriet Gandy as Ruby the maid was equally entertaining as a 15-year-old working class lass, breezing through the trauma in her employers’ lives as if it were a works outing.
 
The obtuse and pompous Councillor Albert Parker was captured perfectly by Eric Petterson. Juliet Surridge as his wife gave a subtle performance, gradually emerging from her timidity with very satisfactory results. Caroline Hall and Paul Revell were convincing as the snobbish Helliwells. A very scary Clara Soppitt was played by Rachel O’Neill and Stephen Percy gained our sympathy as Herbert, the woebegone husband. Richard Martin was hilarious as the drunken photographer and well matched with Marina Humphrey’s saucy performance as Lottie.
 
The production was authentic to the period, from costumes by Gerry Tuff to sound designer Malcolm Brown’s jaunty brass band music. The detailed Edwardian parlour furnishings were meticulous from set designer David James. Director Lisbeth Rake used the theatre’s small stage very cleverly. At the beginning of the play, the three wives are seated passively whilst the men stood authoratively, but this tableau shifted as the play progressed. The movement and placement underscored the changes in dynamics as social reserve began to seep away. This was a polished performance from the Chesil Theatre’s actors and a great evening’s entertainment.
 
Jenny McRobert