World Debut Success

The world debut of CastAways own Linda McKenzie’s thoughtful and surprising play, Memories, was a big success across the three performances on the 31st of March and the 1st of April! Audiences were treated to surprising twists and turns with an ending that left some in tears. Linda’s first play was also a directorial debut for Lesley Amos who did a great job with a play that needed restraint. Everyone at Bispham CastAways looks forward to seeing what these two talented ladies do next!

And the winner is…

Hayley Price – NODA North West District 2 Award Winner

What a wonderful evening at the NODA North West District 2 Awards at The Imperial Hotel! Bispham CastAways had an unbelievable 11 nominations and the group got their first ever winner. The amazing Hayley Price (also a Trustee and Deputy Business Manager) picked up the award for Best Leading Performance in a pantomime for her portrayal of Toto in The Wicked Witches of Oz by Peter Nuttall. It was very well deserved and she now goes onto the North West regional awards. Everyone is wishing her all the luck in the world!

And there’s more!!!

Even more nominations poured in for the CastAways following the release of the NODA North West District 2 nominations relating to pantomimes! A further 5 nominations were announced for the CastAways all from their production of The Wicked Witches Of Oz by Peter Nuttall. They were:

  • Best Pantomime – The Wicked Witches of Oz
  • Best Director of a Pantomime – Harry Chambers – The Wicked Witches Of Oz
  • Best Pantomime Dame – Ian Dodd – Momby/Aunty Em – The Wicked Witches Of Oz
  • Best Pantomime Villain – Susan Hope – Edna/Wicked Witch of the West – The Wicked Witches Of Oz
  • Best Leading Performance in a Pantomime – Hayley Price – Toto – The Wicked Witches of Oz

This brought the nominations at the upcoming NODA awards to a massive ELEVEN for Bispham CastAways… what an amazing achievement!!

CastAways does Bispham Gala!

On the 16th of July 2022, Bispham Gala restarted after a three year break for COVID. Bispham CastAways took part again, participating in the parade and performing the karaoke finale from Old Boilers. It was a beautifully sunny day and the rose queens and their retinues all looked amazing in their dresses and outfits. The members taking part in the parade met at the gala field for Hayley to glitter up the girls and Sue to stick posters on everyone’s back. Then armed with whistles, bell sticks and our trusty dog mascot, Marley, we took off on the route. There were unfortunate issues with the parade due to the heat but we all made it back and, following the rose queen ceremony, sung our hearts out… despite the fact we are not a musical theatre group. Fun was had by all and we look forward to going into the community again.

What a great night of murder!

The cast photo of Cruise of Carnage

There were oooohs, aahs, laughs and gasps as Bispham CastAways performed their interactive murder mystery, Cruise of Carnage by Belladonna Mysteries, across two nights on April 8th and 9th 2022. Everyone had a great time helped by a lovely hot pot supper. There were winners and lots of ”I told you so’s” going around as the killer was revealed. We can’t wait for the next one!

Great fun at 1st Bispham Scouts!

Some of the cast of The Clamourings At Giggly Halt by Richard Coleman

Everyone at Bispham CastAways would like to thank the people at 1st Bispham Scouts for renting their wonderful facility to us for July and August to prepare our outdoor project that we performed at the end of August for Glen Tanar care home. It was important for us to have a safe place to rehearse and setup our first ever portable, outdoor set as we were without a home at that point. The people at the scouts made everything easy and were unbelievably helpful so we cannot thank them enough. The care home production was a success, in part, because of their generous help. We will always recommend 1st Bispham Scouts on Devonshire Road to everyone.

Oh what a night!

All 30 CastAways members and their partners who came out for the NODA North West Region 2 Awards evening on the 29th of February 2020 had a lovely evening, filling a long table with laughter all night. Although the Grand hotel did let the night down with problems encountered with the food, service, bar and access, the CastAways set out to have fun and made the night their own. Still amazed that they had received eight nominations in their first full year with NODA, they clapped and shouted for everyone. Their own Tara Stott did a turn onstage singing for the hundreds who attended, to massive applause. They know how lucky they are to have such an amazing group of talented people and hope to have an even better awards night in 2021!

Nominations Galore

Best Ensemble Drama for Brutal Biology

Everyone at Bispham CastAways are currently buzzing after receiving a total of eight NODA North-West Region 2 Awards nominations, covering an impressive three out of the four of their productions performed in 2019. The CastAways nominations were for the following:

  • Best supporting actor in a drama – Dave McChrystal as Alex Art in Brutal Biology
  • Best actress in a drama – Sue Hope as Mrs Austin in Beside The Seaside
  • Best supporting actor in a Panto – Dave McChrystal as Cheryl in Cinderella
  • Best supporting actor in a Panto – Dominic Bradley as Beryl in Cinderella
  • Best supporting actress in a Panto – Sharon Sinclair as Lady Devillia Hardup in Cinderella
  • Most entertaining in a Panto – Adam Smithson as Bispham Bronco in Cinderella
  • Best ensemble drama – Brutal Biology
  • Best pantomime – Cinderella

We wish to thank all our members for their hard work over the year to create such a successful four productions. Good luck to everyone at the awards evening on the 29th of February!


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