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PUKKA Productions is an exciting drama
group that formed late in 2004 from roots in Porthkerry Road
Methodist Church (in Barry, South Wales), a place well known for its
drama and music-making tradition. The director, musical director and
many members of the cast, production team and band were actively
involved in the life of the Barry Circuit of Methodist Churches.
The first production grew from a seed sown by Sarah and Dot, who in
2004 had the idea of "branching out" from within the walls
of the church buildings to reach a community of all faiths and of no
faith - a community which they aimed to serve.
 The
debut PUKKA production was Jesus Christ Superstar, a musical
by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, to be performed at the Barry
Memorial Hall during Easter 2005.
The vision for this presentation of the Easter story so captured the
imagination of Methodists in Barry that Pukka Productions was given
financial backing from church funds. This support, together with
individual donations and a grant from the Gibbs Trust, a Methodist
charity with close links to Barry, encouraged the seed to burst into life.
Jesus Christ Superstar was the first fruit of our adult company - and
it was special!
A junior company, Pukka Petites, was formed in January 2005
and has shortly afterwards performed its first show, "Annie and Friends".
After the success of Jesus Christ Superstar, the company has
continued to build and develop their vision of a "company with a
difference" offering shows with a conscience.
 In
2006 PUKKA directed its efforts in support of the Richard Taylor
Memorial Fund, and profits from West Side Story, performed at
Barry Memorial Hall in February 2006 went to this fund. Cast and crew
members also supported the Kidney Foundation Wales "Walk for
Life" on Sunday 19th March, an event that was tragically
overshadowed by the news that John Taylor, Richard's father, and a
keen supporter of the production, had died that day after a short illness.
During 2006 we were also able to help Barry Hospital, Amelia Trust
Farm, and Crossway Methodists by entertaining at their events, and
well over £4,000 was been raised for the Richard Taylor Fund,
Cancer Care Cymru, and Porthkerry Road Methodists/ Windsor Road URC
new Waterfront Church.
 In
November 2006 the company staged a production of Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a magical take upon the story of
Joseph and the coat of many colours. This production was in aid of
the Jamie Adamson Fund,
and it was a real privilege to have Paul, Nicola and Sam Adamson
with us during our rehearsal time. PUKKA would like to thank them for
the opportunity to support other children with leukaemia.
If that all sounds a bit worthy and self-righteous please be assured
that we at PUKKA don't take ourselves too seriously. We laugh. We
have fun. And with the performance of "Joseph", we wanted
you to have fun and laugh with us. 'Joseph' is a real tune-fest, and
the lyrics are some of Tim Rice's wittiest and urbane. We had a great time!
Our spring show in 2007 was 'BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story',
and although the company was busy rehearsing for this, and was a
little short of male cast members, they were not so busy that we
couldn't spare some time for our 'Evening of West End Entertainment'
in March!
Pukka's other plans for 2007 included two new ventures. Pukka Plays
presented "A Midsummer Night's Dream", performed at
the outdoor arena at the Amelia Trust Farm, and our Christmas show
was an all new production of "A Christmas Carol"
written by PUKKA.
   
The adult company had a quieter 2008 - possibly due to the
"showbiz wedding" of Sarah and Duncan. PUKKA continued to
invest in the future during 2008 with the creation of a new youth
wing, the PUKKA Potential Theatre School, aimed at providing
more challenging instruction and experience for the older Petites.
A number of the PUKKA company also did a spot of
"moonlighting" in the summer of 2008 in the Porthkerry Road
Methodist Church's production of "Dick Whittington". At the
end of 2008 PUKKA performed "MIstletoe and Wine" at
the St Francis Millennium Centre.
  
In 2009 PUKKA started a new section, PUKKA Plus, offering even
higher quality training, and the talented children in this group
performed brilliantly in Annie at the Barry Memorial Hall in
July. In December 2009 PUKKA performed their Christmas Cracker show
in the Glamorgan Suite of the Memorial Hall.
 In
March 2010 PUKKA celebrated their 5th anniversary with FIVE,
a compilation from their five major shows over the past five years,
performed to packed houses at the Paget Rooms, Penarth. A week later,
PUKKA took over the Ship Hotel for a Mother's Day special perfomed by
the PUKKA Petites, Potential and Plus.
PUKKA wants you!
As a community company, PUKKA are always on the lookout for new
talent - so if you want to join our talented cast, call Sarah for a
chat! If you feel that the stage is not your forte, but you have some
spare time and would like be a part of PUKKA, we need people to work
behind the scenes in many areas. we need people to work backstage
during shows, people to supervise children during performances,
people to distribute posters and fliers and people to work front of
House. Whatever your time availability, we need you!
If you require any further information contact Sarah on
01446 400674 or 07917 881220
or e-mail pukkaproductionsbarry@yahoo.co.uk |
