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Being a relatively young company, PUKKA's productions are quite well
documented, and this page is a link to most of their productions.
Click on the image to see the specific production's page.
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. Performance of this show was
dependent on permission from The Really Useful Company, who are
understandably concerned with protecting the reputation of their
show. PUKKA obviously convinced them, and anyone who saw the finished
result would understand that the confidence was well placed. 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
shortly afterwards had its first show, "Annie and Friends"
at the Porthkerry Road Methodist Schoolroom.
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.
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. "Joseph" is a real
tune-fest, and the lyrics are some of Tim Rice's wittiest and urbane.
Everybody loves a family saga that ends happily for all concerned
(apart from the goat of course), and over two days PUKKA played to
near capacity audiences. 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.
In
March 2007 PUKKA performed, For One Night Only, an evening of
song and dance from popular West End shows, including Miss Saigon,
High Society, Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera. Also
participating were Barry's own West End star, Peter Karrie, and our
own PUKKA Petites, performing numbers from their recent show
"Magic of the Musicals".
In
May 2007 PUKKA performed Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story - to
packed audiences at the Barry Memorial Hall. The show is a musical
celebration of the legendary singer songwriter Buddy Holly, who shot
to stardom in 1957, only to die in a plane crash two years later
alongside 17 year old Richie Valens and J P Richardson -
the "Big Bopper". The tragedy shocks the world, snatching
the lives of three of the world's most dynamic musical talents.
In
August 2007 a new venture, 'PUKKA Plays' was born, with a magical
production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream
performed at the open-air amphitheatre at the Amelia Trust Farm. The
play follows the story of four groups of people, but centres on the
rather confusing love plot of four lovers, and the mischief that
ensues when Oberon, King of the Fairies, directs his servant Puck, to
"sort things out". Soon the whole of the woods has fallen
into farce.
Just
before Christmas 2007, PUKKA had a real treat with their totally
original production of A Christmas Carol, an all new version
of the traditional Christmas tale. An original musical written by
members of our talented troupe, it proved to be a magical blend of
song and dance; humour and sadness. Full of characters you love, it
was a tale of redemption and the triumph of the human spirit.
In
2008 PUKKA had a fairly quiet year, making a special appearance at
the Wedding of the Century - the "Showbiz Wedding" of Sarah
and Duncan in May. A number of the PUKKA regulars did a spot of
moonlighting, returning to their roots and taking parts in the
Porthkerry Road Methodist Church production of "Dick
Whittington". 2008 Also saw the formation of the PUKKA Potential
Theatre School, providing more advanced environment for the children
that were now out-growng the PUKKA Petites.
PUKKA's main production in 2008 was "Mistletoe and Wine",
a Christmassy themed production performed in the intimate atmosphere
of the St Francis Millennium Centre in Barry, and featuring items
from the PUKKA adult cast, the PUKKA Petites and the PUKKA Potential
Theatre School.
In
July 2009 PUKKA Performed Annie, the story of an 11 year old
orphan raised and mistreated by the mean orphanage director, Miss
Hannigan. Annie's subsequent escape to find her parents is foiled,
but her luck changes when Billionaire Oliver Warbucks decides to
invite an orphan to his house for the holidays. Annie quickly charms
the hearts of everyone she meets, and is ultimately adopted by
Warbucks. The lead role of Annie and other major roles were
brilliantly performed by members of the new PUKKA Plus group, almost
outshining the adult performances.
In
December 2009 PUKKA performed their Christmas Cracker, an
evening of festive entertainment, in the Glamorgan Suite at the Barry
Memorial Hall. The whole organisation was involved, with enchanting
performances from the PUKKA Petites, brilliant performances from the
children of PUKKA Potential and PUKKA Plus, and the usual (ok,
brilliant again!) performances from the adult cast.

In March 2010 PUKKA performed FIVE, celebrating their fifth
anniversary, at the Paget Rooms in Penarth. Starting with a brilliant
solo from one of the youth cast, the audience enjoyed a selection of
songs and dances from their major shows Jesus Christ Superstar,
Joseph, West Side Story, Annie and Buddy. The show closed with some
rousing Rock and Roll numbers, and was staged over three nights in
the Paget Rooms in Penarth, a small intimate venue with superb
acoustics and a great atmosphere.
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