Presents

The Holly &

The Ivy

..…and

The Mistletoe!

Mactheatre’s Christmas Entertainment, ‘The Holly and The Ivy……..and the Mistletoe!’ is an original piece in words and music. Written and compiled by Barrie Jaimeson, this festive piece explores our much-loved Christmas traditions in a theatrical way.  Why, indeed, do we decorate our homes with holly and ivy (not forgetting the mistletoe), Christmas cards and trees and that ‘jolly old elf’, Father Christmas – when did he appear on the scene?  Steeped in ancient customs and rituals – what is Christmas and what does it mean to you?  A celebration of much-loved Christmas writings, excerpts from classical literature and beautifully encompassing the Christmas Story.  An enchanting fireside Christmas cleverly linked with carols portrayed in folk-style tradition; some familiar and other lesser-known gems all given the ‘mac’ flavour for a cosy evening of our festive language and song.  The entertainment is performed by local, professional actors, husband and wife team, Barrie Jaimeson and Nicola Esson who play all roles and accompany each other on a variety of instruments ranging from the penny whistle to the mandolin.

Although nurturing a reputation mainly for the annual Shakespeare-in-the-Park community play, mactheatre, is, in fact, a professional theatre company resident in Maldon.  Set up in 1995 by Barrie and Nicola, their inaugural production was a Christmas one with a new adaptation of Dickens, ‘The Chimes’. Gathering a company of professional, London-based, actors in Maldon it played both locally and in London over the New Year.  Further details of the history of the group and its development can be found on 'About us' on the menu on the left.

 The Holly & The Ivy...and the Mistletoe!,

explores the origins of the Winter Festival, journeying from the Roman Festival of Saturnalia, through the Victorian Era right up to the modern day.

‘An enchanting fireside Christmas entertainment with readings and anecdotes cleverly interlaced with carols and Christmas songs,

played by the actors on a variety of instruments ranging from the

Penny Whistle to the Mandolin’

Come in out of the cold for an evening of Christmas Cheer!

Performances at:

UPSTAIRS AT THE BLUE BOAR

SILVER STREET

MALDON

on

SATURDAY 11TH DECEMBER 2010

7.30pm

All tickets £8

On the door or from Maldon TIC 01621-856503

AND

ALL SAINTS CHURCH

LITTLE TOTHAM

ON

SATURDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2010

7.30pm

Tickets £7.50; £6.50 Concs; £5 Children

On the door or from Viv Smith 01621-891660

SADLY THE ABOVE PERFORMANCE AT LITTLE TOTHAM HAS HAD TO BE CANCELLED DUE TO THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. HOWEVER, THE SHOW AT THE BLUE BOAR IS DEFINITELY ON. COME AND ENJOY SOME WINTER WARMTH - THERE'S REAL ALE TOO!

BARRIE JAIMESON

Barrie was born in Leicester and trained at The Webber Douglas Academy, London.  He joined Michael Bogdanov at the Young Vic, followed by seasons at Regents Park and various repertory theatres all over the country.  In 1980, he took over the role of ‘Mole’ in ‘Toad of Toad Hall’ at the Old Vic which he played for two years.  Television includes ‘Bergerac’, ‘Tales of the Unexpected’ and ‘Pie in the Sky’.  Film; ‘A Kind of Hush’.  A keen guitarist and singer Barrie’s musical skills have led to favourite roles Emcee, Feste and an Ugly Sister alongside working on a variety of actor/musician shows including the leading role of ‘Bobby’ in Sondheim’s ‘Company’.  Recording work has included for Naxos Audio Books, The Rivals with Geoffrey Palmer and Patricia Routledge, Richard III with Kenneth Branagh, Geraldine McEwan and Michael Maloney and Henry V with Sam West and Timothy West.  Barrie has performed regularly at Maldon Festival of Arts including ‘Trial by Jury’, ‘Shakespeare in Song’, ‘Shakespeare Sonnets’ and ‘The Great War’.

NICOLA ESSON

Nicola was born in Aberdeen and trained at East 15 Acting School.  She first experienced the concept of actor/musician work with Bob Carlton’s tour of ‘Cabaret’ for Century Theatre, playing’ Fraulein Kost’, piano, flute and percussion - where all actors also played instruments often as part of the action in the show.  Her musical skills were also utilised in ‘Play It Again, Sam’ and ‘They’re Playing Our Song’ in which she played leads in both productions, touring nationally and playing opposite Barrie.  A real-life case of marrying the leading man!  They were to work together again with the pop star, Gilbert O’Sullivan in ‘Every Song Has It’s Play’, a semi-autobiographical musical of the journey of a young singer/songwriter in the ruthless musical industry, touring both England and Ireland. Television includes, John Byrne’s BBC2 Screenplay, ‘A Tour of the Western Isles’ – playing ‘Elizabeth McQuarrie’ and a very early eighteenth century piano dueting with Robbie Coltrane as Dr. Johnson. Nicola has performed locally in mactheatre’s productions of ‘Domestic Bliss – or the Elimination of Drudgery’, a new work written for the Maldon Museum as well as ‘When They Sound the Last All Clear’ an evening of  local stories, music and anecdotes commemorating the 60^th anniversary of VE day.