Red Spider Company Homepage

Red Spider Company is an amateur music and drama group which draws its membership from the communities in and around the Devon villages of Lewdown, Lifton and Bratton Clovelly. We enjoy working alongside professionals but also have the satisfaction of successfully producing a number of dramatic events written by our own members.
If you would like to join Red Spider Company click here to open an application form you can download.
The company takes a particular interest in promoting the life and work of Sabine Baring -Gould.

For all the news about what is going on and what the future promises for Red Spider Company visit the Newsletter page

'Wind in the Willows'

adapted for the stage by Steve Eaton Evans
and with music written by Tim Laycock

Lewdown Victory Hall
24th, 25th, 26th January 2008

Toad Triumphant!
** Click here to see photos from the production **

Red Spider Company could have been forgiven for resting on its laurels after Like A Buoy but, instead, not only did it take up the challenge of staging its first ever full-length production without a professional director, but it also made it's very first move into the genre of Christmas entertainment. We were treated to a real pantomime horse and a delightfully seductive villain to hiss and boo – but this was not pantomime; no, the delights of this superb dramatisation, by Steve Eaton Evans, of Kenneth Graham's Wind in the Willows were altogether more gentle and subtle. They say that you should avoid acting with children and animals but, defiantly, this production had plenty of both. Yes, I know that Mole, Ratty, Badger and Toad were in reality grown up human beings, but the characterisations were so convincing that it was wonderfully easy to believe we really were on the riverbank or in the wild wood of our childhood imagination and the deception was aided by the clever use of quite simple but convincing props and stunning scenery.

The phrase ‘grown up human beings' does less than justice to the quartet of ladies who added a feminine dimension and charmed us exquisitely in what are usually regarded as masculine roles. But there was more: some splendid singing of Tim Laycock's songs by Fenella Ferret and two wandering minstrels, all delightfully accompanied on a keyboard; lots of mischief from young squirrels and rabbits under the beady eye of otter; and some delicious comedy from a judge, a policeman, a washerwoman, a barge woman, a horse, two ferrets, a weasel and a very dishevelled jailer – who nevertheless somehow managed to have a beautiful daughter!

With so many fine characterisations and cameo performances woven together under the confident direction of Susanne Clayton – who somehow also managed to shine as the fearsome Fenella Ferret – I am reluctant to single out any one player; but on this occasion there is no other option. The finely polished interpretation of Toad by Rosa Watkinson, who never stopped manipulating both the other animals and the audience, was utterly convincing; that swagger, those gestures, that voice, those myriad expressive grimaces. She whacked us and whacked us. Poop, poop!

Red Spider Company Club Nights

Red Spider Company Club Nights are held on the 2nd Tuesday in every month, when not in production, and August and December excepted. We spend the evening reading one-act plays or excerpts from longer plays, being updated on RSC plans, listening to the occasional poem and—gossiping; we cannot stay serious for long and generally end up falling about in helpless laughter. Then we take a break for a glass of whatever or a cup of tea and a cake or two before starting all over again

Bashful about reading out loud? No-one is compelled to read and we are quite happy if you just want to sit, listen and laugh. February’s play reading was of ‘Love’s a Luxury’ a farce by Paxton and Hoile, which had everyone in fits of laughter..

The next Red Spider Company Club Night is at
7.30 pm, Tuesday 13 May
at Lower Willestrew, Lamerton
courtesy of Bill and Caroline.

Just give Bill a ring on 01822 870111 to confirm arrangements.

Everyone welcome and absolutely no commitment is necessary.

Like A Buoy DVD now available: At the Victory Hall, Lewdown on Monday 1st October, the Company and friends of the March production of ‘Like A Buoy' were privileged to be given a private viewing of a working copy of the DVD created by Dom Carnell and students of Okehampton College. Many of us had arrived in some trepidation at the thought of seeing ourselves on the big silver scene but we need not have worried. Despite this being a recording made at one live performance with no chance to go back for a second shot, the overall result was wonderful. The audience was so enthralled throughout the viewing that you could have heard a pin drop. We swayed and sang along with the very lively pub singers, laughed at the right moments, shed a tear or two at others, gasped at some stunning close ups and were gobsmacked by the quality of the beautiful solo songs. Congratulations, Dom.

Since the private viewing, the DVD has been re-mastered and is now awaiting the design and printing of a simple cover but this can be forwarded later to all who wish to purchase the DVD now as a Christmas stocking filler. It is a double disk package and is priced at £7.50 per set. Please contact Caroline Stuart on 01822 870111 should you wish to purchase a copy.

'Relatively Speaking' at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth:

Please note that the date given in the Newsletter for seeing 'Relatively Speaking' at the Theatre Royal has had to be changed from Thursday 10th July 2.30 p.m. matinee to Saturday 12th at 2.30 as the Thursday is fully booked!
A block of ten seats in the circle has been booked and although this has almost been filled there is room for adjustment.
If you want to see this play please speak to Gill Squires as soon as possible as tickets are going very quickly.