On a very hot summer’s evening, members sat back, relaxed and enjoyed John Hackett’s light-hearted talk on ‘The perils and pitfalls of an amateur actor’.

John’s parents were both amateur actors and John first trod the boards at the age of four. He spoke amusingly of a school play about Alexander the Great in which he wore an oriental costume complete with beard and moustache.

At the age of 19, he joined the Kidderminster Nonentities and his amateur theatrical career flourished for the next 40 years in the spheres of acting, directing and stage management. On his first appearance with the Nonentities he played the juvenile lead in Life withFather, and learnt how fraught it can be to eat and drink while acting on stage. He recalled amusing incidents of working with a dog on the stage and, on another occasion, a billy goat. One of his happiest memories was playing in Free as Air at the former Kidderminster Playhouse and the pranks that he and his three young friends got up to with one of the props.

John later moved on, with the Nonentities, to the Rose Theatre, and recalled anecdotes of happy days spent there too. In conclusion his advice to any aspiring thespian is never to work with animals or children, stay awake and alert during a production and always check the scenery, particularly the door, before making a dramatic exit or entrance.

During the business meeting which followed, Cherry Greaves, the president, congratulated and thanked Jacki Clark for her work in producing a website for Areley Kings WI.

Cherry outlined future events including the Royal Garden Party on August 12 in Lorrie Parfitt’s garden, to raise funds for the Denman College Bursary, and the Bewdley Walk and quiz on September 17.

Areley Kings WI is the recipient of the Group Bursary for Denman College and Cherry informed members that Lesley Smith had been drawn as the winner.

The competition for a Theatrical Mask, judged by John Hackett, was won by Lin Edwards with Bernie Downing and Margaret Cook second and third respectively.

At the next meeting, which will be held at Areley Kings Village Hall on Monday, September 9 at 7.30 pm, there will be demonstrations of members’ skills.