“You must remember to eat…”
Liam Neeson, speaking about advice given to him by Colin Blakely, whom the giant of Schindler’s List, Les Miserables and Taken, worked with in the 1980s.
According to our modern-day encyclopedia of everything, Wikipedia, Colin was “one of a post war generation of British actors who succeeded in making provincial accents more widely heard” , and he’s remembered for his prolific theatre work and film roles in A Man for All Seasons, Murder on the Orient Express and Equus, but it was while treading the boards in Bangor that he began to learn his craft - as a member of Bangor Drama Club.
He wasn’t the only one - `Doreen Hepburn, Linda Wray, Dan Gilbert, Alison Gordon, Cherrie McIlwaine, Dan Gilbert, Richard Holland, Laura Hughes, Christopher Logan starred. Additionally, behind-the-scenes Thayna McLaughlin, Ian Williamson and Cassandra Maeve Murphie also shone. But I must say, this is not an exhaustive list of well-known alumni!
From humble beginnings with readings in local halls and hotels, the Club now has its own theatre in Hamilton Road and is looking towards a bright future - via the enthusiasm from young people attending their youth group and the appreciation of other drama clubs and organisations for the transformation of the former Good Templar Hall, into a modern, welcoming space.
It was a great pleasure to meet there and talk to Linda Taylor (formerly Wray), Clare Greer, Joan Smyth and Michael Ievers - in the company of a small audience - to celebrate the Club’s 90th anniversary.
From left : Linda Taylor (Wray) seated, centre, in her first performance for BDC as the lead in Ann Veronica; Joan Smyth in Children’s Day; Michael Ievers in Winners and Clare Greer in Love in the Title.
From left: the BDC panel at the LBS recording - Joan, Linda, Clare and Michael; some of the audience who came to the recording; the fund-raising bricks in the foyer of the Studio 1A Theatre on Hamilton Road and the poster for Boyd’s Shop which will be performed in May as part of the Club’s 90th birthday celebrations.
Music by Shane Ivers - silvermansound.com