The guest speaker last Friday evening was Pat Price, who has spent a great part of her life connected with the theatre. Her talk began with a brief insight into the activities that take place before the curtain rises.

Members were then taken back to Greek and Roman theatre, performed in the open air, often at night under a starry sky. From her own experience at a performance of opera in Verona, she found this romantic and exciting.

Pat Price reminded us that we make our own theatre every day in our homes, in the street, in offices, in classrooms and in many different ways. As human beings we like to perform, even babies in cradles and young children love the attention this brings them.

The speaker told how a love of music had affected her own life, not only in listening, but in performing. The school she attended had a strong music tradition and it was at school that Pat took part in the production of operas and dramas.

At university she became involved in madrigal groups, as a violinist and in jazz.

After leaving college, she became interested in folk music. Here she played a particular favourite 'Fields of Gold' sung by Eva Cassidy.

In the theatre, things can sometimes go wrong and members heard of such incidents as a gondola overturning, spilling four people on to the stage, a sticky false moustache transferring itself from hero to heroine, and a raked stage causing disaster to the heroine in high-heeled shoes!

Pat Price enjoyed performing in musicals and from this experience she turned to directing. She learnt the art of stagecraft, including lighting, moving on stage, decor, costume and sound.

Members also heard how difficulties can arise in a theatre. Performers had to overcome long distances from dressing-room to stage which sometimes means a walk outside in wet, cold weather, outside toilets, poky dressing rooms (cupboards!) and hazardous scenery, to name but a few.

Finally, Pat Price urged her listeners to support amateur companies whose work enhances so many lives by developing skills which give much pleasure to a great many people.

Pat Price's talk, her enthusiasm and amusing anecdotes, together with her musical interludes, made this a most enjoyable evening.

This (Friday) evening, the Arts Club offers some Christmas entertainment, to which all are welcome. There will also be delicious refreshments and it all starts at 8 pm in Church House.