THE VACKEES

Directed by: Lynda Clarkson & Glyn Morton
Choreographed by: Sue Mather & Karen Sandiford
Musical Director: Nic Parker

Cast:
Kip: Alistair Cope
Kip’s Mother: Hannah Redfern
Duncan Constance: Richard Norfolk
Chuck: Peter Taylor
Mack: Oliver Rogerson
Eric: Glen Rothwell
Martha: Helen Jackson
Nan: Rebecca Loftus
Elsie: Jennifer Deakin
Molly: Laura Biggs
Eileen: Laura Darkins
Kath: Lorna Spence
Buzz: Christopher Roberts
Lance: Gareth Roberts
Stan: Chris Campbell
Fred: Michael Clarke
Georgie: Kirsty Wells
Dot: Lucy Beswick
May: Helen Cooper
Nel: Helen Freeman
Alice: Kerry Hunt
Aunt Luce: Kate Wilkinson
Ellen: Jenna Rothwell
Mrs Crabtree: Stephanie Platel
Grace: Elayne Clarkson
Laura Maybee: Bethany Grey
Mr. Jack: Richard Reed
Lady Holdmore: Laura Nockolds
The Vicar: Richard Cope
Billeting Officer/German Pilot: John Stringfellow
Radio Announcers: Sarah Sandham & Rebecca Cardwell

Donna Bates, Emma Gill, Amanda Stevenson, April Young

Performed at Lowther Pavilion, Lytham
December 1995

Set at the outbreak of the Second World War, this is the funny, moving story of the "invasion" of a Somerset village by the Vackees, child evacuees from London, and their scrapes and adventures with the (at first) hostile native children.

The musical centres on a young London lad, Kip, and follows his first experiences of love and war. With a memorable, tuneful score by famous TV and film composer Carl Davis

This was LATA’s first large show…. Previously we’d used the stage at the local performing arts college, and had performed a 15 minute revue!! What a leap, and showed us just how much we could achieve!

Review – From NODA North West Magazine

“This is a relatively new society formed specifically for juniors aged 10-16 years to learn all aspects of theatre; design, building scenery, lighting, sound, etc., as well as singing, dancing and acting. And after seeing this production, it is obviously paying dividends.

The story, as the title implies, tells of a number of children from London being evacuated to a small village during World War II, with all its attendant difficulties of trying to integrate with the local children. Every single person who had anything to do with this production, in any capacity, should step forward and take a bow. It really was a most rewarding evening out. To single out individuals would seem to be most unfair, but as there were two really outstanding performances, it would be unfair to the two children not to mention them.

First, Alistair Cope as Kip was superb, and Jenna Rothwell as Ellen was so accomplished she just took your breath away. Congratulations are also due to wardrobe, lighting, scenery and some sympathetic music under the direction of Nick Parker.

With talent like this, the future of theatre is in very safe hands…”