Ferryhill’s Wendy Hindmarch, a former civil servant, has finally fulfilled her lifelong acting ambition by joining a new professional County Durham based theatre company, Ensemble ‘84.
The company’s debut play, performed at their home in Horden Methodist Church in May, will be a new production of Bertholt Brecht’s Mother Courage and her Children, translated by Lee Hall, writer of the screenplay for the films Billy Elliot, War Horse and Rocketman as well as the play The Pitmen Painters.
Wendy shared her background and her excitement at becoming a professional actor with the Chapter: “Last September, I took my son to drama school in London,” she said. “After dropping him off at his halls, I went to the hotel and was scrolling Facebook when I saw an ad for an open audition for a new theatre company, Ensemble ‘84.
“To audition you had to have a County Durham postcode and be available to start the following month.
“The ad didn’t give a lot of details but I would be training in acting for six months before putting on a professional show of some sort, and our director would be the wonderful Mark Dornford-May, who has had an amazing career as a director.
“I was working in the civil service at the time, but a couple of weeks later, went along to the audition not expecting to get in. I performed a piece from a play – Valerie’s monologue from Jim Cartwright’s Road – and a week after the audition, was invited for a recall group audition.
“By this point I started to get really excited. I’d always wanted to be an actress but never thought I’d be able to. I raised my son alone for the best part of his 19 years, so needed a steady income and acting is anything but stable!
“But with my son at drama school it felt like this was my chance to fulfil my dreams.
“I’d performed in local amateur theatre groups for years, with Ferryhill Stage Society and Spennymoor Stage and Song being my ‘home’ societies, and I loved them, but I thought this was as close as I’d get to performing professionally.
“I went along for my group audition, again not expecting anything from it still, but two days later I got the email to say they wanted me!
“I was absolutely thrilled but it was a hard decision as well.
“The civil service was a steady job and good income and I’d be swapping that for an unstable profession and half the wage whilst I was training. But any doubts I had about leaving my job and starting the new venture, were gone by the end of my first day.”
Since making the decision to take the plunge, Wendy has been in training, preparing for her debut on the professional stage.
“The last six months up to March I’ve been training in many aspects of theatre,” she said. “We’ve looked at Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets, DH Lawrence, and other more modern plays. We’ve also had singing and dance lessons.
“It’s been wonderful and I have learnt so much. I know I’m a much better actor from it, which helps as I have a lead role in my first ever professional show!
“At the start of April, we began rehearsals for our first professional production – a reworking of Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and her Children, written by local lad and Billy Elliot and Rocketman writer, Lee Hall.”
A BAFTA and Oscar winner for Billy Elliot, Newcastle-born Hall has described Brecht’s play as “one of the classic plays of the twentieth century, widely seen as one of the greatest plays ever written about the costs of war.”
“We are also working with some actors from Mark’s other company, Isango Ensemble,” added Wendy, “who flew over from South Africa to join us in this play.
“They’ve brought a wealth of knowledge and wonderful energy to our rehearsals.
“We also have the very talented Musical Director, Mandisi Dyantis and Choreographer, Lungelo Ngamlana, both from Isango working with us.
“I’m currently learning to play the marimbas and will be doing so live on stage. I am playing the role of Yvette in Mother Courage. It’s a challenging role but I’m enjoying pushing myself as an actor.
“County Durham has become a bit of a culture void that this theatre company is hoping to fill by making theatre by the people of County Durham, for the people of County Durham. And we hope to continue for many years to come, from our home in Horden Methodist Church.”
With performance dates for the company’s first production quickly selling out, they have added an additional two performances on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 May.
Tickets and more information about the company can be found at their website: www.ensemble84.com.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
