The 39 Steps Re-climbed

BARNARD Castle’s favourite am-dram group, The Castle Players, is recruiting for its forthcoming winter tour of villages in Teesdale. This year, resident director Simon Pell has come up with with an adaptation of John Buchan’s novel, The 39 Steps, as the players' homage to the First World War centenary celebrations. Originally written at breakneck speed in 1914, while Buchan recovered from an stomach illness at a nursing home, in Broadstairs, the title is allegedly taken from the number of steps from his temporary cliff-top home down to the beach.

John Buchan’s hero, Richard Hannay, was a patriotic precursor of James Bond, whose appeal is undiminished nearly a century after he was created. Hannay is innocently accused of murdering an M15 secret agent, who has divulged top secret information of potential vital national security. Hannay is entirely alone, relentlessly pursued by German spies and only he can save the reputation of his country and ensure the survival of the British Navy from complete destruction.

The 39 Steps Re-climbed will be an ensemble production with the entire cast on stage throughout. There are 39 mixed character speaking parts (large and small) plus several hundred narrative lines and of course lighting, sound and stage management – so everyone will be fully involved, physically and vocally, from start to finish.

The first meeting involving the production will be held on Monday, September 1, in the upstairs room of The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Club (opposite Boyes on Horsemarket, Barnard Castle) from 7 to 10 pm.

For more information go to simonpell297@btinternet.com or ring 01833-630-806 or 07712195213

Helen Brown