Who we are

LIVING IMAGE is an amateur theatre group operating mainly in the rural area between Lancaster and Preston. Its founders came together after churches in the Garstang Methodist Circuit had co-operated on a special production for the 150th anniversary of Scorton Methodist Church in 1992. Keen to do more drama, some of the participants joined other interested people to form Living Image in 1993. Since then the group has performed in many rural and non-theatrical venues. It has aimed for innovative, thought-provoking productions of a high standard, drawing participants from a wide geographical area and from within and outside church circles. Nowadays Living Image is run by a small core group of members who do some small-scale and concert-type performances, and then recruit more widely for a bigger production about once a year. In June 2003 St Helen’s Church and Square at Churchtown provided the delightful setting for a well-received promenade production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. Churches in the area still provide some of Living Image’s key members and supporters, and so the repertoire includes some material particularly for church audiences. A production in spring 2004 linked the season of Lent with present-day suffering in war and conflict. At its centre was The Rose Has Thorns, a short contemporary play by Edward Bennett set in a war zone. This was framed by poetry, meditations, recent news reports, and a presentation combining music with computer-projected documentary photographs. Audiences at four churches found it original and challenging. Voluntary collections enabled Living Image to donate £300 to Oxfam, whose work includes supporting community-building projects in former conflict zones. Once or twice a year some group members entertain disabled residents at Oaklands Cheshire Home in Garstang. Their most recent visit was in June 2004, when the programme featured readings, dialogues and songs illustrating aspects of English life during the lifetime of Charles Dickens (1812-70). That was no accident. Charles Dickens is in the spotlight at present because Living Image plans to stage one of his “Christmas Books”, The Chimes, in November 2004. Anyone interested is invited to a Launch Event in Garstang Library Meeting Room on MONDAY 16 AUGUST. From 7.30pm there will be light refreshments with a glass of wine or fruit juice and a small display to look at. Starting at 8pm the main session will include information about rehearsals and performances, plus a chance to try out a few excerpts from The Chimes and get a flavour of it. New people will be welcome in the backstage, technical and administrative teams as well as in acting roles. Looking further ahead, Living Image would like to do another outdoor or semi-outdoor production in 2005. We’d be interested to hear from anyone who is game for another Shakespeare production, but recruiting large casts can be a headache and we don’t rule out doing something else that would require fewer people. For more details, or to join the mailing list, email: donsemple@btopenworld.com, or phone Don Semple on 01995 640579. (Updated July 2004) Link to Garstang Methodists