TO BOWL OR NOT TO BOWL .....
Press Release
To Bowl Or Not To Bowl - Bowls takes to the stage
Bowls is about to make its debut on stage in a new play written by Hungerford Bowls Club member, Graeme Coulam. “Load Of Old Bowls” is a comedy set within a women’s bowls competition. It even includes two games that take place on the stage. It combines elements of traditional British farce with Aykbourne domestic drama, and will run at the Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich from April 29th to May 8th, 1999.
The play was part inspired by Stickney Bowls Club where Graeme first played and Hungerford Bowls Club where he now plays. “Stickney was where I learnt to play the game, with my dad and sister,” says Graeme. “Sadly my dad, Fred Coulam, died nine years ago, and my sister Valerie (now Bembridge) no longer plays, but I think our family is still well known on the local bowls circuit. In many respects the play is a tribute to the friendship and competition we enjoyed in the Boston and Skegness area where we used to play our league games."
The setting will probably be changed to Norfolk for the run at the Maddermarket Theatre, but Graeme hopes other audiences will get the chance to see the play one day. “It’s perfect for a small intimate venue,” he says, “and was written to be a low cost production, involving only a few characters and no expensive set. For this reason, it's very suitable for amateur dramatics, although I'm hoping that professional companies will want to stage it too.”
Apart from writing plays and playing bowls, Graeme also performs as a comedy impressionist, and sometime after-dinner speaker. “The stand-up comedy has taken a bit of a back seat to the play writing,” says Graeme, “and it’s sometimes difficult to combine them all with my 'day job' as a freelance copywriter. However, I like variety, and want to keep writing for TV and radio, as well as stage and business. I'd also like a crack at bowls commentary on the TV. So long as I can still find time for a game of bowls, I’ll be happy.”
Contacts
Graeme Coulam, c/o In Press PR Ltd, St John's Chapel, Lambourn, Berks, RG17 8XL. Tel01488 73737
Kirsten Riley or Andrew Kitchen, Maddermarket Theatre, St John's Alley, Norwich, NR2 1DR. Tel01603 626560