REPERTORY STARS DROP IN AT HAMPTON COTTAGE

The cast of The Secret Garden, second of this year's brand new repertory productions at Leatherhead Theatre, called into Hampton Cottage between performances. They are seen here outside the Museum with Katherine Mount, producer and co-founder of Leatherhead Rep. Photo by Robin Christian.

The first repertory season at the theatre in almost 30 years kicked off in April with a first class production of  Yes, Prime Minister  by TV writers Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic children's story, has been adapted as a musical by Dave Simpson. The third production is the comedy Communicating Doors  by Alan Ayckbourn.

Katherine said: 'The beautiful Leatherhead Theatre has such a rich history of repertory and deserves to be a thriving creative resource again in the centre of its community. In 1969 people came out in huge numbers to fund-raise for this theatrical centrepiece to the town. We want the artistic programme to do those efforts justice once again.'

Tickets can be purchased from the theatre box office and the company websites. Leatherhead Rep Tel: 01372 365141 http://www.leatherheadrep.com

Communicating Doors

Tuesday 1^st May – Friday 4^th May – 7.30pm 

Saturday 5^th May – 2.30pm and 7.30pm  

Full price £18 Concession £16 Friends of Leatherhead Theatre £15

CATHY BRETT STARS AT FRIENDS AGM THIS MONTH

Cathy Brett, the Leatherhead-based arts designer who created last year's exhibition theme at Hampton Cottage, will be guest speaker at this year's annual general meeting of the Friends of Leatherhead Museum on Monday, 30 April in the Letherhead Institute. The event starts at 7.30pm for 8pm. Wine and juices will be served.

Author of five teen novels and illustrator of around 40 more by other writers, Cathy grew-up in Leatherhead, her youth shaped by Therfield School, juice bar discos and roller-skating at the leisure centre. She also sold ice-cream at the former Thorndike Theatre - now Leatherhead Theatre, of course - and enjoyed night time walks to and from the William IV pub. After a 30-year absence pursuing careers in art, design, publishing and academia, she’s moved back to the town, building her own studio in her parents’ garden.

She is co-creator of the award-winning ELECTRIGIRL Series for Oxford University Press and her current project, a graphic novel set in Surrey, was a finalist in the Laydeez Do Comics Prize 2018. Since returning to the town she’s thrown herself in to local projects and community collaborations.

In 2018 she is artist-in-residence at Rye Meadows Wetland, Ashtead; visiting lecturer at UCA, Farnham; and will be delivering workshops at the Big Draw, Epsom in October. She will also be opening her studio to the public during the Surrey Artists’ Open Studios event in June and running a series of creative workshops there throughout the summer. She and Lorraine Spindler, curator  at Hampton Cottage, are also planning future artistic collaborations.