Penny Button

The [theatre] bar was a great place to meet people after a good show. The place was buzzing. I was doing a play at the theatre and recall looking out of the window on a sunny afternoon in August, I could see the pleasure boats leaving the end of the pier, taking holiday makers on a sea trip across Bournemouth bay to Swanage. It was hot in the dressing room and I was dressed and made-up ready for the matinee to begin. Glancing at my script, butterflies in my stomach, “BEGGINERS PLEASE” came over the tannoy. The auditorium had no balcony which made it seem a long way to the back row! The stage was high and acoustics good. The dark heavy curtains shut out the bright sunlight. Between the matinee and evening shows I sat on the beach by the pier with a sandwich, nothing too heavy before the next performance! There is just something about a theatre at the end of a pier that is very special.