Calendar Girls Cast changes

Cast List (in order of appearance)

Cora – Amanda Pennington

Chris – Carolyn Miles

Annie – Helen Lewis

Jessie – Sarah Lee

Celia – Luci Bland

Ruth – Julie Farrow

Marie – Gill Richardson

Brenda Hulse – Paola Burgess

John – Paul Hughes

Rod – Shaun Bates

Lady Cravenshire – Pat Haigh/Erin Christy

Lawrence – Russ Pitcher

Elaine – Zoe Cole

Liam – Gus Staricoff

Director: Erin Christy

Production Manager: Julie Farrow

Show Dates October 7th,8th,13th,14th and 15th. 7.45pm

August 2022 News Update

Well last month was extremely busy for HAG!  Play reading and auditions for our next production Calendar Girls.  You would expect August to be holiday month, but no, it is full steam ahead for our new Director, Cast and Crew. Production dates come around very quickly and October is not so very far off – sorry to make summer speed through. Put these dates in your diary now; 7th, 8th,13th,14th and 15th October, it is a very popular show so early booking will be advisable.

HAG ROCKS! CHOIR

The Choir is on holiday this month resting their vocal cords after a successful Summer Concert. We will be back again in September, but we have sadly had to say farewell to our Musical Director; Charlie Headley, who has decided to be a proper retired gentleman and enjoy more rest and relaxation, and more time with his lovely family. We will miss you Charlie – Mr Blue Sky – THANK YOU! Please contact us if you are interested in joining our fun group in whatever capacity.  Stay safe and take care.

Announcement Calendar Girls Cast

Congratulations to everyone

Cast List (in order of appearance)

Cora – Amanda Pennington

Chris – Carolyn Miles

Annie – Helen Lewis

Jessie – Sarah Lee

Celia – Luci Bland

Ruth – Alison Heritage

Marie – Gill Richardson

Brenda Hulse – Paola Burgess

John – Paul Hughes

Rod – Shaun Bates

Lady Cravenshire – Miranda Hughes

Lawrence – Russ Pitcher

Elaine – Julie Farrow

Liam – Gus Staricoff

Director: Erin Christy

Production Manager: Julie Farrow

Show Dates October 7th,8th,13th,14th and 15th. 7.45pm

July 2022 News Update

Summer is here – well we certainly hope so!  We at HAG hope we have entertained you over the last half year, there is still more to come! Auditions are underway for Calendar Girls in October and possibly a Panto in the New Year, such fun! Hopefully if you came to the Village Festival you would have seen our Panto Dames Processing.  We are always open to suggestions for forthcoming productions and if you have seen something recently that you think HAG could do, or that you would like to direct, please contact us.  The more pre-planning we do the better. 

HAG ROCKS! CHOIR

9th July is a very important date for the choir as it is the night of their Summer Concert.  Please come and support this Charity Event.  Everyone is singing their hearts out, you may recognise some great iconic songs.  Singing is good for the sole.  We still need more basses and tenors and there are no auditions, so why not give us a try. We have a break in August, so if your summer is busy, please put a note in your diary to join us in September; Monday evenings 7.30pm in the Jubilee Hall.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Come and support a local charity based in Aldershot.

Step by Step Vision

At Step by Step we passionately believe in supporting local young people who are going through hard times. We take a unique step by step approach, providing accommodation, personal development opportunities, and specialist support services. Our approach helps young people to identify and fulfil their aspirations.

Edinburgh Fringe Preview

Calender Girls Important Dates: 30th June, 5th July & 7th July

Read Through and Auditions are coming up next week for Hartley Arts Group’s next productions ‘Calendar Girls’ by Tim Firth. We’d love to see new faces so please check out the event details and come along if you’d like to get involved.

Read-through: Thursday 30th June at 8pm
Audition 1: Tuesday 5th July 8pm
Audition 2: Thursday 7th July 8pm

**Show dates**

Technical Date: Sunday 2nd October
Show Dates: 7th, 8th, 13th, 14th & 15th October

Characters (9 Females, 4 Men)

Chris, (50s) You want her at your party. Without Chris as her best friend, Annie would be better behaved but have less fun.

Annie (50s) The mischievousness Chris elicits in her prevents her from being a saint. She has enough edge to be interesting, and enough salt not be too sweet.

Together these two are more than the sum of their parts.

Cora (35-45) Raised by strict parents, she rebelled during college only to come home pregnant with her tail between her legs. Too much native resilience to be downtrodden. Deadpan wit. Currently raising her daughter as a single mom and serving as the church organist. Must have some vocal and piano ability.

Jessie (70s) A retired schoolteacher with no filter. She goes on roller coasters and does not hesitate to berate shopkeepers about their improper use of apostrophes.

Celia (35-50) More at home in a department store than a church hall. She is somewhat enamored of Jessie, even though Jessie has very little time for most of the Celia’s of the world. There is a rebelliousness in her that Jessie responds to and that sets Celia apart from the vapid materialism of her peers.


Ruth (40s) Ruth journeys from the false self confidence of the emotionally abused to the genuine confidence of a woman comfortable in her own skin. Marie’s right hand woman. Cheating husband.

Marie (50s) Head of the Knapely chapter of the WI, which is a trophy to her that justifies her entire existence. There is a part of Marie that would love to be on that calendar.

John, Annie’s husband (50s) John is a human sunflower. Not a saint, not a hero. Just the kind of man you’d want in your car when crossing America. When he dies it feels as if someone somewhere has turned a light off.

Rod, Chris’s husband (50s) Runs a flower shop with Chris. He has a deadpan sense of humour that has always made Chris laugh. He and John were good friends, though their relationship was originally channeled through their wives.

Lawrence, (20-30) Hesitant and a bit shy, but not nerdy. Has enough wit to make a joke and enough spirit to turn up at the WI to be their photographer.

Lady Cravenshire (60s) She really doesn’t mean to be so patronizing, but the WI girls seem like they’re from another world. The world of her estate workers.

Elaine (20s) She really doesn’t mean to be so patronizing, but Jessie seems from another world. The world of her grandmother.

Liam (20s) would rather be doing anything but directing photo shoots for washing powders. He’s not so unprofessional as to let it show, but for him this is a job. And not the one he wanted.

Annual General Meeting Tuesday 28th June 8pm. Jubilee Hall, Victoria Hall.

HAG AGM –  JUBILEE HALL – TUESDAY 28TH JUNE – 8:00 PM
Please come along to find out your group’s future plans and catch up with friends while you enjoy a glass of wine and a few nibbles. A big thank you to all those of you that have renewed your membership this year, your subs are a very necessary income stream for HAG, and we are grateful for your continued support. 

A reminder –  you must be a fully paid-up member of HAG to vote at the AGM.

Alan Ayckbourne “Confusions” Opening week begins Friday 17th June.

Opening Week is finally here, with opening night of our next production “Confusions” this Friday.

There are still plenty of time to get your tickets.

There are four interlinked on act plays: Mother Figure, Drinking Companion, Between Mouthfuls and Gosforth’s Fete. Each play deals riotously with human eccentricities; a mother unable to escape from baby talk, an unsuccessful seduction attempt, a fraught dinner encounter and a disastrous fete.

Performances will be on the 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th and 25th of June.

Venue: Victoria Hall, Hartley Wintney

Tickets can be purchased by the means below:      

Website: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/…/victoria-hall/confusions/

Email: boxoffice@hartleyartsgroup.com

Box Office: 07899998906.

June 2022 News Update

Goodness me June already!  I hope you have your tickets for this month’s production of Alan Ayckbourn’s Confusions.  Four plays for the price of one all on the same night! Show dates June 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th and 25th.   Tickets on sale through Ticket Source. See what a challenge we have given our stage crew – 4 plays, four sets or are there? The last set has definitely caused some intriguing discussions. Come along to the Victoria Hall and enjoy an entertaining evening locally.

HAG ROCKS! CHOIR

Summer light evenings are upon us and with everyone in good spirits our singing seems much lighter too.  If there are any men reading this we seriously need you at choir.  The men are outnumbered by at least 4 to 1 by the ladies.  Our existing men do extremely well but I am sure they would appreciate a few more in their group.


June is the month for the HAG AGM – 28th June 8pm in the Jubilee Hall. HAG Membership Fees still only £35, if you haven’t yet renewed please make sure you do before the AGM as you cannot vote if not a fully paid up member. Your subscriptions are very important to the Group.  More info on our website. Thank you. Please contact us if you are interested in joining our fun group in whatever capacity.