Very many thanks must go to all our fantastic volunteers for their energy, enthusiasm and good humour! Each of them plays a vital role in keeping the Beehive as an inviting, vibrant centre for Honiton and beyond. Without this valiant crew the Beehive would grind to a halt, particularly in these cash-strapped times and with the huge running costs of a public building to absorb.
One of the most gratifying things about working here, quite apart from the pleasure we get from seeing people enjoying themselves, is when the customers, conference goers and everyday users say how welcoming the Beehive is and how friendly and helpful the staff are. Good customer service is key and we strive hard to provide that.
The Beehive crew, who pull the raked seating out and push it in again for shows, cinema and lectures also erect the very heavy staging blocks and their praises must be sung to the rafters, as they go unseen by the public. So do the lighting guys shinning up and down ladders and the technical crew who help bands and shows to unload and set up. Their work is essential to the smooth running of events and very much appreciated. Recently Vamos Theatre Co. played here and said that they’d like to tour here every year because it is such a great venue and the most helpful crew they had ever encountered.
It is also hugely satisfying to see lovely notes praising our events and volunteers in our comments book in the foyer. Along with our wonderful stewards, the bar staff are a merry bunch and are often up against it when there are full houses, but they manage very well assisted by their sense of humour, as long as I am banished from causing chaos!
If anyone would like to join our happy band of volunteers then please pop in for an application form or look under the ‘about’ section on our website: www.beehivehoniton.co.uk, we are particularly keen to enlist bar staff and stage/tech crew at present with so many gigs and shows coming up this Autumn.
On to the Autumn. Well, what a selection of events we’ve had so far with standing ovations for Albert Lee, a sell-out for Hazel O’Connor and a brilliant weekend of the young and older generations coming together to see the amazing production of ‘Finding Joy’ and The Undercover Hippy, supported by a fantastic young, local band-Drop in The Ocean, the night before. It is fantastic to see an intergenerational audience appreciating a really good piece of moving, funny and informative theatre and then a totally different crowd coming to see some excellent musicians and singers.
The Honiton Community Theatre Company are gearing up for their Agatha Christie classic ’And Then There Were None’ next weekend, tickets are selling fast as we all wonder whodunit?
Then on Friday 9th Nov to tie in with the centenary of WW1, Fun in the Oven Theatre is touring their explosive new show ‘Canary’, telling incredible untold stories from the First World War.
‘Canary’ follows a motley crew of munitions workers doing their bit for the war effort. Set in a shell factory, the characters are based on the real-life testimonies of the Canary Girls, whose work with toxic chemicals turned their skins bright yellow.
‘Canary’ is no museum piece, it’s a multi-disciplinary show combining vibrant physical theatre with innovative sound design; this darkly comical show has been created in collaboration with the award-winning Spanish physical theatre company Teatro En Vilo. Currently, Adult Earlybird tickets may be bought for £10 and student tickets are only £5. Suitable for 12+
On Saturday 10th we have our free, annual Craft Fair from 10am-3pm, which is always very popular with over 40 exhibitors displaying a huge array of gorgeous gifts and speciality foodie things! Ideal for early Christmas presents and the café will be serving refreshments.
That evening we welcome back two of our favourite bands from last year, Black Water County the fabulous six-piece folk/punk band from Bournemouth, always a terrific live act, they’re special guests for ‘The Eskies’ who have jumped on the Stena line to join us from Ireland. Cannot wait for their rousing, swaggering indefinable folky noir numbers- love them and sure you will too! Two great bands for £12 Advance or £14 on the door. From 8.30pm
For something a little different, we have the Royal Ballet screening of La Bayadere (12A) on Thursday 15th Nov 7pm- Adult £15.30, Student £12.30 ( inc 30p admin fee). Then on Friday 16th, we have Glenn Close and Jonathan Pryce starring in ‘The Wife’ a very compelling drama about a woman emerging from the shadow of her famous husband.
Wendy
