Well that was fun. With our pop-up theatre of staging, lighting and sound system we took our two radio plays on tour around the Gers in November. The Far Side of the Moore told the story of how Patrick Moore came to present the BBC's Sky at Night programme for 55 years despite being an amateur astronomer. Yes Minister, the Right to Know was the radio version of an episode of the popular Yes, Minister television series. Both plays were performed either side of a lunch. Firstly on two dates at l'Auberge in Montesquiou, then at the Ferme de Flaran restaurant at Valence-sur-Baïse then finally at the delightful Salle des Fêtes in the lofty village of Cazaux-Villecomtal.

As a distraction while guests were waiting for their post-meal coffee, we played a game to celebrate an icon of BBC radio, the daily Shipping Forecast. We created Shipping Forecast Bingo using the Met Office's sea areas instead of numbers. The day's Radio 4 Shipping Forecast was read out and guests crossed off sea areas on their cards as they were announced. Of course we didn't want an ordinary game of bingo, so it was engineered that despite all the cards being different, they all had one common sea area — Malin. As that sea area was called out everyone shouted Bingo! For the French speakers among the audience the whole game was malin (clever). Everyone was declared a winner and guests got to keep their specially printed English Theatre Company pencils as their prize.

​We have been delighted with the number of really appreciative comments we received on the days of the performances and afterwards by email and on Facebook. It is rewarding for our Company to know that our audiences have been well entertained because that's why we do it. Oh, and for the fun we have too!

Our two radio plays have been in rehearsal this week, ready for the first performances on Saturday at the Auberge in Montesquiou. The Far Side of the Moore is an endearing account of how Patrick Moore became Britain's best-loved astronomer and Yes, Minister – the Right to Know is one of the funniest episodes of the popular Yes, Minister television series that has been adapted for radio.
The sound technicians, lighting crew and troupe of actors are all now ready and our own pop-up theatre will be installed at the Montesquiou auberge in time for Saturday's 1.00pm start. There are very few tickets left for Saturday and Sunday's performances are fully sold out with a waiting list.
After Montesquiou we move to the Ferme de Flaran, a superb restaurant near Valence-sur-Baïse, where we perform on Saturday 25th November. There are tickets available for this performance, but the following day's event at Cazaux-Villecomtal is almost sold out.
Rehearsals have been great fun and we have enjoyed working with some new faces in both technical and acting roles.
We recently held a premature first birthday party at which we announced our 2018 plans — Under Milk Wood in March, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead in May, and a Musical Theatre Review in October plus other events still at the planning stage. So keep watching the website for further news and information.
In the meantime, we hope you enjoy our two radio plays as much as we have enjoyed bringing them to life.