Aggie's Anniversary

written by James Barclay

7 - 9 October, 2004

It's fifty years since Aggie and Harry Gallacher got married. They always planned to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary with a big 'do' and even Harry's early demise hasn't changed Aggie's determination to organise a celebration that Harry would be proud of. But things aren't going quite to plan and disappointment looms. It's going to take an effort of biblical proportions to save the occasion with the result, Aggie is in for a big surprise.

No Mean Company celebrate 18th birthday with a world premiere

The next play by James Barclay, celebrated author of smash hits like 'Paras Over The Barras' and 'The Bigot', will have its world premiere at Cumbernauld Theatre.

'Aggie's Anniversary' will be performed on October 7th - 9th by No Mean Co, the resident amateur adult theatre company.

The play tells the story of Aggie's efforts to enjoy her 50th wedding anniversary celebrations, despite the fact that none of her guests have shown up and her husband died five years ago! It will take an effort of biblical proportions to make sure the partygoes with a bang. Even when it seems that all the planning has been in vain Aggie is in for a big suprise, or two.

The performance will also celebrate No Mean Co's 18th birthday. The company was created in 1986 by Robert Robson, now Artistic director of the Lowry Centre in Manchester, and playwright Tom McGrath.

The company's first show, in April 1986, was 'Pretending You're A Fried Egg'. Then known as the 'Adult Drama Group', they set out to provide a forum for over 18s to put on drama workshops and live performances.

Friends

Over the years membership has been drawn from a number of sources. There are graduates from the Cumbernauld Youth Theatre, long'term friends of the theatre, and simply people who have turned up to try their hand at acting. No Mean Co are always looking for new talent and meet every Wednesday at 8pm in Cumbernauld Theatre. Usually in the bar!

'Aggie's Anniversary' is full of the unique Glasgow humour that has made all of James Barclay's previous work so popular. Barclay's word play has delighted audiences for years and this latest work is sure to delight seasoned fans and those yet to discover his work.

Tickets for this world premiere are on sale now, at £7.50 and £5 for concessions.

Tickets can be bought by phoning the Cumbernauld Theatre Box Office, on 01236 732887, or book online at www.cumbernauld theatre.co.uk. Tickets will almost certainly sell out, so be sure to book early for this touching comedy.

NEWS & CHRONICLE Wednesday August 18 2004

If you can't take the people to the party...

The premiere of the latest work from the author of smash hit plays Para's Over The Barras and The Bigot will take place tomorrow (Thursday) at Cumbernauld Theatre.

'Aggie's Anniversary', by world-famous playwright James Barclay, opens on October 7, with further performances on October 8 and 9.

All of Barclay's works are immensely popular. It was thanks to the sell-out success of No Mean Company's performance of Para's Over The Barras in October 2002 that Barclay agreed to allow the amateur company to premier his latest work.

As lighting technician Ann McEwan says, this is a terrific opportunity for the company.

"It's a great compliment that Barclay enjoyed our last production and was happy to give us this opportunity to perform one of his new plays. It's a play that draws on a lot of traditional Glasgow humour, which will appeal to a lot of people.

"I think it will go down well with the people that have seen things like Para's Over The Barras and those familiar with his work will enjoy what he has done with Aggie's Anniversary. You can sit back and enjoy the fun of it."

Aggie's Anniversary is a touching comedy, full of the wordplay and wit that have made Barclay's previous works such a success. It tells the tale of housewife Aggie, who is determined to celebrate her golden wedding anniversary, despite a distinct lack of confirmed guests or a husband - her Harry having died five years ago.

But Aggie will not be put off, as she promised Harry she would celebrate their 50th anniversary no matter what. So when the guests don't come to the party, she decides to take the party to them, and sets out to find the poor and hungry to join her celebration.

Although things don't go exactly to plan, Aggie is in for a big surprise when she learns, as she says, "ye know who yur freens are."

Aggie's Anniversary is a fitting play for No Mean Co., as this year is their 18th birthday. It also sees Cumbernauld Theatre celebrating it's silver jubilee.

The No Mean Co. webstage, which has just reopened after a professional makover, can be found at www.nomeanco.co.uk

NEWS & CHRONICLE Wednesday October 6 2004

Celebrating Success With No Mean Co

It wasn't just any old celebration as No Mean Company tread the boards last week with their latest production Aggie's Anniversary.

In addition to celebrating the eighteenth anniversary of their first full length production in the autumn of 1986 they had the privelage of putting on a World Premier penned by the author of successes like 'Para's Over the Barras' and 'The Bigot', James Barclay.

The audience knew they were in for a treat as they settled into their seats filled with anticipation and it was an anticipation that was to be well rewarded over the evening. As the cast delivered joke after joke with aplomb the delight of the audience grew as they laughed and applauded loudly and willingly.

The story showed Aggie's day as she prepares to celebrate her Golden Wedding Anniversary despite the fact that her husband, the much loved Harry, died some five years previously. Laughs abound as she remenisces over her marriage and the effects of a dozen vindaloos.

However, the show wasn't just about laughs as leading actress Jo Gallagher took her character Aggie, ably through every emotion from the joy and excitement of reaching her Golden Wedding Day to dismay and disappointment as guest after guest either failed to turn up for the celebrations. Her daughter Nancy (Geri Campbell) provided convincing support and encouragement to Aggie as those who did put in an appearance departed soon after with a mindboggling barrage of excuses.

The supporting cast comprised of a wonderful array of characters which included the OTT actress (Angela Milton) heading to the dizzy heights of fame in Scottish soap River City to 'auld freens' (Dorothy Roberts and Jo Grant) and a comic dialogue between the Aggie's brother (Duncan Weir) and the local policeman (Paul Howitt) who discover a common masonic associatioin. This same policeman reappeared later in the show to remove the various unsavoury characters on the street that Aggie tried to round up for a party in the absence of her friends and family. Characters which included tramps (Gordon Parkes and Dorothy Roberts), Gypsies (Karen MacDonald and Gary Flood) and the hilarious mugger, Daftie von McGeachie (Jim Howson).

As Aggie desperately tries to find someone to celebrate with her she even tries persuading local chip shop owner Mario (played wonderfully by Calum Cormack) to join her but to no avail as even he provides excuses.

Beaten Aggie returns home despondent and collapses on her sofa, quickly falling asleep. But her sleep soon turns to dreams as dear departed Harry returns for one last dance. Aggie's living room is magically transformed into a ballroom as Harry takes her in his arms wishing her 'Happy Anniversary' and presenting her with a beautiful rose. The dream ends and Aggie awakes to find that not only does she still have the rose but her daughter Nancy has returned home to surprise Aggie as her friends and family reappear for a rousing final celebration.

As the celebrations continued into the bows to a rousing applause however, No Mean Company had one final surprise. Audience member Aggie McLuckie and her husband just happened to be celebrating their own 50th Wedding Anniversary on the final night of the show. To the delight of a cheering audience the cast presented Mr & Mrs McLuckie with a bottle of champagne before Calum Cormack made a final speech thanking the audience for their wonderful support over the years and the cast left the stage on a high note to continue their 18th anniversary celebrations back stage.

Following the show, playwright James Barclay congratulated the cast on all their hard work emphasizing how much he had enjoyed the production and singling out Aggie (Jo Gallagher) for her excellent handling of such a challenging role.

All in all it was a fitting way to celebrate No Mean Company's coming of age. Not afraid of challenge their performances are always diverse and surprising so it will be interesting to see how they follow their first eighteen years. Whatever they produce, it's sure to be worth seeing.