Amateur actors take to a small stage in Medway with big ambitions

Medway Little Theatre has been putting on amateur productions since the 1950s, and their latest performance is a step in a new direction.

Transcript

00:00 I wouldn't blame you if you didn't spot it.

00:02 Tucked away just off the Rochester High Street is the Medway Little Theatre,

00:06 and despite its small size, it has a big history and big personalities on its stage.

00:11 The amateur theatre has been holding plays on its stage for nearly 60 years,

00:16 and its newest is set to open this week.

00:18 Kodachrome is described as a play about love, nostalgia, the seasons, and how we learn to say goodbye.

00:25 And take it from me, you might want to bring tissues when you watch.

00:29 I spoke to the director about how he feels ahead of opening night.

00:32 Medway Little Theatre, a little theatre, it definitely is.

00:37 There's not lots of space in anywhere for us to, but it's quite amazing what kind of

00:42 things you can create. And sometimes you're relying on the audience to

00:48 put those images in their minds for you, but you know, that's what theatre's about.

00:53 The theatre itself was converted from a disused warehouse into a 100-seat theatre

00:58 in the late 1950s, and now holds amateur productions, youth sessions and shows,

01:03 as well as events like their one-act play festivals.

01:06 Their current production, Kodachrome, takes a look at a small town through the lens of the

01:11 local photographer, and is an honest depiction of romance in all its forms.

01:15 But it wouldn't be made possible without the cast and crew who are bringing it to life.

01:20 During their dress rehearsal, it's clear that a lot more hard work goes into an amateur production

01:25 than people assume. The actors have so many physical and verbal cues to remember,

01:30 the crew have to help set the scene as well, and the director make sure it all runs smoothly.

01:35 All these people have to be completely in sync to make it feel polished and smooth.

01:39 All the cast have full-time jobs apart from their theatrics, and the low budget that comes

01:45 with amateur productions means that there's less money for costumes and props.

01:49 But that doesn't mean they don't have their favourites.

01:52 I play the mystery novelist and the florist, and my favourite prop is my gigantic bunch of flowers.

01:59 I play the photographer, and I'm actually very lucky I only have one prop, and that is my camera.

02:05 I play the waitress and the librarian, and my favourite prop is definitely my librarian stamp.

02:12 Well I'm here outside Medway Little Theatre,

02:14 where the production inside is much bigger than you might think.

02:18 Finn McDermid for KMTV News.