The Chameleon Theatre Company

Review – The Chameleon Theatre Company – The Ghost Train by Arnold Ridley

November 14, 2025 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

Image Credits:-

Many thanks to The Chameleons for kind permission to use their photos. Other images created in Book Brush using their photos or ones from Pixabay. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.

I was intrigued when I heard The Chameleon Theatre Company were going to stage The Ghost Train, written by Arnold Ridley, actor and playwright (1896-1984). If that name seems familiar, it is because it is, given Arnold Ridley is best known for his role as Private Godfrey in the classic Dad’s Army. But it was also known he was a writer and The Ghost Train is his best known work.

Janet and I went to the opening night on Thursday, 30th October and were gripped by the story. There were plenty of twists and turns. Was there something supernatural going on here or was it a con or could it be both?

Tags: amateur theatre, ghost stories, plays, Ritchie Hall, The Chameleon Theatre Company, The Ghost Train by Arnold Ridley

Review – The Chameleon Theatre Group – Notes From A Small Island

August 1, 2025 By Allison Symes 3 Comments

Image Credits: Images were created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos, or were direct from Pixabay. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes, one of which has been used in the Feature Image.

It’s always a delight to go and see the latest production from The Chameleons but this one is a little different for me. It’s the first time I’ve gone to see a play based on a famous book but which remains one I haven’t read. I don’t know whether that means I went with a more open mind than I might have done if I had read the book (though I like to think I am fairly open minded anyway). I have often watched films based on books I’ve read (and most work well) but plays, no.

Tags: humour, Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson, play of Notes From A Small Island by Tim Whitnall, play review, Ritchie Hall, The Chameleon Theatre Company, travelogue

Celebrating 60 Years of Drama with The Chameleons – A Look Back at the Open Evening

June 20, 2025 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits: Images and screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes. Some images are created in Book Brush using my images.

On Saturday, 7th June 2025, I was delighted to go along to the Open Evening held by The Chameleon Theatre Company to celebrate their 60th anniversary.

I remain amazed at what fabulous productions they put on when you consider they don’t have the world’s biggest stage. They do make the most of every bit of space at the Ritchie Hall.

Bear in mind too they cover drama, comedy, and pantomimes, all of which have different demands. For the latter, there are more members on stage than there are for some of the dramas The Chameleons put on.

Did you know by the way their mascot is called Ritchie? I didn’t until that Saturday evening either.

Tags: amateur theatre, Diamond anniversary of The Chameleons, Open Evening at Ritchie Hall, The Chameleon Theatre Company

The Chameleons – Cinderella Review

February 7, 2025 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits:-

A huge thank you to all at The Chameleons for kind permission to use their photos. Screenshots (from The Chameleons’ Facebook page showing the sets coming together, their advert for the show, and what they will be staging next) were taken by me, Allison Symes. Some images (from The Chameleons) were set in Book Brush settings created by me. Do check out their website for more pictures. I couldn’t use them all here but they will all make you smile, especially if you were at the performances.

This year is the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of The Chameleons. They will be having a special event later in the year but to kick off 2025 in style, they started their new and special year with what is such a major part of theatre – the pantomime.

Tags: amateur theatre, Cinderella, fairytales, pantomime, The Chameleon Theatre Company, theatre

Review – The Chameleon Theatre Company – I’ll Be Back Before Midnight

November 8, 2024 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits:-

A huge thank you to The Chameleon Theatre Company for supplying the photos from I’ll Be Back Before Midnight. Other images created in Book Brush using Chameleon images. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

I joined Janet Williams for the performance of I’ll Be Back Before Midnight on Thursday, 24th October. The play (a thriller) is by Peter Colley and it was advertised as not being suitable for the under-12s. Spot on there but the play had a fantastic and strong storyline, a real whodunnit and whydunnit combined.

There were so many bluffs, double bluffs, you had to pay close attention but the storyline was so gripping, that wasn’t an issue.

When you are on the edge of your seat, hoping everything will somehow work out the right way for one character, whom you believe is being set up cruelly to die (probably at their own hand or made to look that way), then you know the characters have gripped you and will not let go until the play ends. That is how it should be too.

Tags: amateur theatre, bluff and double bluff, drama, I'll Be Back Before Midnight, play, Ritchie Hall, The Chameleon Theatre Company, thriller

Review: The Chameleon Theatre Company – The Sleeping Beauty

February 2, 2024 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

Image Credits: Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. A huge thank you to The Chameleons for kind permission to use their photos. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

It is always a joy to go and see productions staged by The Chameleon Theatre Company. Their pantomimes are always full of laughs and that hasn’t changed for their latest one based on the classic tale of The Sleeping Beauty.

This version of the story was written by Norman Robbins who wrote many pantomimes based on traditional stories. To find out more do check out the website for him. The Chameleons have performed nine of his scripts, the most they’ve put on by any pantomime writer. This includes The Dragon of Wantley, which I reviewed here a couple of years ago.

Tags: amateur theatre, fairytale, pantomime, Ritchie Hall, The Chameleon Theatre Company, The Sleeping Beauty

The Chameleon Theatre Company

Image Credits:-

Many thanks to The Chameleons for kind permission to use their photos. Other images created in Book Brush using their photos or ones from Pixabay. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.

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Image Credits: Images were created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos, or were direct from Pixabay. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes, one of which has been used in the Feature Image.

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Image Credits: Images and screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes. Some images are created in Book Brush using my images.

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Image Credits:-

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Image Credits:-

A huge thank you to The Chameleon Theatre Company for supplying the photos from I’ll Be Back Before Midnight. Other images created in Book Brush using Chameleon images. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

Share this:

Image Credits: Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. A huge thank you to The Chameleons for kind permission to use their photos. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

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