The Ingatestone Musical and Operetta Group (IMOG) based in the picturesque village of Ingatestone has been part of community life there for over forty years.
Over this period, the IMOG have staged over 80 musicals and operettas, an achievement worthy of a standing ovation. CommunityAd had the pleasure of a chat with an IMOG member who has seen a few standing ovations in her time on stage, Anne has been in the group since 2004 and fondly refers to IMOG as “like a family and I’ve made some life-long friendships”.
So, Anne what is your role and what aspects do you enjoy most?
I’m on the Committee and am the Secretary for the Group, but my favourite role is being on stage with everyone, either in the chorus or playing a part.
I’ve only missed 2 shows since I joined (and that was because I was pregnant!) Rehearsals are also loads of fun; we work hard, but still have time for plenty of laughs… and a cup of tea, of course!
Just how good does it feel to be able to put on productions again after such a long lockdown-induced absence?
Oh, it’s so good to be back together rehearsing and we are all very excited about being back in front of an audience again in January. We did keep in touch during the lockdowns, including monthly Zoom quizzes, but it’s great to be back together in person.
January is notoriously bleak but tell our readers what we’ve got to look forward to as the IMOG panto returns to the stage? Tell our readers a little about the production of Sleeping Beauty?
Everyone is in for a real treat with this one! We have a fantastic Director, Denyse Donnell, and most of the same cast who were in our NODA award-winning pantomime “Aladdin” in 2019. “Sleeping Beauty” is also written by the same author, Ben Crocker, based on the traditional well-known fairy tale, but adapted with some hilarious scenes, great songs and our own IMOG twist on it. Everyone has lots to do and there are some wonderful parts – you will definitely be surprised by a few of them! (Watch out for the fairies!)
Performance and theatre have so many benefits to an individual’s wellbeing, have you seen this or experienced it yourself?
Definitely! Not only is it a chance to meet new people, but performing helps increase your self-confidence. Even if you don’t want to be on the stage, being part of a group such as IMOG is like being in a family, as we all look out for each other and share the highs and lows of everyone’s lives.
Plus, there is nothing quite like having fun on stage with your friends in front of a live audience! We also have plenty of social activities, with theatre trips, quizzes etc.
If any readers are perusing this article and thinking to themselves “I’d like to try to be a thespian this year” what would you say to them?
Do it! Following the panto, we will be taking a few weeks off before we start preparing for our next production in October, which will be ‘Betty Blue Eyes’. If anyone would like to come along and join us, either onstage or behind the scenes, they can drop me an email at [email protected] and I can provide more details.
Why is it so important for the local community to support theatre productions and local theatre groups now more than ever?
It’s been a tough couple of years for everyone and supporting local theatre not only enables the performers to be able to carry on doing what they love to do, but it helps create an active community spirit and a return to normality.
Finally, how long have you lived in the area and what makes it such a pleasant community to be a part of?
I don’t live in the village, but I moved to Essex in 2003 and this group and the people of the area have enabled me to become a part of something very special. There is a wonderful community feel to Ingatestone and the Community Centre really is just that.
Anything else you’d like to add at all please feel free and if you could attach some pictures to accompany the article that would be grand?
Sleeping Beauty will be performed from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th January 2022 and tickets are available from ticketsource.