Just read a newspaper report that 'Officials' turned off the water supply at King Edward College Vll in Coalville Liecestershire after telling the Amateur Dramatics Society their show Singin'in the Rain was a health and safety risk. Apparently they feared the lead Ian Hunt might be electrocuted on a water drenched stage.

Does anyone know the background to this and the reason for the decision. We certainly did a similar thing many years ago drenching not only the lead but another 50 or so performers very successfully.

Mind a very thorough risk asssessment was made and the whole effect cost about ?4,000 to stage. The waterproof flooring to the stage has remained in place as the stage covering ever since and is in first class condition. We could use it again tomorrow if necessary.

Would like to know how they intended to stage the effect and can share information.

Any Coalville Amdrammers out there ???

I did it years ago with a plastic tarp under the street pavement, which drained thru a piped gravity run off, into a drain outside - worked well!
It would be great to find out the reason they stopped the performance though?
Beurocricy gone wrong or Officialdom on steroids?
Maureens from Coalhill!

Try Maureen

Indeedy, I do know all about this!! Yep, this was our production last week. There was absolutely no risk of electrocution to our lead (heavens, last thing we'd want to do is dispose of a useful MAN!!) and we even told the Principal that we would welcome an inspection from County Hall H & S to prove this was the case. It's a little more complicated than the newspaper report suggests and has more to do with our relationship with the school.

Surely not journos twisting a story?

Actually, no, more a question of what we can't say to the press...

Oh maureen, I do hope it didn't spoil your show! You've worked so very hard on it!

So is the background story under wraps then !!

Or at least under a raincoat!

Heh heh! Yes, unusually for me, I'm being discreet. Just rest assured there was no question of us flouting any regulations - HSE or otherwise!!

How very mysterious.


Come on Maureen - you can tell us

OK but I'll whisper...

*whisper whisper whisper whisper.....*

Understand now?

Of course! It all makes perfect sense now

fascinated...any chance of a pm to tell me?

Add me to the pm list if you do so please Maureen.

And me please *flutters eyelids*