richard conlon
Posted on
24th September 2010

When I saw ‘For The Record’ I was expecting gentle charm and wit but I found that I laughed out loud more times than I have (when watching a play) in a long time.
This play will go down really well with the audiences in the village halls of Hampshire and beyond – it’s based on that Radio 4 hardy perennial ‘Desert Island Discs’. The story of Renee is one which many will recognise (as their own, or as their mother’s or aunt’s) – it is bittersweet, with moments of joy and sadness. Wasted opportunity is a main theme.
The piece is imaginatively staged and the doubling of the cast works really well, we see three ages of Renee which was lovely, particularly when they were all together. A surprise was to see filmed inserts of local people talking about their ‘discs’. These were lovely and on one particular occasion – packed with emotional weight.
If I have criticism, the first would be ‘pace’. I was lucky enough to see the first performance, and it lacked a little in pace, but that will come. My second is that too much happens in the play – the characters get caught up in an issue of local politics & development which I felt wasn’t needed – the Renee-tale was enough for me.
So, this play will have you laughing and reflecting back on what Noel Coward said: “Extraordinary how potent cheap music is.” It is life affirming, humane and tender; see it with your parents, your children or friends.

Anonymous
Posted on
2nd October 2010

Message:
loved the performance found it veyr moving went with a friend and she felt the same
loved the use of video, and thought it was a charming , engaging play. we both had tears in our eyes towarda the end .

Anonymous
Posted on
7th October 2010

What a play! Loved it! Went with my mother. Really touched me – and her. Clever, witty, emotional, utterly engaging.

Russell
Posted on
11th October 2010

Hello, I was too busy to say how good "free folk" was, but will now say how good "on the record" was. when i first saw the pictures of the cast i thought that the 3 female characters were one in various stages of life, and it was seamlessly done, i enjoy this type of theatrical device.

The set was again marvellous and like the 39 steps it showed the main point of the piece. The acting and the dancing were very well done as always. Thank you very very much for a superb performance.
Thanks to you all regards
Russell

Anonymous
Posted on
11th October 2010

thank you so much for a truly wonderful show! I thoroughly enjoyed it, as did the A level students. Loved the way Reeny was played by all 3 women – really touching. Thank you also for all the information you so kindly emailed to me weeks ago.

Rita & Donald Scarfe
Posted on
18th October 2010

We saw your delightful ‘For the Record’ last night and would like to congratulate you. It was brilliant: so well written and presented. Faultless.

Thank you so much for an enchanting evening.

Anonymous
Posted on
18th October 2010

Saw the play tonight for my college drama course, really enjoyed it! Very funny but touching too.

Anonymous
Posted on
4th November 2010

I love what Forest forge do. There is an intimacy and communication that comes from their work that is very rarely matched by larger theatre works. I always leave inspired, never disappointed.

Seeing "For the record" provoked so many emotions in me. It not only made me feel nostalgic but it also reminded me to keep living in the moment as all too quickly events become memories.

There is something truely lovely about seeing really good, original, professional theatre in your own village.

Anonymous
Posted on
4th November 2010

We loved "for the record" and the group are indeed going to use it as stimulus for their devised piece- they were buzzing with ideas when we came away from the performance!

> I was wondering if you could send me a copy of the script. Under exam rules we won’t be performing it as written but it’s sometimes useful to have a scene structure to work from when writing our own work.
>
> Many many thanks for introducing us to such a great piece of theatre- I especially love the pace of your work.
>