Steve Brine took part in a fundraising evening for the Chesil Theatre Development Appeal on Friday 9th March 2012, when a capacity audience enjoyed an array of entertainment from magic and sketches to the Chesil's very own version of Mastermind.
The evening kicked off with Neil Kelso performing some of his amazing magic tricks, made all the more spectacular in the intimate Chesil auditorium. Neil's work as an award-winning entertainer and master magician has taken him round the world. Next Martin and Marina Humphrey performed an extract from Noel Coward's Cavalcade. Richard Green, who devised and ran the whole evening, showed his collection of images entitled "Curiosities of Winchester" which although familiar to some, left others guessing.
The entertainment was rounded off with a Mastermind-type quiz. Those in the famous black chair included Chesil members Tom Williams, Gary Nicholson and Sandra Chamberlain plus past Mastermind champion and Brain of Britain Kevin Ashman, regularly seen on BBC2's Eggheads. As a former BBC radio journalist, Steve Brine returned to the microphone as question master. Specialist subjects could be chosen from Winchester, Hampshire, Shakespeare or theatre. It was a close run battle with Chesil President Tom Williams being pipped at the post by one point by Kevin Ashburn. The neighbouring Chesil Rectory Restaurant kindly donated prizes.
Steve said: "I thoroughly enjoyed my role as quiz master and it was a nail-biting contest. I'm also very pleased to have been able to help the Chesil raise money for its development appeal. An extended performance space will be of great benefit both to the Theatre and the wider community".
Tom Williams added: "This was a most enjoyable way of raising money for our development appeal which will extend the theatre to make it an even bigger and better community arts venue for the future. We are well on the way to reaching our target of £550,000 which will enable us to start building the first phase. We're very grateful to all those who donated their talents and especially to Richard Green who masterminded the whole event".
Pictured; Steve puts BBC's Egghead Kevin Ashman through his paces
More information...
For details of the Chesil Theatre Development Appeal, please contact Flavia Bateson via appeal@chesiltheatre.org.uk.