Dr Who star behind musical premiere (From Durham Times)

Dr Who star behind musical premiere

11:30am Saturday 4th July 2009

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AN amateur dramatic group’s young performers are to premiere a musical written by a former Dr Who with a local composer and conductor.

A Matter of Time is the idea of Colin Baker, who was the sixth Time Lord in the cult science fiction series from 1984 to 1986, and George Hastings, his friend and business partner, who lives at Lanchester, and has worked with the section.

Mr Baker is president of Chester-le-Street Theatre Group’s junior section who will take to the stage with the production in the Park View Theatre, Chester-le-Street, from Monday to Saturday, July 11, at 7.15pm.

The musical is set in the present and based in an English boarding school, called Coodworths, that has seen better days and is facing closure.

Group spokeswoman June Donald said: “It is High School Musical meets Dr Who. A lot of it is set in school science laboratories. When they do a certain experiment, they go back in time and solve a murder.’’ Ms Donald said it was the first time the section had performed a Colin Baker production. “Hopefully, he will get up for the show.’’ But the section has issued an appeal for the loan of lab equipment to be used on stage.

“We have gathered some scientific equipment, but we are in desperate need of two Bunsen burners and any other scientific equipment anyone wishes to donate.

“We thought it would be the easiest thing to borrow some Bunsen burners, but schools cannot spare them or say they have to be safety tested.

“In one of the numbers in the show, they have to sing into scientific equipment and the burners would be ideal for that. If we are not successful, we’ll have to make them out of cigar tubes, but it won’t be the same.’’ Tickets for the show cost £7 (concessions £6) and are available by calling 0191- 388-3778 and at the door.

Anyone who can help with equipment can visit the website www. chesterlestreettheatregroup.com or call Ms Donald on 07919-016084.

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