Message Board

Date/Time: Sat, 28th November, 2009 ,1 25 PM
Posted by: Laura Killeen Assistant Officer, (Visual Arts)
Message: I would just like to thank you once again for reserving complimentary tickets for the performance on Saturday. I thoroughly enjoyed the show and felt that its local interest was a strong point and definitely worth Arts Council funding. I hope the rest of the project goes well.

Date/Time: Sat, 28th November, 2009 ,1 25 PM
Posted by: Jean and John Tidy
Message: Just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed 'Silhouette' on Saturday. You all have a hit on your hands! Please pass on our congratulations to everyone involved. There were great signs of lotsof very hard work and commitment, resulting in a show that was funny, colourful, poignant, informative and thoroughly entertaining. In fact, Lesley's husband came out saying that it would make a great film so we all thought if they could do it with the Calendar Girls you could do it with the Bra Babes. Your next task, Chris: get working on a film treatment, and then start pitching it to agents and producers!

Date/Time: Sat, 28th November, 2009 ,1 25 PM
Posted by: Sharon Simcock
Message: I just wanted to drop you both a line to say congratulations on the success of Silhouette. I really enjoyed the production - as did the rest of the audiences! What a great celebration of Shrewsbury's past.
I'm sure you are all ready for a well earned rest. (Before getting ready for March!)
Thanks again,
Best wishes
Sharon Simcock

Date/Time: Sat, 28th November, 2009 ,1 24 PM
Posted by: Eric Smith
Message: Just a line to say well done to all for a superb production. Thoroughly enjoyable - well written and well performed.... and so well done overall with the changes of mood and style ...... A credit to all involved.

Date/Time: Sat, 28th November, 2009 ,1 24 PM
Posted by: Peter Lobbenberg
Message: What can I say? I know the play was really about the girls, but you genuinely made it feel as though it was about the family too. It was a truly memorable experience: the lump is still in in my throat, and I think it will always be. On behalf of myself and all the Lobbenberg clan, thank you so much - to you both, to Maggie and to all involved.

Could you please thank all the cast on our behalf - particularly Joanna and Tim of course, for their sensitivity in portraying my parents and all the trouble they took in forming an idea of the roles, but also all the others - you all played your hearts out, and I'm so sorry we weren't able to stay afterwards to thank you in person.

Date/Time: Sat, 28th November, 2009 ,1 23 PM
Posted by: John and Francis Williams at Leasowes Bank Concerts
Message: Thanks so much for last night. Silhouette was terrific and we enjoyed every bit of it. There was a wonderful community feel to the whole event – made us really pleased to be living in Shropshire. Hope the rest of the week goes well and suspect we’ll be booking for it again in the spring!

Date/Time: Sat, 28th November, 2009 ,1 23 PM
Posted by: Genevieve Tudor
Message: Really enjoyed Silhouette the other night! Excellent stuff. Lively, funny, entertaining and though provoking.

The audience of ex-Silhouette ladies were very impressed (particularly the one who thought she's come to see a slide show & a talk....!)

Date/Time: Sat, 28th November, 2009 ,1 22 PM
Posted by: Gordon Riley
Message: A family show based on the former Silhouette company history given its premiere in Shrewsbury Theatre Seven encapsulated the family atmosphere which George Lobbenberg and company brought to the county town .

The leap back to the 1950s and 1960s was enthralling in words, music and casting in a panoply of nostalgia for many in the sell out audience, who also lived through those momentous times.

Silhouette is written by Chris Eldon Lee with his usual flair, based on an idea by Nigel Hinton, plus some of my thoughts as a reporter in newsy but often tragic times, for the Express and Star in Shrewsbury.

I covered the story of young George Riley who was hanged at Shrewsbury Prison for the murder of an elderly lady in her home in Copthorne almost opposite his own. Due to my contact with the story I never thought George, flash suited tearaway when in drink and a frequent defendant in local courts, was guilty of such a brutal crime in pursuit of pocket money.

He had a link with Silhouette through a girl friend that provides a sub plot. It was strange being portrayed by Ian Musty wearing one of the trilby hats I became known for when I attended the formal inquest in the gaol after the hanging.

The huge cast is well drilled, handling the dialogue accurately, never losing the authentic touch of shop floor humour. It was a most enjoyable evening and superb achievement of dramatic chronicling. It’s worth seeing again.

Date/Time: Sat, 28th November, 2009 ,1 22 PM
Posted by: FROM CLAIRE RILEY – daughter of Gordon Riley
Message: We all thoroughly enjoyed the whole production. It was well written and witty, the music was great (and I knew all the words of the songs - that’s age for you), the performers (actors and singers) were excellent and the production was very polished and professional. Would definitely think about going to one of the shows next year.

I found the story fascinating as I had no idea about how the factory came to be in Shrewsbury or what amazing employers the owners were.

I also had no idea about how involved Dad (Gordon Riley) was in the George Riley story. I learned more from the production than he has ever told me in the last 58 years.

I know he enjoyed it very much and I think he felt quite emotional about it too. He also enjoyed his first visit to the new theatre.

Obviously popular, a former colleague of mine, who works in another part of CPS e-mailed me this morning to tell me about the production and how Dad figured in it. He wondered if I knew about it. He came to the dress rehearsal earlier on - his wife is in the group of singers. Small world.

It was a memorable night and you should all take your share of praise for the success of the whole production..

Best wishes

Claire Riley

Date/Time: Sat, 14th November, 2009 ,9 55 AM
Posted by: anne meadows from United Kingdom found us via Other
Message: Hi just want to congratulate the whole of the production team on last night opening night in Market Drayton. Was excellent.
Althoguh I worked in the Market Drayton branch in the middle 70s as a machinest for over a year, then transferred into the office for a further year before leaving in 1978 to have son, it was brilliant the way the play incorporated local history, music of the time and the story line was excellent, felt really proud to have been a part of it
Again many thanks for a most enjoyable evening, memorable all round like it was memorable working for Silhouette.
Anne

Date/Time: Thu, 20th August, 2009 ,3 07 AM
Posted by: Catherine Rowson/Middle/Evason from United Kingdom found us via Search Engine
Message: I was at Silhouette, Shrewsbury in th Design Dept. working under Pamela Turner,from the early 60's. This was then in a corner of Mr Wadsworth's cutting room.I worked with Judy,Denise,Mo,Jill,Eileen,Rosie,
Gillian,Tina,Bea, Flossie, Phyllis and Tanis among others, and of course, Mrs Lobbenburg.
Does anyone remember dressing up the Music Hall for the Press Ball after work?
Is there a collection of memorabilia anywhere? I have some swimwear brochures from1968,72 &79. Also a Silhouette Express newsletter from 1971 with John Evans on the front. I'd love them to go to a good home and not get lost.
Looking forward to seeing everyone in November.
Cath

Date/Time: Sun, 19th April, 2009 ,1 07 AM
Posted by: Mrs. Rosalind Minton from Great Britain (UK) found us via Other
Message: my gr gr gandmother's brother, William davies Jones, was a well known saddler and harness maker in Shrewsbury, who died in 1858.

Date/Time: Tue, 10th March, 2009 ,2 31 AM
Posted by: Kev Amesbury from Great Britain (UK) found us via Other
Message: I was with Silhouette at Drayton for 20 years as chief sewing engineer and plant engineer, i was responsible for setting up the "bunny girl outfits ,I met Hugh Heffner at the factory etc. lots of great memories with lots of great people from a 15 year old boy apprentice through to chief engineer then I closed and emptied the factory lots of history and stories . if I can help please let me know good luck cheers kev

Date/Time: Mon, 9th March, 2009 ,7 30 PM
Posted by: Rosemarie Davies (nee Trickett) from Great Britain (UK) found us via Other
Message: I was at Silhouette in 72-74 , in the design room , initially working on M&S swimwear , C&A nightwear,Pippa Dee and designing the Scene Setters and
ranges when the corsetry market was in decline and Silhouette were looking to new areas. I have fond memories of the Design room ,it being my first job after leaving college, I learnt loads,particularly how wonderful the warm cheese pastries were at break time!!It really was a family atmosphere..loved it.

Date/Time: Thu, 22nd January, 2009 ,5 17 AM
Posted by: corrine rees from United Kingdom found us via Friend's recomendation
Message: i am extremely impressed with the project so far, It was wonderfull to look back and remember the fun times i had while working at silhouette. It was a very happy place and the working conditions were excellent, If you could bottle the atmospher and sell it today you would be on to a winner. I will watch with intrest as the musical project grows and cant wait to see the finished production, If i can be of any help at any time I am more than willing to get involved best wishes Corrine

Date/Time:
Posted by: Dorothy Haughton from United Kingdom found us via Friend's recomendation
Message: Congratulations to yourself, Nigel and the cast for a wonderfully brilliant production. Not only enjoyed myself tremendously but also learned a lot about local history!! The question was asked last night on Twitter - is it good enough for the West End? Probably too good would be my answer!

Date/Time:
Posted by: JUNE EDWARDS , MARKET DRAYTON from United Kingdom found us via Friend's recomendation
Message: I WENT TO SEE THE SHOW SATURDAY EVENING AND THOUGHT IT WAS BRILLIANT. I NEVER WORKED THERE, BUT IT WAS SO WELL WRITTEN THAT
ANYONE COULD ENJOY IT. I COULD HEAR THE EX- SILHOUETTE GIRLS IN THE AUDIENCE RELATING TO THE FUNNY BITS - ESPECIALLY THE STOCKROOM STORIES.PLEASE PASS ON CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE CAST ESPECIALLY "GRUMPS", SHE WAS HILARIOUS. I GO TO THE THEATRE QUITE OFTEN AND YOUR SHOW WAS THE BEST I’VE ATTENDED IN A LONG, LONG TIME. WELL DONE AND GOOD LOOK TONIGHT - OR SHOULD I SAY BREAK A LEG.