Thank you to everyone who came to see Milton Keynes Theatre of Comedy (MKTOC) in their brilliant production of Ripping Yarns at The Arches outdoor theatre this summer ...
Photograph from 2021 of David Pibworth and Michael Palin handing over the cheque to The National Brain Appeal!
You helped us raise £2,000 for The National Brain Appeal's capital appeal, The Rare Dementia Support Centre. This grand total came from ticket sales and generous donations. It is an amazing total, but we would love to get it even higher, and we need your help.
"The National Brain Appeal is a charity committed to improving the outcome and quality of life for all those affected by a neurological condition!"
All funds raised by The Arches and MKTOC will go towards the charity's capital appeal, The Rare Dementia Support Centre, which is the world's first centre of excellence for rarer dementias.
The Arches Theatre and MKTOC chose the charity because the brilliant Terry Jones, who co-wrote Ripping Yarns alongside Michael Palin, sadly died in 2020 from frontotemporal dementia. David Pibworth (owner of The Arches and director of Ripping Yarns at The Arches) also lost his father to dementia. So, this is a charity close to all our hearts.
This is the second year that we have worked with MKTOC to raise vital funds for this incredible charity. In 2021 we raised £10,000, again through ticket sales and donations, and our total was match-funded by an anonymous supporter!
It would mean the world to us if we could reach this figure again through fundraising and match-funding. Can you help? If you feel that you could donate to this wonderful cause, please do get in touch with us directly as we'd love to hear from you.
Thank you to everyone who has supported our fundraising so far and of course to Michael Palin for giving us the rights free of charge to be able to do this.
Until next time ...
DAVID PIBWORTH
Would you like to know more?
If anything I've written in this blog post resonates with you and you'd like to discover more about the National Brain Appeal, it may be a great idea to give me a call on 07879 414110 and let's see how I can help.
David is the owner and Artistic Director of The Arches Theatre in Clifton Reynes near Milton Keynes. Productions are underneath some flood arches on the disused Midland railway line (Bedford to Northampton). It is equidistant from Bedford, Northampton and Milton Keynes. You bring your food, drink and chairs and enjoy the varied shows that are produced. This year - 2022 - there are 12 productions on throughout the season, from Shakespeare to Ripping Yarns plus a music weekend.
David has been involved in 'Light Ent' for many years, working with Ray Galton and Alan Simpson adapting the scripts of 'Steptoe and Son' and those of Tony Hancock to the stage. He has produced shows for Norman Wisdom (which makes him feel old), Al Murray, and Joe Pasquale amongst others, and also worked in the music business promoting and producing shows with Chas and Dave, Neil Inness, Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk and others of that ilk.
He is also the director of a film school for young people in his home town of Olney as well as supporting many local events.
He recently negotiated permission from Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais to stage a short run of 'Porridge' on stage which proved a success.
This year the annual charity performance at The Arches Theatre will be the last of 'Ripping Yarns' by Michael Palin and Terry Jones, with the profits being donated to The National Brain Appeal' for research into dementia as David's father and uncle died of it, as did Michael Palin's friend and writing partner Terry Jones. Last year they raised an astonishing £10,000 and are hoping to get somewhere close again with the support of audiences and sponsors.
David also has a stage hire company and his wife Julie runs a livery yard, so they are surrounded by horses, dogs, light entertainment and and a 17 year old daughter.
He plays in a comedy jazz band and collects strange props such as the Spitting Image puppets of Denis Thatcher and Alan Bennett, the child catchers bike from the stage show of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and various other 'things' all of which he sells to raise money for the Arches Theatre, although he always finds it hard to part from these props. However as the theatre receives no funding at all, he is always devising ways to keep it going! Sponsors are always welcome!
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