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After ten years of entertaining the Côte d’Azur, The Red Pear Theatre Company called their final curtain last year. Hilary King worked tirelessly to ensure British entertainment carved a niche along the Riviera, and it has been sadly missed.

It also left a gap waiting to be filled, which Hanna Waite with her creation of the Limelight Theatre Company this summer, is determined to fill. With Hilary as chairman, the company will benefit from her experience and knowledge, and a little bit of Red Pear will remain alive and kicking.

Hanna is an actress and artist, and has for the last six years run Maison des Arts in La Colle sur Loup with her husband Mitch. Hanna also produced, directed and acted in My Sister in This House, a dark and chilling thriller, last November. “I kept being asked what was next? I really felt inspired to do something and have been overwhelmed by support from both the audience and friends of The Red Pear Theatre, that I just felt I had to go on”.

That experience clearly demonstrated a need for more of the same, and so began the conception of Limelight. Hanna is both dynamic and passionate about this project, and has inspired both her cast and crew of experienced professionals to pull out all the stops. “We have some fantastic actors, a great technical team, and we are particularly thrilled to have Richard Derrington on board as director”. Richard has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the Old Vic to mention but a few. Richard is particularly well known for his direction of Alan Ayckbourn plays, something Limelight is keen to tackle next year.

The company is a non-profit making association supported by various Sponsors as well as by its Members and Benefactors.

Limelight makes its debut on October 6th 2006 at Antibéa Théâtre, Antibes. “For our first production we’ve chosen the quintessentially English play Private Lives by Noël Coward. It is a perfect choice for our audience as it is set in France but English in every other way, especially in its cutting humour”.  The show will travel to the Var and Menton, covering as much of the Côte d’Azur as possible, these dates and venues are yet to be finalised.

In addition Limelight are particularly keen on Theatre in Education (TIE) and plan to work with International Schools in the area, involving students in different aspects of theatre, and promoting British Culture in a positive light.

We look forward to meeting our new audience next month, and are sure you will enjoy the return of British entertainment to the Côte d’Azur.