LINDA CHURCHILL
Linda moved to Dartmouth in 1986 with her first husband and two children, Lorna and Richard. She grew up in Wolverhampton and worked for ten years as a civil servant, including as a librarian. She said, “We built a house in the Shropshire countryside and bought two properties in Wales which we rented out. We also had a boat in Wales and decided we wanted everything in one place, so toured the South West to find the ideal location.” Linda first came to Dartmouth in 1985 and was instantly smitten. She added: “My husband already knew the town from sailing here and I fell in love with the place. I especially liked the history of the buildings.” They bought a Georgian house in Anzac Street and converted it into tearooms, before moving to Yorke House where she still lives. “My sister owned an estate agency and fuelled my passion for nice houses and renovations. I enjoy the challenge of the before and after.
“It is the same with creating plays - from nothing to a stage
show with actors, set, lighting and sound effects.” The ability to create stories runs in Linda’s family. Her brother
Peter is a published author and her father used to make up stories for his children at bedtimes. Last summer, Linda excelled with her play ‘Edie’ – based on the infamous storm of 1917 that destroyed Hallsands. Linda also played the lead role. All performances were sold out and there was a waiting list for tickets. She said, “I based the play on Edie, who lived on as a recluse at the derelict Trout Hotel after the storm. It was a very atmospheric play and very emotional for everybody, including the cast and audience. “The idea came from a walk I took through the village, back in the 1980s, when it hit me what an awful but amazing story of heroism had occurred.” Her most recent play, ‘Millionaire’, was performed this June and is Linda’s first comedy to date. She explained: “Everyone decided we should try for a comedy
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this year so I wrote a story based around Mrs Sutherland and her three girls, loosely based on TV’s Mrs Brown’s Boys. “One of the girls, Rosemary, decides she’s going to find and marry a millionaire in Dartmouth. She has big ideas and is heading for a downfall.” With Linda’s trademark enthusiasm and vivid imagination, there is great fun and a lovely twist in the end of the tale. Linda has worked on several other scripts including Spooks, Silver Street, Hits From The Blitz, Dangerous Liaisons and Daughter of England, as well as plays on Charles Dickens, the Bronte sisters and Jane Eyre.
MEDITERRANEAN GRILL
It has been suggested that Linda should take her plays further, but she is more than happy to contain her success within Dartmouth and is clearly very content with her life here.
She said: “Hearing the audience
laugh, applaud and enjoy a performance that has come from my idea is its own reward for me. I just love writing them and have lots more in my head for future years. “Dartmouth Players is a very absorbing hobby and all done in our spare time. “We welcome new people of all ages to the group and train young people for the stage.” See
www.dartmouthplayers.org.uk for more details.
This interview and all previously published interviews in this magazine can be found on By The Dart’s website
www.bythedart.co.uk
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