Annabel Azura starred in The Lost Children, a play written and directed by Eve McDougall, at the Hot Tap Theatre, St Andrews Mews.

Full House for the opening performance at the Hot Tap Theatre

Dee Williams reports on the opening event at the new Hot Tap Theatre in St Andrews Mews and soaks up the atmosphere of this up-and-coming part of town.

The Emporium of Beautiful Things, freshly opened in St Andrews Mews.

I spent Saturday afternoon at St Andrews Mews, Hastings and it was buzzing.  The Emporium of Beautiful Things were enjoying the last of their grand opening day activities and there was a divine aroma as I entered the store for a wander round. I highly recommend a visit. This is just one of the many new attractions at the mews, which you will find opposite Marks & Spencer.

Then I enjoyed a delicious butter chicken curry served up by 3 Souls in a Bowl. This is a family-run business and the food was divine, cooked and served hot and fresh to the outdoor tables, which were conveniently placed to catch the last of the sunshine.

Then it was time for the main event.  The very first performance at the new Hot Tap Theatre run by Dean Stalham and Francis Saunders. They took on the premises about a month ago and have worked night and day to change the old Bizarre But True space into a community theatre with an upstairs bar.

Saturday 14 June marked their first public performance and an excited crowd soon gathered outside. We all paid £5 on the door (all money raised going to charity) and took our seats in the darkened room. Before long, it was standing room only and the doors were closed, ready for lights up.

The Lost Children was a powerful one-woman play based on the true story of Eve McDougall’s incarceration in an adult prison at the age of 15 for attempting to steal bread rolls. Annabel Azura, a talented actress, gave us insight into the initial horror and eventual demented breakdown of the young girl as she was kept in isolation for three weeks.

Eve McDougall, writer and producer, top, and Annabel Azura, star of The Lost Children.

At the question and answer session following the performance, we learnt that Eve was held for two years for her crime but was moved after her time in isolation to a borstal wing which housed people her own age, making it easier for her to cope with her loss of freedom.

Although she never fully recovered from her isolation breakdown, she went on to train as a tutor and advocate, assisting many vulnerable people who found themselves on the wrong side of the law.  Among her many other achievements she was variously an author, poet, theatre manager and public speaker.

To top off the evening, we moved to the upstairs bar for a free drink and a mingle with the actor, directors, writers, producers and fellow theatre goers,  enjoying the last of the evening warmth on the outdoor balcony.

Dean informed us that the intention is to have a live theatre event every Saturday night at the Hot Tap Theatre, so watch this space and get there early. This place is buzzing.

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