Autumn 2007
Thank
you so much for all your support over the last few months, enabling us to
enter our Celebration Year with fresh energy and vision for today and for
the future. Whilst the work continues apace, recent months have proved
financially pressured as travel, accommodation and other costs continue to
increase. Whilst we are very grateful for the vital existing support we
receive from so many of you, we have enclosed an appeal letter (our first
for many years!) to give others the opportunity to help us too. Please give
this letter and pink form your serious consideration. We value your
financial and prayer support now more than ever as we continue to bring the
love of Christ into the world of showbusiness. Chris Gidney – Director.
Entertainment Sunday - 2 Dec 07
PRAYER FOR ENTERTAINMENT SUNDAY
Dear God, we praise you and thank you that you are the giver of all that is good
and worthwhile and that you have created gifts of entertainment to be used in
your world. We ask that you will inspire and encourage all who work in theatres,
television and radio.
We want to celebrate our Silver Anniversary with as many people as possible
and so we are launching Entertainment Sunday this autumn.
Designed to coincide with
The entertainment business may seem full of glitz and glamour, but it can be one
of the loneliest and most spiritually isolated places to work in. Christians
in Entertainment has been serving the profession for the past 25 years
through one-to-one visits, backstage groups, dressing room bible placements,
prayer text-line, and our web site.
As part of our Silver Celebrations we are asking churches to pray for the world
of entertainment on Sunday December 2nd 2007. To resource you, we
have filmed an informative & fascinating DVD that can be shown to your
congregation. It will fit into a five-minute slot and features star interviews,
backstage glimpses of our work, and ways in which we would encourage prayer and
support for one of the most influential industries.
Sunday December 2nd 2007 coincides with the weekend of the Royal Variety
Performance, and so offers heightened public awareness of the business, but
we would encourage you to show the DVD at any time, and arrange for prayer to
take place in any way you please.
To order your FREEE DVD and accompanying Prayer Guide please email us your
details at
chris@cieweb.org.uk Thanks!
Entertainment
Sunday is sponsored by
Bible
Blitz Top-Ups -
We are thrilled that nearly 20 years on from working alongside Gideon’s
International to place Bibles in UK theatres that they have offered to
top-up any missing backstage copies as part of their London Bible Blitz
planned for September. With 52 theatres in London with an average of 12
dressing rooms each this is no small undertaking and we are grateful to be
working with Paul Moeke on this project. Whether a veteran performer or from
one of the latest TV voting shows, waiting nervously around in a dressing
room offers an excellent opportunity to pick up a Bible, and our celebration
Bible bookmarks with our newprayertext number are sure to be used by God in exciting ways.
BBC Songs of Praise –
The producers of the popular BBC Sunday show have said they hope to celebrate our
25years of ministry as part of a forthcoming programme, so keep an eye on
your TV listings. We also plan a live celebration featuring some of the
performers we have worked with over the years. The live show promises to be
an evening of the very best of music and comedy bursting with star quality
and will complete our celebration year in mid 2008. Details of venues and
tickets are to follow. A new `celebratory` book is also planned.
Heaven & Earth – Gloria Hunniford recently introduced her BBCTV series with “…a look behind the scenes finding out about the struggles actors themselves are facing between their profession and their faith.” We allowed TV cameras backstage to film our weekly group on Phantom of the Opera, and Chris was interviewed. Members of the cast were featured along with others from several London shows, Rev. Richard Dormandy and our on-line Pastoral Assistant Sally Goring, who help run the group. It was an encouraging reminder to TV viewers that Christianity is alive and well in the West-End thanks to the work of CIE.
Autumn 2006
This letter comes with grateful awareness and thanks for your continued support of Christians in Entertainment at a time when it seems that the need for our individual, one-to-one approach in the entertainment business increases. Despite a year of personal ups and downs CIE has continued to help feed the spiritual hunger that exists within show business today. In fact it’s true to say that when we experience God by our side during the difficult times of life we find a greater understanding and compassion for those we seek to support. This is something that I shall keep in mind as we look forward to entering our silver celebration year in 2007.
It Does What It Says - In an age of religious fear, I’m proud that Christians in Entertainment has no hidden agenda. CIE is what it `says on the packet` which means that those living in the suspicious world of show business know exactly what we stand for. In a business that exhibits smiles and glitz on the outside but often contains spiritual confusion and loneliness within, it’s a great thrill when I am invited into a dressing room perhaps to be asked for a specific prayer or to explain some aspect of Christianity knowing that there is a genuine desire to know more. These days I often have a lot of explaining to do!
Musicals win! - Alongside our visits across the country we’ve had the extra delight in being able to support several performers trapped in reality TV shows such as `I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here` & `Trust Me I’m a Holiday Rep`, whilst our `Phantom` group continues to be an oasis for those working in the West-End. Invigorating chat, laughter and a wonderful aroma of between-show snacks wafts through the door of our backstage meeting room each week. For some strange reason more people join us from the musicals than from plays! Perhaps we can try and balance this out next year? We are delighted to have been invited by Canon Richard Truss of the Actors Church Union to help begin a lunchtime support group at the National Theatre. We also welcome Roxie Stockdale who has started working with London City Mission in the West-End. We look forward to building on our excellent relationship with both organisations.
OH YES IT IS!
Pantomimes Feature
Casts have been gathered and Princes and Dames turn their thoughts to the delights of cheers and hisses, and the fantastic mayhem that makes Pantomime so unique. This is a key time for CIE and our visits this year will stretch the usual length of the country and hopefully make a difference to the lives of many performers from the top of the bill to the chorus-line as we aim to encourage the Christ back into Christmas. Planned visits include these below and any a donation to our Panto-project will be very welcomed!
Don Maclean is appearing at The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton
This season, every town and city
the length and breadth of the country
will be performing the Gospel live on stage
without even realising it!
Every day, sometimes three times a day, an epic battle between Good and Evil will be fought. Of course, much to the delight of every girl and boy, Mum and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Good always wins!
So, when you see Panto posters in your area:
1. Pray for the cast: To be free of colds and flu; to work together well; to have an understanding of the greater spiritual battle.
2. Pray for CIE as we travel the country visiting the Panto casts.
3. Book your tickets: and encourage your friends to support this marvellous family demonstration of the Gospel right on your doorstep!
CIE News Update - Autumn 2004
The Secret Service -
It’s been another busy year at CIE supporting the entertainment business at
many different levels, but it’s in our role as a `Nicodemus` that we have been
most active. Nicodemus was the guy who came to Jesus in the middle of the night
(John 3) because he was worried about being seen. Recently we’ve spent time
supporting several well-known performers who are in a similar position. You or I
can be ill, make a mistake or have a tough time in our career and it’s kept
amongst our family and friends. When a public figure faces difficulty it’s often
blasted across the newspapers before the person concerned has had chance to deal
with the situation and it often makes matters worse for them. We’ve had the
privilege of regularly meeting, talking, praying and answering questions just
like Jesus did for Nicomdemus. Interestingly, we don’t read what Nicomdemus
thought of Jesus`s words at the time, but later in the Gospels we see that he
argued fair treatment for Jesus
(John 7 v 50-52) and much later still he helped to prepare Jesus for burial, so
something must have happened in his heart along the way! It’s the same with
those CIE meets in secret, whether in homes, on the telephone, in backstage
dressing rooms or in theatre bars during the middle of the night. It can be a
long, on-going process, but one that we are committed to at CIE because it is
such a central and unique part of our work.
Phantom Bible Study - It’s been a joy to re-establish our regular
backstage meetings on London’s long-running musical. With a cast, orchestra and
crew of 130 it is still London’s top show recently celebrating 7,000
performances. CIE held a bible study on `Phantom` for several years from 1992.
Performer Phillip Griffiths-one of the founder members of CIE back in the days
of `Evita`- has been with `Phantom` since it opened 18 years ago. “God’s timing
has brought us back as we meet with those working in theatres across the
West-End,” he says. “The weekly group is quite a spiritual light-house in the
heart of London’s theatreland.”
Still on the Road – As CIE enters its 23rd year our concern to support
those on tour and working away from family, friends and church has not
diminished. Our `spiritual meals on wheels service` offers a mobile source of
encouragement, teaching and pastoral care for those at every level of faith and
we’ve found that texting, and email via our web site, are becoming significant
vehicles for consistent backstage support.
CIE Roadshow – We have been out on the road ourselves this year taking
Syd Little, Don Maclean and Dad’s Army Vicar, Frank Williams to several churches
around the country. We constantly have to communicate the fact that we need to
increase our financial income to maintain the work at its current level, and the
Roadshow helps us in this respect. However to a real extent our financial
pressures remain and we would ask you to prayerfully consider continuing to
support CIE in your personal giving.
Comedians in Church? – Whatever next! – Although CIE are not producers we
support performers as they offer their talents in helping churches reach out to
their local communities. This year we have seen the benefit of several
comedy-based Gospel events and our web site at www.cieweb.org.uk gives visitors
all the latest news and information about CIE and offers advice to churches on
how to host such events.
SURPRISE, SURPRISE!
The Celebration Cake
When CIE arrived in its 20th Year in November 2002, its Founder and Director, Chris Gidney thought he would celebrate it with a quick, after show drink. Little did he know what was really being planned.....
Sally Goring & Chris with Cliff & cake! - * - Sally with the lovely Wendy Craig
Chris thought he was going to Sir Cliff Richard's Surprise Birthday Party, but suddenly Cliff turned round and said "Actually Chris, were not here because of me, but because of you. Happy Anniversary!"
The boys are back in town!
Escapologist Steve Legg with `Casualty`s Russell Boulter and Luke Gidney
At one point, a whole army of friends, family and CIE associates jumped out on him. Chris was so shocked and overwhelmed that he fell back on the table, but was quickly revived with a drink from Casualty's Russell Boulter!
With the mastermind behind the surprise party, Lin Bennett and his wife Jan.
Lin had been planning the event for 9 months!
When the `penny finally dropped `everybody had a really fun time, and thanked God for twenty Years of CIE`s backstage ministry, including more than a dozen video clips sent from across the world. It was truly a night to remember. Here's to the next twenty years of CIE!
CIE`s Financial Consultant Mike Burn with his wife, Sue Frank with `Songs of Praise` producer John Forrest and his wife
Chris and retired Trustee David Stuart-Smith chat at the bar!
Trustee Max Wigley and wife Judith chat over coffee with Sir Cliff
Cliff enjoys a joke with Syd Little, Sheree and Frank Williams
ALSO>>>>
PANTO SEASON GOES IN A FLASH...
So much planning, so many miles, so little time.
We supported 11 different Panto`s this year stretching from York to Eastbourne. We also placed nearly 50 bibles backstage as Chris dashed around the country with his pastoral hat on, looking after many performers working away from home and church. Many have wonderful opportunities to share their faith with those they work with backstage at this time of year. We continue to meet with many who are hungry or confused about life and faith, and always see this time of year as a special privilege.
As we look forward to `life after Panto`, there is still much to be done, and we want to thank all those who with their gifts and prayers enabling us to `put petrol in the engine` and get out on the road to achieve so much!
AND
Laughter Makers Video wins Gold Award
We are thrilled that the Laughter Makers Video, produced on tour with cannon & Ball, Jimmy Cricket, Don Maclean and Syd Little won the CBC Gold Award.
Back in 2002, CIE was on tour in June with its comedy show `Night Of A Thousand Laughs` and the new video containing recorded highlights of the show is now available. Its all part of our `Laughter Package`.
At just £6.50 including postage and packing, this 55 minute, professionally filmed video containing backstage interviews is a real bargain!
A real `cringe-free` look at how laughter and faith interact, it is particularly suited to housegroups and individuals.
Get your copy by sending a cheque made payable to `Shorehill Arts` at CIE
PO Box 3019 South Croydon Surrey CR2 7PJ.
Join the caption competition to win the latest video
Paul Jones`s "This is Your Life"
Behind the Scenes...
Our `Night of a Thousand Laughs` show has been a tremendous success, giving audiences a fantastic night out for their money, and completely family freindly and `blue humour free`. During the finale, someone said that they hadn’t seen a show like this in twenty years.
Sally made sure that the tour was soaked and covered in prayer, so is it any wonder then that God pulled the whole thing together in such a wonderful way? We hope we can do more of these commercial shows complete with Bobby Ball cringe-free God slot, perhaps at the invitation of local churches. Its the perfect springboard for a polished and professional great night out, with the message that God has given us the gift of laughter at its heart.
Musical Director Mike Ryal with Syd and Chris
Syd checking out the backstage facilities!
Jimmy Cricket and Max Wigley
Dad`s Army Vicar Frank Williams with Theatre Chaplain Max Wigley
Bobby & Tommy now in full swing!
Syd and his Buddy Holly tribute with the local Dance School Dancers
The Finale. A full stage, a final laugh, and a thrilled audience.
In the finale, it was estimated by singer Diane Regan that we were three laughs short of one thousand. Bobby and Tommy then asked each comedian to raise a final laugh to reach our terget. With the help of Don Maclean, Jimmy Cricket and Syd Little, they managed it!
The audience was at least 80% non-church goers, and to be able to state in word and song at the end that we were all Christians and that the performance was to give thanks to God for his gift of comedy, must have been one of the most effective evangelistic messages of all time. I believe those words reached into many human hearts that would never have dreamt about attending any sort of gospel event. Isn’t that exciting! Jesus said feed the hungry man before you preach at him. That’s exactly what we did.
Performers, camera crew and CIE relaxing at the after-show, Indian meal.
The Churches
Did you know that having a good laugh
today could actually increase your life expectancy? Music can sweep through the spirit and
bring tranquillity to the soul, whilst drama sharpens the emotions and challenges the
brain. Laughter, on the other hand, is God’s perfect medicine, his provision for
stress relief. It can turn tears of sadness into cries of joy, heaviness of heart into
happiness of spirit, and in the middle of our difficulties remind us that life really does
go on. Even the top medical scientists now claim that a good chortle has an enormous
effect on the way we live our lives. A new saying `Laugh Louder – Live Longer` seems
to be creeping into society’s way of thinking.
Yet comedians, who have devoted their
lives to making people laugh, have known this secret for years. From the clown in the
circus, to the comedy scriptwriter and from characters like Tommy Cooper and Les Dawson to
Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, all have shown us that a good giggle is an essential
element in our daily lives.
Laughter is one of the foundation stones of humanity. Amazingly, human beings are the only living creatures with the ability to laugh. Tigers, elephants, ants, gnu’s and even laughing hyenas can’t actually titter, gurgle and hoot like we can.
Laughter is the bridge that links churchgoers to those that have never been. It is a common denominator between the youngest baby and the oldest relative. It an essential form of communication that crosses every language and cultural barrier on earth.
So why not invite a laughter maker to your church. There's plenty of ideas on our
With the
new award winning video, and some
live comedy, lets bring
together all the gifts we have and stir up the church to use laughter as its `bridge into
the wider community in 2003 and beyond!
A
very surprised Paul!
We were thrilled to attend Paul Jones`s `This Is Your Life` recently. A whole host of family and freinds were delighted to celebrate all that he had acheived so far.......
Trustee, Dave Berry with his wife Karen and David Grant sporting a new hairdo!
CIE Director Chris with his wife, Trinity, and Pastoral Assistant, Sally, enjoying the after-show party
Paul`s wife Fiona Hendley with frontman, Mike Aspel
Paul enjoying a hearty chat and a hearty meal with his guests.
Spring 2000
Amazing but True! We are just coming up to the 19th Anniversary of CIE`s support network in the UK`s showbusiness scene. The format may have changed over the years, but the fact that performers still need specialised support remains and we continue to focus on those that have needed our help the most. With shows now touring and doing `split` seasons instead of remaining in one resort, it has been harder work catching up with all the artistes we look after as they travel around the country.
 | This spring we are focussing on several tours throughout the UK, as well
as our regular West-End Bible study on `Phantom of the Opera`. |
Recently, it was a
great thrill to see some of the `backstage` work done by CIE over the years bearing fruit.
Firstly in helping Bobby Ball achieve the ambition to preach in church, using his
communication skills and his comedy to get the message across. I took him to two churches
in London where he talked in their morning service about the negative effect that the
wrong sort of `pride` has on our lives. Secondly, it was really good to be able to take
Syd Little to some special church events and a week of being the special guest at the Luis
Palau Mission in the North West. More than 5,000 people heard Syd give his testimony and
how CIE had played an important role in his life. The Palau team were particularly excited
about the level of response on these evenings, and I am taking Syd on 
place Bibles into
theatre dressing rooms continued at Chichester`s Festival Theatre recently as well as in
Stoke, Belfast, Eastbourne and Southend. Each Bible had the special CIE bookmark with our
special help-line contact number. 
Our performers
prayer cards which have been such a life-line to so many in the business have been
re-printed and provide performers with a prayer whilst waiting in the wings, together with
a contact number for our prayer hot-line. Send us your snail-mail or email address if you would like to join our mailing list and receive regular news:
mailto:chris@cieweb.org.uk
Directors Report January 2000
CIE’s
Trustees continue to play a significant role overseeing the work. Here is an adaptation of Chris’s Directors report, presented at the
Trustees meeting in January giving a personal insight into this unique work:
1999
was a year that proved to be a time of stabilisation as CIE started to reap the benefits
of remaining a consistent ministry with clear aims. Personal relationships with each of
the celebrities I worked with have deepened significantly over the last four months, and
in particular during the Pantomime season. The frustrations of operating on a financial
knife-edge has brought me very low at times, and yet it is impossible not to recognise God
often using the lack of money. My planning for the Panto`s was kept back right up to the
end of December in the hope that more money would come into the fund and allow me to
spread my wings.
The money
did not arrive, and I was forced to focus on venues I could reach within a day, with the
added pressure of trying to tie several visits together. It turned out to be the right
thing, as the performers I met with constantly told me how good my timing to see them was!
I was still disappointed at not being able to see others, but in the end I suppose I have
to trust God on this one too.
The
isolation of visits has lessened, and I recognise the different roles individual Trustees
have played in all the `ups and downs`, and I am profoundly grateful. Sally’s
consistent support has been fundamental, as has the help-line. A meeting with Sally and a
commercial training day have helped enhance her expertise.
Practically
speaking the highlight of my year was the move to Surrey and the transformation of our
garage into the new CIE office. In a very comfortable, secure environment I can now
effectively operate the administration of CIE unhindered. I hope the difference eventually
shows!
The
financial frustrations remain, and I sometimes worry at the future projection, which shows
a loss of £4,000 this year. I comfort myself with, among other theories, that we are not
the only charity in this position, that we only had one newsletter, and that in the end
God will provide as he always has done.
I am
thrilled with the response that being honest with others about our finances has
engendered. After lunch, one friend handed me an instant cheque to CIE for £150. More
Please, said Oliver! Many artistes have said they would get involved for our planned
event, `Night of a Thousand Laughs` and this may well be what God is shouting at us to
produce. The number of performers committed to this, just illustrates the affection,
support and belief in CIE.
The
challenges remain. I realise that most of the time I paint a pretty encouraging picture
about my visits, and most of the time this is true. There are exceptions however, and it
has been a difficult couple of months with one particular performer that I painfully see
destroying himself.
My freelance
commercial work has strengthened this year, with amongst others, the completion of “Rock
on Tommy” for Harper Collins and “Under No Illusion”, the Paul
Daniels autobiography for Blakes. Four other book commissions remain with several `irons
in the fire` regarding another major autobiography. My writing continues to `dovetail`
very nicely with CIE.
The
celebrity chat show evenings, expertly administered by Shorehill Arts, have been
wonderfully successful, and continue to build up faith in an extraordinary way.
I believe my
main focus for the Spring should include my regular visits, and in particular spending a
fair proportion of my time with one of the country’s leading comedians, as he embarks
on a nationwide tour. I have spent much time in his company, listening and advising as he
seriously seeks some answers to his life, and the tour will enable me to visit him over a
consistent period, once a week from March.
It’s
obvious that a challenging year lies ahead, and the financial help of our supporters will
be crucial, as the word `consistent` is still really important to me, and an essential
underpinning to what CIE aims to be.
Chris Gidney Jan 2000