Dates for reading and casting the next production, Austensibility, are going to be on Monday 8th May at the Victoria Hotel and Wednesday 10th May at Sunninghill hall.

You can attend one or the other, or even both if you fell like it. Even if you don’t want a part, (or unlucky enough to get a part this time around) we will still need crew for costumes, props, stage management, etc.

Remember also we have our last performance of “Was He Anyone?” at Martinstown on 6th May as well. Going to be a busy week….

It’s quite a change this, split performance dates.

While there is the hassle of building and striking the set in two very different performance spaces, it does mean we get a chance to show everyone some pics from the first lot of performances in time to try to persuade you all to come to the next lot.

It also means that we get to see a review while the play is going on, rather than when we are thinking about the next one:-

Dorset Evening Echo Review – Marion Cox

However, before you peruse a few photos of the performances in the Town Hall, we are looking ahead to the next production already, Austensibility – a performance based on her life & writings. Devised by Alan Richardson, marking the 200 year anniversary of Jane Austen’s death.

Wednesday 26^th April 7.30p.m

Sunninghill Community Hall

Play Reading of potential Summer Production in July 2017

“Austensibility” – a Rehearsed Reading/Play about the Life and Works Jane Austen

2017 is the Bicentenary of her death.

All welcome

There hopefully will be another chance to read it on the 8th May. Keep an eye on the website, facebook etc for the venue and details about castings.

Was He Anyone?

Attended rehearsal last night to run some technical sound and images. Took the opportunity to take some more photos.

Was He Anyone?

 Once again we move into the final month of rehearsals.

Tickets are available now, posters and flyers are out there.

Please join us on

Saturday 14^th January. 10 a.m.

at the Bandstand in the Borough Gardens, Dorchester.

For the

Planting of tree; Cercidiphyllum japonicum (Katsura)

To be dedicated to the memory of Ann Ottaway

Followed by tea and cakes in the Borough Gardens House

All Welcome, Spread the word

There’s no time to rest on our laurels (or Hardy’s).

Some of us are diving straight into the New Hardy Players ‘Under the Greenwood Tree’. – https://hardyonline.org/

But Dorchester Drama is also looking ahead to our Spring production. See below the message from our Chairman.

“All budding actors, stage managers, and those who like to read a play just to see.

Please put dates in your diary for Wednesday 7^th December (Sunninghill) and Monday 12^th December (Victoria Pub), when Steve Twinn will be reading “Waiting for Godot” and “The Cresta Run”.

This is in anticipation of choosing and casting one of these for our DD spring production, to be performed at the Town Hall, Dorchester on Friday 14^th and Saturday 15^th April, and  Saturday 6^th May in Martinstown.”

This will be a little different, with 2 venues planned and the associated challenges that come with it.

So if you fancy it, come along and see what’s going on and have a go. Both of these plays are going to be challenging but worthwhile to do.

  A few pics from last night’s Dress Rehearsal.

‘Confusions’ is on for the next 3 nights at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester. Tickets will be available on the door or from the usual places.

The Cast and directors for confusions are preparing for the final rehearsals while the techies are getting sound & lighting plans together.

It is with regret and sadness that we must say goodbye to our longest-serving and most venerable member.

Ann Ottaway directed, acted, supervised, prompted and advised in many productions over many years, most recently directing ‘Generations Apart’ last year, and playing our favourite Moley in ‘Toad of Toad Hall’ in November. This year she was the assistant director for ‘Ladies Day’.

Ann was liked and respected by everyone in Dorchester Drama and her knowledge and guidance will be sorely missed.

All our thoughts go out to her family.

So final night has finished, and DD wraps another production up, short of the packing everything into the store again, which I’m just about to do.

This has been a cracking little play to do and if the audience enjoyed it half as much as we have, job done. If you were not able to come to see it, that’s a real pity, but we’re already working on the next project. News to come.

We’ve got a couple of clips for you to watch, grabbed from the last couple of performances.