Category Archives: News

Ladies Day Update

The Ladies of Dorchester Drama have been out buying hats, not for a wedding, but for the latest production “Ladies Day” by Amanda Whittington.

Leading Characters of Dorchester Drama's "Ladies Day" by Amanda Whittington.
Leading Characters of Dorchester Drama’s “Ladies Day” by Amanda Whittington.

“Work, love and life are just one long hard slog for the fish filleting foursome Pearl, Jan, Shelley and Linda. But their fortunes are set to change when Linda finds tickets to Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot the year it relocated to York. Out go the hairnets, overalls and wellies, as the four ditch work, do themselves up to the nines and head off for a drink, a flirt and a flutter. If their luck holds, they could hit the jackpot – and more besides!”

Meanwhile, downstairs, other Dorchester Drama members are getting together for a drink or two and to read through some other scripts, from Ayckbourn to Coward and beyond.

If you fancy joining in, helping out with the play or just the social side, come along to the Victoria pub in Dorchester on Monday evenings, 7:30ish for the next few months.

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Toad News

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Rehearsals are needing bigger spaces as we’re running the full play, so we’ve got the chance to mock up the set dimensions. This gives the Actors a feel for the space they will be performing in. It also gives the Techies a chance to try to spot problems before the Tech rehearsal.

Last night we spent some time putting together the fight scene. Here’s a little taster.

The Children (& Dee) have been practising some dance routines as well. The children have a variety of different roles,  here, they’re ducks dabbling.

Publicity is out there, please spread the word around as much as possible and come to see the play. Watch out for some of the cast members handing out leaflets in town on Saturdays in costume as well. All help welcome.

Toad News

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19th November, our opening night, is now less than a month away. Rehearsals are at full momentum and often interspersed with costume fittings.

There’s too many cast to list here fully, but the main characters are going to be played by:

  • Toad – Lee Stroud
  • Mole – Ann Ottaway
  • Ratty – Ian Farley
  • Badger – Mike Staddon
  • Chief Weasel – Fran Sansom

There is also a whole host of weasels, field mice and other creatures that I’ll give credit too when I can.

The Directors are Dee Thorne & Lee Stroud.

We are still desperate for help behind the scenes and Front of House. We’re also hoping to get donations for raffle prizes as well. Anything you can help with please give us a call.

Tickets – Hold Fire, tickets are being printed and should be available next week, after half term. There will be a booking number to call for tickets, 01305 268692. You will also be able to buy tickets from Trinity Stores in Trinity St.

We’re doing 4 performances, 19th November 7:00pm, 20th November 7:00pm, 21st November 2:00pm & 7:00pm.

All performances will be at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester.

Prices will be £9 in advance or £10 on the door. All children’s tickets will be £6.

 

 

AGM Update

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Apologies for the delayed update, Summer is always bedlam around here.

Wednesday 29th July, Dorchester Drama held it’s AGM at the Colliton Club, Dorchester.  Thank you to all who attended; it was good to see you both for the meeting and the catch up in the bar afterwards.

 For your information I have listed the new committee below;

  • Frances Sansom – Chairman
  • Colin Elphick – Treasurer
  • Ann Ottaway
  • Maggie Ansell
  • Felicity Morgan
  • Jonny White
  • Alastair Simpson
  • Dee Thorne
  • Lee Stroud
  • Naomi Phillips
  • Rob Sansom

 A huge thank you to Harriet Still and Tom Horsington who have both stepped down from the committee.  Thanks to Harriet for her carrying out of the secretary role over the last year too.  Another big thank you to Alastair.  Whilst he remains a committee member, he has stepped down from his role as treasurer.

 We welcome Lee, Naomi, Colin and Rob to the committee.  Colin has stepped into the role of Treasurer.  Thank you Colin (big sigh of relief from the rest of the committee!) . Lee and Naomi have both offered to take on secretarial duties – so we will be divvying those up a.s.a.p.

 We will be having a few weeks break from activities but will be back on August 26th and September 2nd for the casting of Toad of Toad Hall – the A.A. Milne version to be directed by Dee Thorne and Lee Stroud.

And lastly, huge Thanks to David who’s sent us footage of ‘Jeeves in Bloom’, performed by Dorchester Drama in 2013.

I’ll link the other scenes into the Past Productions page.

 Hope you’re all having a lovely summer.

 

Summer Social

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After last weeks workshop on ‘how to not act’ ( a lot harder than it sounds….), tonight we had our summer social evening.

An evening with a light buffet (mainly cakes, though thanks to Jonny for providing us with some salad so there was the odd vitamin) and home spun entertainment.

Alastair gave us a couple of his excellent monologues, complete with sound effects…WP_20150722_011

Billie gave us an alternative version of ‘Little Red Riding Hood’….WP_20150722_012

Colin and Jonny gave us ‘Fork Handles’…..WP_20150722_013

Anne opened a Fete for us, dripping with sarcastic wit….WP_20150722_014

Peter reviewed a very mediocre play brilliantly, delivering compliments which possibly showed that he’s had to do the same thing for real?WP_20150722_019

Maggie gave us the Family renowned version of the ‘Chubbly’ joke….WP_20150722_015WP_20150722_016

Andy gave us a version of some Hardy stripped to 30 seconds…WP_20150722_017

And Dee finished off with a demonstration on how to bake a cake, in true  Keith Floyd fashion, with liberal amounts of Chardonnay.WP_20150722_026 WP_20150722_025

 

A little improvised dance by Olivia in the middle and some more cake…..

 

Next week is the AGM at the Colliton Club. 7:30pm.

The committee will be looking for some more members to help support them over the next year. Please come along if you can. If you can spare some time to be on the committee, even better. We are looking for another secretary and treasurer, plus other members.

Remember, the group cannot run without your support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So it was you all along……….

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Cracking last night for the play. Thanks to everyone who came to see it and laughed in all the right places, and some of the wrong ones. Check out the gallery page for the latest photos.

Huge apologies to Dee Thorne, who we left off the programme and thankyou’s. She worked hard gathering costumes and, you know the knife that killed Penworthy, Yes, that was all Dee’s creation with some help from her husband. Sorry again. promise to do better in future.

So what now?. Well over the next few weeks and months we are running a few events. Keep an eye on the website, twitter and facebook for more updates. Dates below.

  • Play readings at Sunninghill Community Hall on Wednesdays at 7.30 pm.  Starting this week, Wednesday 26th November.  This isn’t a commitment to anything, it’s an evening out with some like-minded people, reading a few plays and enjoying a coffee.  We’d love to see you. Open to non members.
  • Christmas Fun and Games  at the Colliton Club.  Monday 8th December 7.00- 7.30pm start to be confirmed.  An evening of light-hearted competition and perhaps the odd bevvy.  All welcome, children, friends and non-members.  Come and join our pre-Christmas gathering. Have a go at a quiz or just come to catch up.
  • Christmas Meal.  Friday 9th January. Members only I’m afraid. OK so it’s a Post-Christmas Meal, but it’s going to be good. We are going to be at the Engine Room, Poundbury Garden Centre– just us, with Jess running the Bar.  This means, that as well as a great meal, we get to do what we want.  So dust off your party pieces, your favourite skit, the poem you learnt at school, get the kids to practise a song.  Of course, you can just come along, enjoy a meal and watch the rest of us have a go – if you want to!  Just come along, the more the merrier.  Further details to follow soon, but let us know if you’re interested.