Monthly Archives: November 2018

Dickens Children

One hundred and seventy five years after A Christmas Carol was published, Charles Dickens is as popular as ever, with the BBC working on a new series of adaptations for the coming years. Dorchester Drama are looking forward to doing their bit in the spring of 2019, with a production of “Dickens Children”.

Written by playwright and screenwriter Nick Warburton, Dickens Children combines scenes from many of Dickens stories, with narration, and with commentary from Dickens himself. Touching, provocative scenes with Miss Havisham, and Jo from Bleak House, are balanced against comic action with the Jellyby children, and Miss Petowker: usually played by a man.


Complementing Nick Warburton’s short play will be a prologue “Dickens Life” and an Epilogue “Dickens Hopes” new pieces by Dee Thorne written in discussion with local experts Sue Worth and Alban O’Brien. These three pieces will provide a sweeping picture of the man and his work, combining to create a performance that promises laughter, sadness, entertainment, and some Dickens education. Something for everybody, and an interesting and exciting challenge for actors who may be called upon to play several parts.


Performances will be at the Town Hall, above the Corn Exchange, Dorchester, on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th March at 7.30, with a 2.30 matinee on the Saturday.


With rehearsals due to start after Christmas, director Dee Thorne is after an enthusiastic and hardworking team of actors and back stage crew. Dorchester Drama has a core of welcoming and frequently talented members, but we are always looking to recruit new members. DD Wants
YOU. Every play we put on, we enjoy welcoming new members, behind scenes and in the spotlight. Dickens Children promises to be a varied and fun production to join us for – be you a drama virgin or a seasoned treader of the boards.
Play readings and castings will take place over the next two weeks. On Wednesday 28 th November, Wednesday 5th December and Wednesday12 th December at Sunninghill Community Hall, Culliford Road North.  Dorchester, and on Monday 3 rd December at Acland Court, Dorchester, all at 7.30 p.m.

All welcome. Please contact us through our website at www.dorchesterdrama.org.uk or just turn up on the night. Please also contact us to register your interest if you cannot make any of the evening
sessions, or for any other information about DD.

Next Production – Dickens Children.

And now to 2019!
We will be reading Dickens Children, Life and Hopes on Wednesday 28th November at Sunninghill Hall Monday 3rd December at Acland Court.
Auditions will be on Wednesday 5th and 12th December at Sunninghill Community Hall.
Performance of this play will be at the Town Hall  29th – 31st March 2019 with 2.30 pm matinee on Saturday.
Hope many of you are looking forward to this Dickensian Experience.

Present Laughter – Production photos

As another superb production comes to a close, we give a sigh of contentment for a job well done and thanks to all those that helped make it so. It also amazes me that we had people from Stoke, Exeter and London come down to specifically see the show. Thanks guys.

Below are some cracking photos captured during the last shows. click on our Flickr link to see the whole album and download the hi-res versions.

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Present Laughter 2018