Ampthill & Flitwick Dramatic Society

Lighting and Sound workshop

2012-01-17T20:32:00.010Z

We are having a workshop on the stage lighting and sound at Parkside Hall on Monday 5th March, 8pm.
The intention is to give people an understanding in how to light a stage and how the equipment works.
We will start with first principles and hopefully end up with a well lit stage, and running sound with people comfortable with using the equipment.
All welcome.

April Production

2012-01-15T18:32:00.000Z

We will be doing something different for the April Production - more of a review and collection of small pieces and sketchs.
If anyone is interested in small parts or has an idea for a small skit they would like to do then please let us know; we are open to all and will help anyone that is interested.
We have a planning meeting on the 16th at the Wingfield club (8pm) if you are particularly interested, but we won't be settling on a running order and contents for some weeks yet.

Matching Briefs

2011-11-13T19:57:00.000Z

Our next show will be Matching Briefs - two one act comedies.

7:45pm, 24th, 25th, 26th November 2011

Parkside Hall, Ampthill

Fish & Chip Supper on Friday

Prices:

Thurs/Sat £8 (concessions £7)

Friday £12 (concessions £11)

Box Office

01525-720446

Auditions

2011-09-01T12:40:00.000+01:00

Firstly an apology: Sorry that this is fairly short notice; but as you probably realise we had problems casting The Crucible and needed to change our plans (not enough men - there's a limit to how far me and my beard can spread around).

So, from yesterday's committee meeting we have decided to do two related one act plays: 'Bazaar & Rummage' by Sue Townsend and 'Smalls Talk' by Sue & Clive Read. Each deal with a group of women working to improve the self-esteem on one of their group. We will think of some catch name for evening - though suggestions are more than welcome.

Auditions are on Monday 5th September at 8pm at Parkside - we need up to 12 women and 1 man for cast but we also need backstage staff, front of house, and so forth.

All are welcome, experiance or not (we all were innocent at one point!), members or not.

Characters:
Bazaar & Rummage

Margaret - a working-class vulgarian, agoraphobic for fifteen years.
Bell-Bell - an obsessionally clean agoraphobic, who plays the piano.
Fliss - a youngish trainee social worker.
Gwenda - a middle-aged volunteer social worker, an ex-agoraphobic.
Katrina - an agoragphobic, ex-variety 'songstress'.
WPC - a woman who is terrified of community policing.
Smalls Talk
Linda - Hostess, easy-going.
Rex - husband of Linda, a sly wimp.
Dawn - Lady Lace demonstrator, wet but persistent.
Tracy - young next-door-neighbour, innocently tactless.
Carol - Linda's sister, cynical, hard-bitten, a laugh.
Dot - older work colleague, dour.
Emma - workmate, pathetic, suffering from loss of husband.

Other things we do...

2011-07-15T20:41:00.000+01:00

AFDS is not solely dealing with putting on shows, doing readings, painting odd objects and tidying up barns we also support other events - normally buy providing lighting and other technical facilities to other groups in the local area (we do charge as it represents peoples time and usage of equipment - the society has to have income to survive).
Hence tonight I am supporting Maurice Kachuk's show at Parkside, using the AFDS lighting rig to cast illumination on a evening of dance and music. This is the first show of a four "night" show - tonight, tomorrow night and two matinee's during the day tomorrow.

Facebookand everything else on line. etc.

2011-07-09T16:35:00.002+01:00

Since I now gather that through the good works of Gemma this is now visible on a set of AFDS Facebook pages - Hello everyone!

Roughly;

Gemma looks after all of the Facebook stuff - mainly as I've resisted for various reasons appearing on Facebook myself.
I look after this Blog (www,.afds.co.uk). All the postings on the Blog appear on Facebook by magic - (the same magic that runs the RSS feed).
The e-mails to @afds.co.uk all end up with me as well. I respond to them from my gmail account.
The membership list of addresses, phone numbers and so forth is with Mike Green, and he does the big e-mail and postal messages. Others help as required licking the stamps.

Therefore we are available variously though mobile phones, computers and letterboxes thank to modern technology and men in big red vans.

Simon Barton

Wardrobe and Granary works

2011-07-08T07:01:00.000+01:00

We are planning on doing a bit of work at the Granary and in the Wardrobe this weekend. Two things need doing - and they shouldn't take long if we have enough people:

We need to tidy up some space in the Granary where we do the set building so we have room to enable the building of the set for The Crucible this autumn.
We need to go through the small items in the Wardrobe (hats, props etc) so we know what we have and we can find things when we need them.

We are starting this at 10am on Saturday 9th (tomorrow!). This is down at the farm in Millbrook as usual, and should only take a couple of hours or so.

Any questions, please e-mail or call Mike Green. All are welcome (and all are much appreciated).

Annual General Meeting

2011-06-26T19:05:00.000+01:00

The Annual General Meeting of AFDS will be at 8pm on Monday 4th July, at Parkside Hall, Ampthill.

All are welcome, members, not-members-yet, patrons and the curious. We have a few items of business, including the election of a new Committee and Chairman, and a discussion of our future plans and directions - for example, what sort of plays do we wish to be doing.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Auditions - The Crucible

2011-06-03T08:45:00.000+01:00

There will be Auditions for Arthur Miller's The Crucible.

These will be held at Parkside Hall, Ampthill starting at 8pm, on Monday 13th June.
The Performances will be in November, rehearsals will start in August.

All are welcome, members and non-members (or "not members yet"!). No previous experience needed.

Play Reading - 9th May

2011-04-26T19:05:00.000+01:00

There will be a reading of Arthur Miller's The Crucible starting at 8pm on Monday 9th May at Parkside Hall.
We are currently planning to do this as our next performance in November.
Auditions and casting will be during the summer (watch this space).
This is a chance to see and hear what the play is like, meet people and see if there are likely to be any parts that interest you.

Of Slips and Schools and Hockey Sticks

2011-04-26T18:45:00.000+01:00

So here we are, at the end of Daisy, Show run, set stuck and party over. It leaves only a little space for a Director to mull things over, and look back at the last few months.
It was hard work, managing a large cast and getting my view of what this should look like onto the stage. For the cast, with the key parts being taken by 14 year olds, it was a new challenge and a significant number of works to be learn. Each of them proved to be a revelation, and re-paid the trust I'd put in them with good strong performances. I suspect some may have surprised themselves with what they achieved.
Then there was all of the work behind the scenes, trying to find the range of props needed (hockey sticks anyone?) A picture with a treasure compartment for the back wall - and it's a specific picture requiring it to be painted for us. A full set of 1920's girls school uniforms.; and ideally they all have to be clean and fit (borrowed).
A bar to set-up and run, lighting to rig and operate. Sound clips to find and edit, raffle prizes to find, fire wardens to identify (they're the one's in the bright jackets). Programmes and pictures. You can do shows so often that you forget the shear scale of them.
And the publicity and the box office - a job that is often inadequately recognised; the co-ordination needed to get tickets out to people, tables filled, groups sitting with each other. Impressive. And managing an order for ninety-two fish and chips (that's an estate car full).
Those that offered my the chance to have a brief rant when something went wrong without me blowing up at the cast (bless 'em).
Those that poured coffee (and whiskey).
Its a big thing to do a show - it takes over your lives for a few months.

Then you sit at the back, a full house in front of you, lights up on the brilliant reds, whites and blues of the girls of Grangewood School for Girls, and you feel proud of what we have done.

Daisy happened. We pulled it off.

Thank-you.

Daisy Pulls It Off

2011-03-28T20:25:00.006+01:00

Ampthill & Flitwick Dramatic Society

Presents

Daisy Pulls It Off

by: Denise Deegan

at Parkside Hall, Ampthill.

7:45pm, 14th, 15th & 16th, April 2011

Prices

Thursday and Saturday, £8, concessions, £7.

Friday, £12 concessions £11 including Fish&Chip supper.

Box Office: 01525-720446

2011-01-07T12:19:00.002Z

I promised to put up some more information about the Auditions on Monday 10th (8pm Parkside):

The play is a comedy/parody set in a 1930's period girl's school, dealing with the arrival of Daisy Meredith, the first scholarship girl, at a fee paying private school where she is viewed with a level of suspicsion and doubt, and a series of exciting adventures. The play won the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy on its debut in 1983.

Characters

Daisy Meredith
The heroine of the piece. Lively and excited to be the first scholarship girl at Grangewood School. New in the 4th year.

Trixie Martin
Enthusiastic girl in the 4th, become’s Daisy’s new best friend.

Mother
Daisy’s mother. First couple of pages only.

Sybil Burlington
Posh, stuck-up bully of the 4th. Dislikes Daisy for being common.

Monica Smithers
Sybil’s toady. 4th form

Clare Beaumont
Head girl, 6th form. Responsible, bears the weight of the world. Captain of the Hockey Team.

Alice Fitzpatrick
Clare’s best friend, and fellow hockey player. Prefect, 6th form

Belinda Mathison
Girl in the 4th form.

Miss Gibson
Head-mistress in the play.

Headmistress
Head-mistress in the introduction.

Miss Granville
English literature teacher.

Mademoiselle
French Teacher. 2 pages only.

Dora Johnston & Winnie Irving
2nd year students.

Mr Scoblowski
Russian (need’s accent), enigmatic Teacher. Suspicious character.

Mr Thompsom
Male. Forty-fifty. In last few pages, but with some singing off during earlier scenes.

The Following Doublings are possible:
Mother/Mademoiselle/Dora
Miss Gibson/Headmistress
Miss Granville/Winnie

Ages
Happy to play with a wide range of ages, the costumes will be adequate to show who is student and who is teacher. The 6th form may be played with older actors.

Genders
Miss Gibson and the Head-mistress must be played as Female, but may be acted by either gender depending on suitability of the audition.

Dates:
Rehearsals: 8pm, Monday at Parkside. 8pm Thursday (tba, but probably Flitwick), + one all day Sunday.

Production Week: Set-up Sunday 10th April, then Monday (dress), Wednesday (dress), Thursday, Friday, Saturday evenings.

First Night: Thursday 14th April, 2011.

I look forward to seeing you,

Simon Barton,
Director.

Auditions - Daisy Pulls It Off

2010-12-31T18:45:00.003Z

We will be holding open Auditions for Daisy Pulls It Off by Denise Deegan.

Venue: Parkside Hall, Ampthill.
Date: 8pm, Monday, 10th January 2011.

More details here in the next couple of days.

Contact: Simon Barton through membership@afds.co.uk, or comments below will be replied to...

Play Reading - 6th December

2010-11-28T19:57:00.004Z

There will be a play reading of Daisy Pulls It Off, at 8pm at Parkside Hall. All are welcome.

We are planning to do Daisy as the Spring Production with Auditions in the New Year (assuming there are no major objections, such as licence problems!). So anyone that is interested, this is your chance to see what the play is, and what the parts are.

From the Wikipedia article.
"Daisy Pulls It Off is a comedy play by Denise Deegan. It is a parody of wholesome adventure stories about life in a 1920s girls' English boarding school, such as those by Angela Brazil. The original London production of the play opened at the Gielgud Theatre in 1983 and ran for 1,180 performances."

I look forward to seeing you there.

The Diary of Anne Frank

2010-11-02T21:17:00.003Z

Ampthill & Flitwick Dramatic Society

Presents

The Diary of Anne Frank

Dramatised by:

Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett

at Parkside Hall, Ampthill.

7:45pm,

18th, 19th & 20th, November 2010

Prices

Thursday and Saturday, £8, concessions, £7.

Friday, £12 concessions £11 including Fish&Chip supper.

Box Office: 01525-634846

Play Reading

2010-09-05T16:52:00.002+01:00

In addition to the first rehearsal for The Diary of Anne Frank we will be having a reading for possible Spring productions. We intend to start at about 8pm, 6th September (Monday) at Parkside Hall.
We are initially looking at Daisy Pulls It Off but may read some bits of a few other plays.
Also, anyone interested in helping with the million and one other tasks involved in putting a play together is also welcome to attend and we can start work on the production side of Anne Frank as well.

Barn Tidy and BBQ

2010-08-11T20:24:00.002+01:00

We are going to be down at the Barn this Saturday (14th August) from 14:30, doing a little tidying up and sorting through a few things before we start on Anne Frank in earnest. (As I'm writing this the cast are going through their first read through in the next room).
Afterwards we are all gathering at Janice and Mike's for a BBQ.
All are welcome. If anyone wants more information then either e-mail Mike or give Simon a call on 07533-707367.

Auditions

2010-07-18T19:27:00.002+01:00

Auditions for The Diary of Anne Frank, our Autumn Production, will on 2nd August, 8pm at Parkside Hall.
All, members and non-members, are welcome to take part. There are 10 parts of varying size, gender and age.
Any further information, then please contact Penny Barton.

First BBQ of the Summer

2010-07-07T21:22:00.003+01:00

There will be a BBQ at Simon & Penny's on Saturday Night (10th July) 6pm onwards. All with any vague attachement, actors, crew, spouses and partners, offspring, are welcome.
We'll supply the hot coals, please bring something to cook on them.
If you know where it is then you don't need directions, if you do then drop me an e-mail.

Annual General Meeting

2010-06-26T20:45:00.002+01:00

The Annual General Meeting for AFDS will be at Parkside Hall at 8pm on 5th July. Please attend if possible - we have some important issues to discuss, including the scale of the proposed Autumn Production, and the direction we want to take the society in the next year.
We won't be press-ganging people for the Committee - though volunteers are always welcome.
Members will be getting a the papers for the meeting in the post this week, and these papers will also be posted up here.

Simon Barton,
Chairman, AFDS

Play Reading - 7th June

2010-06-06T15:04:00.004+01:00

We have another Play reading - after the huge turn out last month I'll try and get more copies of the scripts. Thank-you for bearing with us!
So, the next reading is on Monday 7th June at 8pm at Parkside Hall.
We are intending to read The Crucible (or at least parts of it) by Arthur Miller. We may also have a look at Daisy Pulls it Off by Denise Deegan if I can get hold of a copy of it.
Hope to see you all there, new and old.

Pictures from a Summer End

2010-06-06T09:09:00.000+01:00

Ah, and I thought I'd be solely looking forwards to the Autumn show, rather than re-visiting Summer End again. However, since Mark has kindly sent me some photos from the Saturday performance, then I thought I would put them up here. So, here we go...

Summer End is the story of two elderly ladies, Emily (Biddy Jackson - left), who is wheelchair bound, and May (Jane Horton - right), a new resident.Supported in their old age by the Maid, Sally (Ella Murdoch), Emily's Son Alan (Alistair Kelly) and the Manager of the home, Mrs Lang (Emma Dawson).

Thanks to Mark for the photos.

Simon (the now very ex-Director!).

Play Reading - 10th May

2010-04-28T18:24:00.001+01:00

There will be a play reading of The Diary of Anne Frank starting at 8pm on the 10th May at Parkside Hall. If I can remember how to get this onto a small stage, then this is intended to be the Autumn production.
This reading it to get a wider view of the viability of this play, and to let people see which parts they would later be interested in auditioning for.

Film Night - 7th May

2010-04-27T17:21:00.000+01:00

There will be a film night at Simon & Penny's on Friday, 7th May.

The Tennant/Stewart version of Hamlet.

8pm Start, bring nibbles and a drink.

There will be a contributions pot for AFDS funds.

...and it's over.

2010-04-26T17:30:00.004+01:00

So, in the last week we've moved everything from the Grannery (where we build the set) to the stage and assembled it.
Done the Technical Rehearsal where we worked out how to get the wheelchair through the door. And found that the wardrobe didn't fit and all of the usual problems.
Ran two Dress Rehearsals.
Put the seating and tables out.
Did a three night run.
Packed it all away and returned everything to the Grannery.
Then partied...

It is an odd time for a Director; there is the Technical Rehearsal, where there are small changes being made to accomodate performing on the built set for the first time. This is followed by the Dress Rehearsals, where I could watch the finished play and just address the minor pick-ups afterwards. But beyond that, the Director slowly moves into the background as the stage and production team take over and start actually running a finished play. Having lived and breathed Summer End for the last four months, this is very disconcerting.
So saying, there is a real luxury to being able to sit at the back of the hall behind the audience with a beer (alcohol free - I'm driving!) and actually watch the play.

I can not praise the cast highly enough - it is a difficult piece relying so much on the interplay of the two key characters and their relationships with the staff of the care home and with their relatives. Moments of Pathos and great comedy. There is some real talent in the society, both among the old hands and with the new members. This isn't my show, it is theirs.

Then the people behind the stage that are never seen, who have assembled the strange props list, built me a good setting for the play, and then looked after all of the day to day works. Again I must thank their talents.

Two hours after the final curtain call, the stage is clear and packed, the hall echos emptily again, and we are gathering for the final winding down of the aftershow party.

Sunday feels empty.

So, I'll raise a glass to Summer End and look forward to the next one.

Simon.
Director, Summer End.

Play Reading

2010-04-10T00:01:00.000+01:00

Just a quick reminder,

There are play readings happening on Monday, 12th April, at Parkside Hall, starting at 8pm. These are to discuss the idea of a summer show (see below), and to look at a "All our Sons" by Arthur Miller as a possible November production.

All are welcome, members and non-members.

e-mail us for more information.

Summer End

2010-04-07T09:20:00.007+01:00

Ampthill & Flitwick Dramatic Society

present

7:45pm, 22nd, 23rd, 24th April 2010

Parkside Hall, Woburn Street, Amptill

Tickets £7, concessions £6.

Box Office: 01525 634846

or from Country Properties, Ampthill.

AFDS, 71st Season.

Play Reading (and something different)

2010-03-25T18:52:00.003Z

We have been having a think in committee about doing a summer play. This is somewhat unusual for us, but we've had a lot of new members and people expressing an interest in acting with us, so we've decided to spread our wings a little.
We are looking at doing a festival piece; a show we can take to several venues and perform with minimal set and fittings - imagine a medieval group of travelling players performing in the open, or small halls. That sort of thing, good fun proper performance. Straw and beer stuff.
On that basis we are moving our regular play reading to Monday 12th April, 8pm, Parkside Hall. We will be looking at some of the Modern versions of Chaucer's Tales - I've done the before and they are good bawdy stuff, with a view to looking at doing one or two in the summer.
This is open to all - new members (the idea would be to cast as many new people as possible) and old hands (if they are up to it after the current play). All that is needed is a little enthusiasm.
See you all on the 12th!

Film Night

2010-03-23T19:03:00.002Z

We're having another film night! This Friday, 26th March, 8pm, at Simon and Penny's.

Open to all members, even if you've only turned up one one Monday to watch rehearsals, if you need the address then drop me a line.

The film will be District 9.

Production Side

2010-02-06T19:17:00.002Z

Hello again, I promised last time to do an update on what the production side of a show involved.
Basically, the two big players in a show are the Director (me, who decides on all things artistic) and the Producer (who does all the logistical, making things happen, stuff - or the real work!). To make the show work, then they have to work closely together.

The producer arranges the thousand and one things needed to actually put a show on a stage. This includes:

Arranging the Performing Rights Licence - normally from French's. Without this we can not legally perform the play.
Arranging the bookings of halls and rehearsal spaces.
Arranging people to design and build a set.
Finding someone to Stage Manage (I'll write about SMs later), run Front of House, Prompt, design and run lighting, sound, etc.
And anything else that tends to crop up...
And find someone to run publicity for the show.

As you can see they are a key person, and require a lot of other people to help them - so, if you've ever wished to be involved in the stage, but don't want to stand in front of an audience blinking into the lights, then get in touch.

We all started somewhere.

Simon,
A director who suspect he's got an easy job!

Eric Chappell

2010-02-03T20:19:00.002Z

I've been asked on several occasions about why Eric Chappell, who wrote the show we are working on, is such a familiar name.

Eric Chappell has been responsible for a wide range of television comedies including Only when I laugh and Rising Damp - the latter adapted from his stage play The Banana Box. As such, for me and many others, it is his works we have become familiar with, and a name that has appeared on the screen many times over the years.

For more information on his works, his website is an impressive list of achievements.

Back to rehearsals...

Update on Summer's End

2010-01-28T19:55:00.004Z

Since I have the pleasure of directing Eric Chappell's Summer's End, I thought that I'd use this website as a chance to keep people informed as to how the preparations and rehearsals for this show are going.

Well, after the casting, and one minor change through unavailability, I now have a cast - and its a cracking cast, for which I am grateful to all of those who attended the auditions and expressed an interest, you gave this director the nice problem of having options! So, the cast:
Emily - Biddy Jackson,
May - Jane Horton,
Mrs Lang - Emma Dawson,
Sally - Ella Murdoch,
Alan - Andrew.
the last three on the list are all new members, and having seen them read, I am delighted to have them with us. A particular thank-you must also go to Jane and Biddy for taking on the roles of the two old dears - hopefully people will agree with me in how well they work together, and these are very major roles for them to have taken on.

So, that is the cast. Backstage we have Gemma as Stage Manager, Penny as Producer, and Mike heading up the building of the set, all of whom will be looking for help with the production. I'll write more on the Production issues next time.

Rehearsals restart on Monday when I finally get back from Seattle...
Simon.

Reading and Auditions

2009-12-31T22:44:00.003Z

Firstly, and most importantly, Happy New Year!

So, for all those with New Year Resolutions to get out more and do something different we have just the chance. Our next production will be Summer's End by Eric Chappell - a comedy set in a care home, where there are suspicions of murder and missing rings. If of course people can remember what happened.

We will be reading the play through on Monday, 4th January at Parkside Hall, Ampthill, starting at 8pm. The intention is to give people a feel for the play ready for...

Auditions
8pm, Monday 11th January, again at Parkside Hall.

All are welcome, whether or not you have acted before, or whether you only want to be involved in backstage work, or even if all you want is a little more active social night.

All roles are up for grabs, the only decided one is that Simon (me) will be directing, mainly as Janice is taking a backseat in this one due to family committments (congratulations James!), but also since I rather liked the play...

If you want to know more, then either just turn up on the 4th or 11th, or email us at membership@afds.co.uk.

btw: since you are all thinking what we thought: Eric Chappell wrote The Banana Box, which became better known as Rising Damp.

Christmas Dinner

2009-11-27T14:20:00.002Z

The AFDS Christmas Dinner will be on the 12th December at 8pm at the Rose and Crown in Ridgemont.

The menu choice this year is:

Starters
Broccoli & Stilton Soup
Chef’s Paté
Deep Fried Camembert

Main Course
Roast Turkeywith all the trimmings
Boneless Breast of Duckin berry sauce
Fillet of Salmonpoached in orange and dill sauce
Vegetarian Nut Roast

Dessert
Traditional Christmas Pudding
Cheese Cake
Cheeseboard

Coffee and Mince Pies

Cost is £21 per person, this includes the tip and all the other costs (you pay for your own drinks though!). Bookings to simon.n.barton@gmail.com or 07533-707367 with the money and the menu choice please.

By the 7th December please

There will, as usual, be the awarding of Gnomes. Gnominations are now open - and I've received a few good worth causes already.

Our Next Production...

2009-11-07T18:27:00.004Z

Ampthill and Flitwick Dramatic Society

Presents a Double Bill Bang, You're Dead!

by Paul Reakes

and

Last Tango in Little Grimley

by David Tristram

7:45pm, November 19th, 20th and 21st

at Parkside Hall, Woburn Street, Ampthill

Tickets:

Thursday and Saturday: £7, concessions £6.

Friday, including a Fish & Chip Supper: £10, concessions £9.

Box Office: 01234-767014

or from Country Properties, Ampthill.

Crash Investigations

2009-09-18T21:24:00.002+01:00

Cranfield University has asked AFDS if we can help with their Crash Investigations Training.

They want actors to play roles from a scrip for their students, to help them learn to ask the right questions as part of a crash investigation. We would be needed for three sessions during the day.

There is an exercise planned for about two weeks from now, then additional ones in November and December.

If any members are interested then can they contact Mike Green, who will pass your contact details onto the organisers at Cranfield.

Auditions

2009-08-19T19:29:00.002+01:00

Just a quick reminder - AFDS are holding open auditions for our next production on the 24th August (That's next Monday) at 8pm at Parkside Hall.

The play(s) being proposed are Last Tango in Little Grimley and (if we can cast it) Bang! You're Dead. Both are one Act Comedies.

Both are 2M 2F, and playable with quite a wide age range.

The Auditions will also be open at the next play reading on the 7th September, again at 8pm at Parkside.

If you want any additional information then let me know through membership@afds.co.uk

The Second Barebecue of Summer

2009-08-04T12:00:00.000+01:00

Will be at Simon and Penny's

22nd August, 7pm (though we ain't worried if you are earlier).

A chance to see what the lawn looks like after being a builder's yard last year!

Bring something to cook and something to drink!

August's Play Reading

2009-07-29T13:34:00.004+01:00

There will be a Play Reading on Monday 3rd August at 8pm. This will be at Parkside Hall as usual.

Not entirely sure what will be read yet - Penny and I have a few ideas, and will throw them at people as a surprise.

Refreshments are provided as usual, and all - including non-members - are welcome.

Play Reading - Monday 6th July

2009-06-26T15:45:00.002+01:00

The July play reading will be at 8pm at Parkside Hall, Ampthill.

Extracts from:-
All my Sons - Arthur Miller
Moonlight and Magnolias - Ron Hutchinson
The Pocket Dream - Sandi Toksvig & Emma Brewer

All are welcome, members, new members and generally interested people. You are not obliged to read, and this is not an audition. It is a chance to see which plays we may be interested in doing in the future - as well as a social catch up!

Look forward to seeing you there.

The First Barbecue of Summer

2009-06-19T16:01:00.003+01:00

Will be at Biddy's.
8pm, 11th July.

Bring something to drink and something to cook!

There will be a second BBQ later in the year...

Film Night

2009-06-16T22:06:00.005+01:00

The usual occasional film night is happening again!

"Sweeney Todd - the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"

Friday, 26th June, 8pm at Simon and Penny's.

Voluntary donation to AFDS funds (this is the quid pro quo for no membership charges). Bring bottle and nibbles as well.

All rather making the assumption that the PS3 is fixed by then...
[Updated Friday, 19th. It's Fixed!!!]

Play Readings

2009-06-14T18:20:00.004+01:00

Play readings will occur on the first Monday of the month - and be listed here in advance. All play readings take place at Parkside Hall (in the back room if we are also rehearsing). 8pm.

We normally read a selection of extracts from plays - ranging from serious to farce. All are invited to read-in if they wish.

The purpose of the readings are to try out play that we may wish to do in future, and to gain some feedback on them (OK, so Popcorn was pushing it a little, but if I can get Dracula past Committee, then anything is possible). Therefore, if there are any particular pieces people wish to try, then let me know.

Membership

2009-06-14T18:12:00.005+01:00

Following the AGM on the 1st June, ordinary membership is now free.

Patrons are still £15 per annum, and you still get the free tickets and drink as usual.

For further information, please contact us.

November 2009 Production

2009-06-14T18:00:00.005+01:00

The next show will be David Tristram's Last Tango in Little Grimley and Last Panto in Little Grimley running from Thursday 19th November to Saturday 21st November at Parkside Hall, Ampthill.

Auditions for this will be on 24th August (with a second chance on the 7th September) both, again, at Parkside Hall.

Box Office details here nearer the time.