WADS members hit the big screen
A chance to see a number of members of Whitby Amateur Dramatic Society on the big screen is on offer at Whitby Coliseum during the coming fortnight. Small World, which is to have two airings, the first on Saturday 22nd November, and the second a week later, is a feature film which has been made locally over the last 12 months or so. Behind the venture are two local people, Nigel Ward and Helga Marrs, who also produced the film, Freyja's Gift which was premiered at Whitby Pavilion two years ago and which featured a young WADS member Eleanor Risdon. Nigel and Helen's new film, not intended as a commercial venture, has seen eight WADS members taking part,either in front of camera, or behind, or both. Members appearing on screen are Kori Coates (along with her husband Darren), Karen McCarthy, Fiona Organ, Gladys Richardson, Eleanor Risdon, Jon Risdon, Steve Scott and Margaret Urwin. Members have also been very helpful with props, wardrobe and locations, not the least of which was Karen McCarthy. If you would like to see how a film made in this beautiful area looks, with so many society members 'doing their bit', then go along to the Coliseumn either this Saturday or next - or both! Tickets are £6 and all profits will be donated to Whitby Dog Rescue.
Story added 17th November 2008
Play readings - latest
Don't miss the second in the trio of autumn play readings which takes place this week at 7.30pm at Whitby Conservative Club on Wednesday 19th November. The latest in this series of social events will feature Home and Beauty, a comedy by Somerset Maugham. Next week's reading, on Tuesday 25th November (same time, same venue) will be of The Dresser by Ronald Harwood. Story added 17th November 2008
Play readings for the Autumn Evenings
Following a successful and enjoyable series of play readings in the summer, another set of three readings has been set up to fill in the gap between the autumn production and the society's Christmas dinner.
The first of these has been fixed for Thursday 13th November, when the play to be read is Table Manners, the first in Alan Ayckbourn's famous Norman Conquests trilogy. Further readings will take place on Wednesday 19th and Tuesday 25th November, plays to be confirmed, and the venue for all is Whitby Conservative Club. All sessions start at 7.30pm and as before they are intended as social events purely for the pleasure of reading a play not necessarily destined for production. All are welcome - and do feel free to bring a friend along.
Story added 9th November 2008
All set for autumn Showcase
Rehearsals for the society's autumn production, Showcase, reach fruition this weekend when the revue style entertainment hits the stage of Whitby's Pavilion Theatre.
Showcase came about when, due to a combination of circumstances, the hunt for a cast to present the Shaw classic Pygmalion hit stony ground. Rather than abandon our traditional autumn "slot" at the theatre altogether, it was decided to see if there was sufficient interest in a variety show format where various members could contribute a medley of different items. The result, directed and hosted by Ian Dobson and Margaret Brown, will see a collection of sketches, monologues, readings and musical items presented on Sunday 9th and Monday 10th November at 7.30pm.
Showcase has drawn together more than 20 society members. Taking part in the show will be Jean Firth, Dorcas Ambrose, Joan Shorrock, Rachel Collier, David Marshall, Les Scott, Tony Murphy, Ken Butler, Katrina Butler, Martin McLachlan, Lizzie Dobson, Leafy Estill, Karen McCarthy, Rhona Rylands, Nicole Plant, Margaret Urwin and Stuart Wells. Musical director is Chris Wales and helping backstage are Doug Hancock, Sally Jones, Anne Horne and Anne Edwards. A group of youngsters from the Paul Nicholas School of Acting run by Katrina Stead will be making a guest apperance.
Story added 5th November 2008
Cast required for Pygmalion
The search is on for a cast for the society's Autumn production.
Director Edwin Newlyn has chosen the George Bernard Shaw classic, Pygmalion, and is appealing to members to come forward to take part. He will be holding a reading of the play at Whitby Conservative Club on Wednesday 27th August, starting at 7.30pm.
Dates of the production, at Whitby Pavilion Theatre, are: Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 8th, 9th and 10th November.
Story added 21st August 2008
Play readings for the summer evenings
A series of play readings for the summer evenings is underway.
Organised as social events as an opportunity to read a varied mix of plays which are not necessarily destined, at this stage anyway, for production, these are being held in the theatre bar at Whitby Pavilion.
Around eight people turned out for each of the first two of these, when Donkeys Years by Michael Frayn and Stepping Out by Richard Harris were read. The next reading is on Sunday 31st August (84 Charing Cross Road, by Helene Hanff) and the final one of the series on Sunday 7th September (The End of the Food Chain, by Tim Firth.) Open to all members, these sessions are also an ideal introduction to the society, so please spread the word - and bring a friend! Assemble from 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start.
Story added 21st August 2008
Annual treasure hunt is back
After a couple of years off the WADS social calendar, the annual treasure hunt is back!
Around a dozen people turned out for this year's event, held in July and organised by Ruth Stubbs. The event took in a gentle stroll around Whitby's West Cliff area and concluded with supper at the Metropole, where the winners - who thereby earned the privilege of organising next year's treasure hunt - were declared to be Stuart and Marie Wells and Anne Edwards.
Story added 21st August 2008
Raffle proceeds for Samaritans
Proceeds of the raffles held in the theatre foyer during the spring production of Nightmare, which was eventually presented at Whitby Pavilion Theatre on 13th, 14th and 15th June, amounted to £121.90 which has been forwarded to the Scarborough branch of The Samaritans.
The play, delayed from its original Spring Bank Holiday slot due to ill health among the cast, was successfully presented with Joan Shorrock and Fiona Organ taking over the roles of Marian and Kathleen from Alison Steele and Kori Coates.
Story added 21st August 2008
Summer show is underway!
Rehearsals are due to get underway for this year's summer production, to be presented in conjunction with Whitby Pavilion Theatre. Director Alison Steele has settled on a thriller by Bettine Manktelow, Proscenophobia, which, as its name suggests - the word means stage fright - has a theatrical setting. The action takes place in a dressing room in a provincial theatre and promises a thrillling night out with lots of twists and turns to the plot for summer season audiences. The play will be presented on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12th August to 11th September, and the cast is: Alison Steele, Karen McCarthy, Joan Shorrock, Lizzie Dobson, Ian Dobson and Chris Wales.
Story added 21st June 2008
Production Postponed
The Spring Bank Holiday production of Nightmare has been postponed due to ill-health among the cast. New dates will be arranged as soon as possible.
Story added 17th May 2008
Nightmare on the cards for Spring Bank Holiday
Rehearsals are now in full swing for the Spring Bank Holiday production of Nightmare. This thriller by Norman Robbins is being directed by Karen McCarthy with the following cast: Martin McLachlan, Jon Risdon, Alison Steele, Ruth Stubbs, Angela Guiver, and two new members, Ryan Coates and Kori Coates. Deceit, suspicion, blackmail and incrimination, subtly woven into a web of crime which culminates in a dramatic confrontation scene, all promise to have audiences on the edge of their seats over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend with performances at 7.45pm on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, 24th, 26th and 27th May.
Rehearsals take place at Whitby Conservative Club on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, when members are welcome.
Story added 28th April 2008
Breezeblock Park re-visited
The DVD of the autumn 2007 production of Breezeblock Park by Willy Russell, directed by Karen McCarthy, will be shown at The Shambles on Wednesday 7th May at 7.30pm. In line with the terms of the DVD licence, this is a private showing for members.
Story added 28th April 2008
Easter Raffle
Raffles held during the Easter production of Ten Times Table raised a total of £203 for Whitby Hospital's Spinnaker Lodge. The money will be used to fund a treat for patients later in the summer.
Thanks go to all who supported the raffles, and to those who donated prizes.
Story added 8th April 2008
Saltburn Drama Festival
Karen McCarthy, Leafy Estill and Fiona Organ are representing Whitby Amateur Dramatic Society at this year's Saltburn Drama Festival. The trio are due to perform their one act play, Cafe Thoughts, at Saltburn Community Theatre on Thursday 13th March.
Story added 12th March 2008
Members' DVD Night
All members are invited to attend a private showing of the DVD recording made of the 2007 Spring Bank Holiday production of the Francis Durbridge thriller House Guest at The Shambles, Whitby Market Place on Thursday 21st February at 7.30pm.
Story added 15th February 2008
Full Steam Ahead for Easter Cast
Rehearsals are now underway for Ten Times Table by Alan Ayckbourn.
In the cast are David Wright as Ray Dixon, Dave Marshall as Councillor Donald Evans, Marie Wells as Helen Dixon (Ray's wife), Ian Dobson as Eric Collins, Ruth Stubbs as Audrey Evans, Donald's mother, Stuart Wells as Lawrence Adamson, Alethea Estill as Sophie Barton, Karen McCarthy as Philippa, Eric's partner, and Martin Verrill as Captain Tim Barton, Sophie's brother. Chris Copeland will make an appearance as Max Kirkov as well as heading the props team and the off-stage revelry that takes place in the final scene.
Members are very welcome at rehearsals which take place at Whitby Conservative Club every Thursday (except 21st February) and Sunday until 16th March plus another night which will generally be Wednesday but please check before hand.
Story added 3rd February 2008
Raffles 2008
Charities to be supported this year with raffles at the Easter, Spring Bank Holiday and Autumn productions are Whitby Hospital's Spinnaker Lodge unit, The Samaritans, and Whitby Talking Newspaper for the Blind.
Story added: 24th January 2008
Easter Production Underway
Christmas is over, the hot cross buns are in the shops and the society is looking ahead to its first production of the year.
Recruiting for this year’s Easter play, Ten Times Table by Alan Ayckbourn, which is to be presented at Whitby Pavilion Theatre on Saturday 22nd, Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th March, is underway.
Full of Ayckbourn’s distinctive humour and keen observation of human frailty and foibles, this is a play which takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the goings-on of a committee.
The committee in question has been set up to stage a pageant celebrating a little-known and somewhat dubious incident in the history of the town of Pendon and the play follows the progress of their meetings in the faded splendour of the ballroom of the Swan Hotel. The committee quickly splits into two factions, led by its chairman’s middle-class wife and a Marxist school teacher from the local comprehensive, and as the play culminates in the recreation of The Massacre of the Pendon Twelve, mayhem results.
Casting readings for Ten Times Table, which is being directed by Angela Cook, take place on Tuesday 22nd and Thursday 24th January, at Whitby Conservative Club. Start at 7.30pm and members old and new are all welcome at both. Anyone interested in being involved but unable to attend please get in touch.
Story added: 16th January 2008
Autumn Raffle
Raffles held during the autumn 2007 production of Breezeblock Park raised a total of £143.50 and this has been presented to Whitby in Bloom.
Story added: 16th January 2008 |
