NEWS

PRESS RELEASE

At Newquay Dramatic Society’s AGM Carolyn Oakley of Images photography called in to take a very special photograph. This picture shows the 2011 Management Committee with five of the new life members Pam Heywood, Doreen Wilkinson, Stewart Lenton, Peter Sergeant and Gerry Shipp, Jean Shipp who was the sixth Member given this honour in our 80th year was unfortunately unable to attend.

Two other Dramatic Society members were also honoured in 2011 at the Wassail Night in December by the creation of two annual awards in the name of two past members whose service to the Society over many years was immeasurable.

The Emrys Roberts award for Services to Lane Theatre was presented to Eileen Pollard for her continued commitment and service to Newquay Dramatic Society and Lane Theatre over many years. Emrys Roberts or Doc. Roberts as he was affectionately known was a music teacher at Newquay Tretheras School and was a long standing member and past President of the Society for many years, he was instrumental along with Eileen in the Society obtaining Lane Village Hall which later became Lane Theatre. Eileen is pictured sitting with her award next to our Vice President John Jay.

The second award was created in honour of Paul Drake also a long standing member and past President of the Society. Paul was well known in the Town, a local Photographer who for many years had a photographic shop in the heart of the Town. This award is for Service to Newquay Dramatic Society Productions and the winner of this award was Bryan Bussey, he is pictured with his award sitting next to Lesley Clarke our President.

The Management Committee along with five new life members are standing behind them. Life Membership is the highest honour that the committee can bestow on any member and we wanted to mark our 80th year with this special accolade to eight of our esteemed members who between them notch up a staggering 300 plus years. The Society is very grateful for all their service and commitment and it was only fit and proper that in our 80th year they should be recognised.
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When you decide to direct a play the first job on the list is to find a play. That sounds easy or you might think but I assure it is not. You have to go through reading many before you want to spend all the hours planning what you want to do and more importantly how you are going to plot moves thus bringing the play to life, have as your set what props you are going to use, what the actors are going to wear and how you see the characters, what lights sound and music you think fits the bill. In fact you are talking huge amount of hours before you even think about an audition. It is a real labour of love. As soon as I found the play The Kingfisher by William Douglas Home I knew that was the one I wanted to direct so all the time spent was no problem at all.
The play is a gentle comedy ahead of its time when it was first published it is set in the 1970's but it has a feel of the 30's a time pre computers and mobile phones. It is a love story and how you are never too old to find romance.
I am thrilled with my casting even though the original cast boasts Rex Harrison and Claudette Colbert and George Rose, Gerry Shipp, John Trembath and Kate Walker will take you on a journey that you will be able to identify with. The play has a hugely funny story that you can lose yourself in and forget your worries for the evening at least, situations that they encounter you will be able to say I know exactly what they mean.
Gerry Shipp joined the society back in 1961 his first play was in 1972 and it was the production "Sailor Beware" that was performed at the Cosy Nook Theatre and it will be 50 years almost to the day when "The Kingfisher" opens at Lane Theatre on the 15th February a huge milestone in his history with the Newquay Dramatic Society he plays Sir Cecil. Kate Walker a seasoned performer at Lane and is a huge favourite with our audiences she plays Lady Evelyn Townsend and Hawkins the butler is played by John Trembath well known poet and long standing member of Newquay Dramatic Society.
All we need is you!!!!! So come and join us for an evening of fun, go back to a time when you needed a room to put a computer in mobile phones where the size of a house brick a laptop computer was a dream and the only keyboard in existence you played music on. 'My, how things have changed'.
To book your tickets go on line or ring the box office at the theatre on 01637 876945 tickets £7, curtain up 7.30 performance dates 15,16,17,18,23,24,25,26, February.

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CORNWALL DRAMA ASSOCIATION AWARDS

At the Cornwall Drama Association's awards evening on Saturday the 29th October, more affectionately known as the Cornish Oscars. Newquay Dramatic Society again were worthy winners of four awards they are as follows:
Our February play "Something's Burning" a comedy by Eric Chappell and directed by Pam Heywood. Won the 'Technical Excellence' award, this is now three years in a row that this award has been won and it will be good to have it back at the Theatre for yet another year, in fact this award has been won by us more times than any other Society. We also won the Best Actor category, with a fine performance by Peter Choat who played George.
Our first summer play a comedy by Ivan Menchell "The Cemetery Club" took the 'Best Play' title, giving Eileen Pollard the Director her third best play award. Eileen has directed many plays for us over the years and is a regular favourite with our audiences. Her play also won the 'Best Actor' award with a performance again by Peter Choat as Sam the butcher.
Our fourth award was in the 'Best Actress' category that was for Lynne Young who played and directed "Allo ‘Allo" our last November production. This award was for her role as Edith.
Pam Heywood, Eileen Pollard and Lynne Young are to be congratulated for their awards. Long hours rehearsing their productions have paid off and we at Newquay Dramatic Society are thrilled with their achievements. Every play we have entered has won at least one award.
Regular visitors to Lane Theatre will not be surprised to hear we have won yet more awards. This leads me nicely to be able to bring to your attention our next production written by Louise Roche and Directed by yet another of our multi award winning directors Susie Bundy and the first to be entered in this year's festival "Happy Christmas Shirley" a play that will set you just in the mood for your own special Christmas with your family and friends.


 

 




AGM Presentations

 


The set builders get to work for
The Kingfisher