News

On the 17th September a rare and highly prized honour was bestowed on one of Bedfordshire’s flagship drama groups when The Sharnbrook Mill Theatre Trust was awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service by HM The Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis. Equivalent to an MBE, it is the highest...

Chelmsford Theatre Workshop at The Old Court Theatre, became one of the first amateur groups in the east of England to stage a production in 18 months. We started rehearsals for Ladies Down Under in March 2020 but had to suspend them as lockdown began. Rehearsals resumed in July once restrictions had eased...

Comberton Players Youth was started in May 2020. Previously our young people had been involved in our annual pantomime, mostly as chorus members and smaller named parts, but COVID prompted the start of some online workshops for our young people. Our first sessions were online play readings, which provided structure...

Ann Platten celebrates 60 years with a NODA badge having been involved with the theatre and NODA as well as a Choir director for her local church. Professionally trained as pianist and singer from age 10 Ann comes from a very musical family; both her grandfather and father were heaviy...

THE RACE FOR ‘CURTAIN UP’......”Beginners to the Stage please!” In these uncertain times there are those who are ready at the starting gate! None less than Blakeney Players in North Norfolk who already have a reputation locally, for doing it 'differently'... They are raring to go as soon as the...

“No is not an option” – why societies should consider a relaxed performance. Relaxed performances are nothing new in the theatre world but for many amateur societies the thought of not conforming to the technical requirements of a particular script or the idea of people calling out, commenting loudly or...

The Digswell Players have made a valiant effort to keep their members and followers entertained during Covid by performing a murder mystery over a period of three episodes on YouTube. Written and produced by Mary Portalska, it has proved to be a hit with viewers. Mary started writing this murder...

So what did you do during lockdown…. endless puzzles? read a ton of books? Cleared out the house/shed/garage? …. while many of us agonised or got lost in box sets and Netflix.... two talented men with time and furlough on their hands... found a way of getting back together to...

2020 will be the first time in 52 years that The Lowestoft Players haven't performed their annual pantomime, so we thought we would take a nostalgic look back at over 50 years of Pantomime Magic to remember what we are missing in our 'GRAND FINALE' Gallery: The Players have been...

In November 1920, an event took place that was to bring a profound change in the theatre scene of Chelmsford. A public meeting at the town’s Corn Exchange in Tindal Square led to the formation of the Chelmsford Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (CAODS) which is now celebrating 100 years...