Welcome to Southend Drama Society

The official web site of Southend Drama Society

Patron: Rt. Hon. David Amess MP......................................... President: Frank McGrath OBE

Winners: Southend Drama Festival 2010, Best Comedy, Best Stage Presentation, Best Supporting Performer

Southend Drama Society are pleased to announce that our Autumn production for 2010 will be Outside Edge by Richard Harris.

Roger is having trouble getting a team together for the afternoons fixture against the British Railways Maintenance Division Yeading East but this proves to be the least of anyones worries.

Bob is having marriage trouble as he is still doing odd jobs for his ex-wife behind his current wife Ginnie's back. Dennis is also having marital trouble as his wife seems intent on moving house despite the fact they only moved recently. When he finally puts his foot down, she sets fire to his new car. Kevin is trying to fight of his over affectionate wife Maggie while at the same time nurse his injured spinning finger and Alex's new girlfriend ends up shutting herself in the toilets having hysterics.

Even Roger's seemingly perfect marriage to Miriam hits the skids when she discovers he was playing away from home in more ways than one on a trip to Dorking last year.

Just when it seems things can't get any worse for them, it starts to rain.

Outside Edge, directed by Peter Nawrat, will be performed between 10th and 13th November 2010 at the Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, Westcliff. Wednesday evening and Saturday matinee tickets cost £9.00, all other tickets cost £11.00. Contact the box office on 01702 351 135.

Southend Drama Society had a lot to celebrate when it came to the award-giving ceremony at this year's Southend Drama Festival!

With a last minute and unavoidable casting change, the odds of success were not looking good for the Charlie Mellor-directed The Worst Day of my Life by Alan Richardson.

Nevertheless, the Southend Drama team pulled out all of the stops to give the performance of their lives - and it proved worth it!

At the prize-giving ceremony on Saturday night, the team picked up no less than 4 awards, which were:

The Winning Team (Best Play)
Best Comedy
Best Stage Presentation
Best Supporting Performer (Anne Odeke)

The team were also nominated for a further 4 awards, which were:

Best Female Performer (Liz Hoskin)
Best Male Performer (John Banks)
Best Director (Charlie Mellor)
Adjudicators Special Award (Juliet Banks)

Congratulations to all involved in such a triumphant outcome. Particular congratulations to Juliet Banks for stepping in at the last moment and delivering such an outstanding performance!

Of course, all of this good news now means that Southend Drama Society go through to the Eastern Area Final on 15th May 2010 at the Chequer Mead Theatre, East Grinstead.

Southend Drama Society are pleased to announce that our Summer production for 2010 will be Absent Friends by Alan Ayckbourn.

Following our highly successful productions of Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Table Manners at the venue in 2009, we are pleased to also announce that we shall be performing Absent Friends at the Dixon Studio in the Palace Theatre, Westcliff.

When Colin, a friend who has been absent, comes back to his circle of friends, they are worried about how to approach him over the death of his fiancée, Carol (who has drowned). However, the friends all have problems of their own - mainly with each other. Diana organises a tea party for Colin's arrival and the tensions between the friends are near breaking point when Colin arrives. The tension is only heightened when the friends all have to appear friendly towards Colin in light of the news they need to break to him.

However, Colin seems euphorically happy...

Auditions for Absent Friends will take place after the Southend Drama Festival. Tickets are available from the Palace Theatre Box Office on 01702 351 135.

Southend Drama Society will be holding their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday 23rd February 2010 at the Wesley Church and will start promptly at 8pm, with drinks to follow in the Carlton.

If you're a member and haven't seen the paperwork yet, then please speak to Kay.

Southend Drama Society will be entering the Southend heat of the All England Theatre Festival with a production of Alan Richardson's play, The Worst Day of My Life.

Set in a hospital, the comedy centres on Charlie Brown, a mature man, who is fascinated with the American actor, Humphrey Bogart.

The day begins pleasantly enough with a visit from Charlie's wife, Joanne, who brings him up to speed with goings on in the office.

It seems the perfect scene of conjugal bliss, that is until Charlie's second wife, Evelyn, arrives.

When Charlie's third wife, Melissa, arrives, there is no doubt that it will be the worst day of Charlie's life.

The play has been cast and director, Charlie Mellor, is on the look out for people to help backstage. If any members want to get involved, particularly in relation to sound, please contact Charlie directly.

WITH a new year (and decade!) now here, we look forward to Southend Drama Society's forthcoming productions for 2010. As always, there will be a Summer and an Autumn main production (details to follow), but in the meantime, we have the annual Southend Drama Festival, which also acts as the first regional round of the national All England Theatre Festival.

The All-England Theatre Festival organises the only country-wide eliminating contest for one-act plays in performance throughout England.

This provides an opportunity for Amateurs to compete against like-minded groups and to benefit from the adjudication they receive to improve the quality of their performance. For audiences, it brings the opportunity to see a wide array of quality one-act plays - all in the space of one week!.

In 2009, we saw Southend Drama Society sweep the board at the first round with The Last Bread Pudding, going on to win successive regional rounds - details of which can be found here.

Will we be able to repeat our success in 2010? Only time will tell!

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WELCOME TO
www.southenddrama.co.uk
*The official web site of Southend Drama Society*
Patron: Rt. Hon. David Amess MP......................................... President: Frank McGrath OBE
*
*Winners: Southend Drama Festival 2010*, Best Comedy, Best Stage Presentation, Best Supporting Performer
*Last updated: 19th August 2010
*OUR NEXT PRODUCTION:*
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	Outside Edge by Richard Harris Set in a cricket Pavilion, Outside Edge deals with an eventful Saturday afternoon wherein Roger struggles to keep together his team to play against the British Railways Maintenance Division Yeading East, whilst the wives and girlfriends of his players help and hinder to devastating and hilarious effects. While the play is ostensibly about cricket, it’s actually about relationships - Do Roger and Miriam really have the perfect marriage? Will Kevin persuade Maggie to leave the bricklaying and watch him play for once? Just when it seems things can't get any worse for them all; it starts to rain!
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*LATEST UPDATES:*
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Our Autumn Production: Outside Edge Posted: Thursday 15th August 2010 Southend Drama Society are pleased to announce that our Autumn production for 2010 will be Outside Edge by Richard Harris. Roger is having trouble getting a team together for the afternoons fixture against the British Railways Maintenance Division Yeading East but this proves to be the least of anyones worries. Bob is having marriage trouble as he is still doing odd jobs for his ex-wife behind his current wife Ginnie's back. Dennis is also having marital trouble as his wife seems intent on moving house despite the fact they only moved recently. When he finally puts his foot down, she sets fire to his new car. Kevin is trying to fight of his over affectionate wife Maggie while at the same time nurse his injured spinning finger and Alex's new girlfriend ends up shutting herself in the toilets having hysterics. Even Roger's seemingly perfect marriage to Miriam hits the skids when she discovers he was playing away from home in more ways than one on a trip to Dorking last year. Just when it seems things can't get any worse for them, it starts to rain. Outside Edge, directed by Peter Nawrat, will be performed between 10th and 13th November 2010 at the Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, Westcliff. Wednesday evening and Saturday matinee tickets cost £9.00, all other tickets cost £11.00. Contact the box office on 01702 351 135.
Southend Drama Festival 2010 Posted: Monday 15th March 2010 Southend Drama Society had a lot to celebrate when it came to the award-giving ceremony at this year's Southend Drama Festival! With a last minute and unavoidable casting change, the odds of success were not looking good for the Charlie Mellor-directed *The Worst Day of my Life* by Alan Richardson. Nevertheless, the Southend Drama team pulled out all of the stops to give the performance of their lives - and it proved worth it! At the prize-giving ceremony on Saturday night, the team picked up no less than 4 awards, which were: The Winning Team (Best Play) Best Comedy Best Stage Presentation Best Supporting Performer (Anne Odeke) The team were also nominated for a further 4 awards, which were: Best Female Performer (Liz Hoskin) Best Male Performer (John Banks) Best Director (Charlie Mellor) Adjudicators Special Award (Juliet Banks) Congratulations to all involved in such a triumphant outcome. Particular congratulations to Juliet Banks for stepping in at the last moment and delivering such an outstanding performance! Of course, all of this good news now means that Southend Drama Society go through to the Eastern Area Final on 15th May 2010 at the Chequer Mead Theatre, East Grinstead.
Our Summer Production: Absent Friends Posted: Thursday 11th February 2010 Southend Drama Society are pleased to announce that our Summer production for 2010 will be Absent Friends by Alan Ayckbourn. Following our highly successful productions of Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Table Manners at the venue in 2009, we are pleased to also announce that we shall be performing Absent Friends at the Dixon Studio in the Palace Theatre, Westcliff. When Colin, a friend who has been absent, comes back to his circle of friends, they are worried about how to approach him over the death of his fiancée, Carol (who has drowned). However, the friends all have problems of their own - mainly with each other. Diana organises a tea party for Colin's arrival and the tensions between the friends are near breaking point when Colin arrives. The tension is only heightened when the friends all have to appear friendly towards Colin in light of the news they need to break to him. However, Colin seems euphorically happy... Auditions for Absent Friends will take place after the Southend Drama Festival. Tickets are available from the Palace Theatre Box Office on 01702 351 135.
Annual General Meeting Posted: Thursday 11th February 2010 Southend Drama Society will be holding their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday 23rd February 2010 at the Wesley Church and will start promptly at 8pm, with drinks to follow in the Carlton. If you're a member and haven't seen the paperwork yet, then please speak to Kay.
Southend Drama Festival Posted: Wednesday 20th January 2010 Southend Drama Society will be entering the Southend heat of the All England Theatre Festival with a production of Alan Richardson's play, The Worst Day of My Life. Set in a hospital, the comedy centres on Charlie Brown, a mature man, who is fascinated with the American actor, Humphrey Bogart. The day begins pleasantly enough with a visit from Charlie's wife, Joanne, who brings him up to speed with goings on in the office. It seems the perfect scene of conjugal bliss, that is until Charlie's second wife, Evelyn, arrives. When Charlie's third wife, Melissa, arrives, there is no doubt that it will be the worst day of Charlie's life. The play has been cast and director, Charlie Mellor, is on the look out for people to help backstage. If any members want to get involved, particularly in relation to sound, please contact Charlie directly.
*Happy New Year!* Posted: Friday 1st January 2010 WITH a new year (and decade!) now here, we look forward to Southend Drama Society's forthcoming productions for 2010. As always, there will be a Summer and an Autumn main production (details to follow), but in the meantime, we have the annual Southend Drama Festival, which also acts as the first regional round of the national All England Theatre Festival. The All-England Theatre Festival organises the only country-wide eliminating contest for one-act plays in performance throughout England. This provides an opportunity for Amateurs to compete against like-minded groups and to benefit from the adjudication they receive to improve the quality of their performance. For audiences, it brings the opportunity to see a wide array of quality one-act plays - all in the space of one week!. In 2009, we saw Southend Drama Society sweep the board at the first round with The Last Bread Pudding, going on to win successive regional rounds - details of which can be found here. Will we be able to repeat our success in 2010? Only time will tell!
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