www.southenddrama.co.uk

Family Circles & Murder in Company
Posted: Saturday 7th October 2007

Southend Drama Society is staging a double bill over two consecutive weeks to mark the group's return to the Palace Theatre.

The society will perform Family Circles by Alan Ayckbourn in the Dixon Studio, in Westcliff, followed a week later with Murder in Company by Philip King and John Boland at the Focus Theatre, in Short Street, Southend.

It is the first chance the society has had to perform at the Palace since it reopened late last year. In the past, many of the society's shows were staged at the Edwardian theatre. Chairman Rick Fiore said: "It feels great to be back." On Wednesday, November 21, until Saturday, November 24, Family Circles - a rarely performed Ayckbourn comedy about a family reunion - will take to the Dixon's stage.

"We all marry the wrong people," announces Edward Gray. It becomes hard to disagree with this as the arrival of Edward's three daughters and their unsuitable partners demonstrates the family's middle-class mores. Edward's marriage to wife, Emma, seems to be in trouble too, and the rest of the family becomes convinced the two parents are trying to kill each other. Just as the plot thickens, Ayckbourn springs his theatrical coup: The daughters suddenly change partners and live out an alternative relationship.

Director Graham Smerdon says: "It is essentially a hypothetical question acted out in front of our eyes of, 'What would have happened if I had married someone else?' "The final scene sees all variants of the relationships mixed together on stage. "Who's best suited to whom? You can take your choice."

Southend Drama Society's production is only the second amateur staging of Family Circles in Essex, since the play was released for amateur performance ten years ago. The last amateur production in the county was in 1997.

In addition to this - and to enable the group's abundance of members to demonstrate their talent -the society will also perform the whodunit, Murder in Company at the Focus Theatre, from Thursday, November 29, until Saturday, December 1.

Set in a church hall, a drama society is rehearsing its production of a mystery thriller and all is not well. The strains among the company are showing as they set about their rehearsal under the dictatorial director Philip Stephens. Philip's wife, Margaret, is friendlier than is perhaps wise with a young society member, leading to an opportunity for blackmail. And there a prowler is on the loose attacking women, including one of the society's members on her way to the rehearsal.

"As with all murders, it is difficult to work out who did it," says director Frank McGrath. "However, all will be revealed before the evening ends." And to tempt people to attend both shows, the society is offering a £1 ticket saving. If you attend Family Circles, keep hold of your ticket stub from the Palace and you can claim a £1 reduction on your Murder in Company ticket.

Family Circles is at the Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, Westcliff, from Wednesday, November 21, to Saturday, November 24. Performances start 7.45pm. Tickets cost £10. For tickets, phone the Palace box office on 01702 351135.

Murder in Company is at the Focus Theatre, Short Street, Southend, from Thursday, November 29, to Saturday, December 1. Curtains up at 7.45pm. Tickets are £8, and £7 for senior citizens and students. To book tickets, call the box office on 01268 752239.

Murder in Company
Posted: Sunday 7th October 2007

Southend Drama are proud to announce that, in addition to our upcoming production of Alan Ayckbourn's Family Circles, we shall also be performing Murder in Company at the Focus Theatre, Southend-on-Sea between 29th November and 1st December.

The story involves an amateur dramatic society rehearsing their latest play in a church hall. A prowler on the loose attacking young girls; a caretaker who can't resist the opportunity for blackmail, not to mention the fatal accident - or was it murder?

Box Office: 01268 752239.

Family Circles
Posted: Sunday 22nd July 2007

Southend Drama Society are pleased to announce that our next production will be Family Circles by Alan Ayckbourn.

The play, directed by Graham Smerdon, will take place between Wednesday 21st and Saturday 24th November 2007. Family Circles marks Southend Drama Society's return to the Dixon Studio in the Palace Theatre for the first time in a number of years, so make sure you don't miss this landmark event!

Palace Theatre Box Office: 01702 351135.

Southend Drama Festival 2007
Posted: Thursday 10th May 2007

UPDATE: Photos from our production of Sganarelle can now be seen here.

Drama at the All England Drama Festival 2007
Posted: Monday 7th May 2007

The Eastern Area Divisional Final of the All England Drama Festival took place on Saturday 5th May 2007, at which Southend Drama Society had two entries to perform - Blue Suede Blues by Diana Raffle and Sganarelle by Moliere.

Sadly, circumstances beyond our control meant that we had to withdraw Blue Suede Blues in the days leading up to the Final, leaving Sganarelle alone to wave Southend's flag on the night.

Sadly, despite a very strong performance from our team, the winner was Havering's College Players with My Super Wedding, who were judged by GODA adjudicator Tony Rushforth as being the best on the night.

The result means that Southend Drama Society's participation in this year's All England Festival has come to an end. You can read all about our entries for this year here.

What's next for us? Stay tuned and all will become clear soon.

Slow News Day... ?
Posted: Wednesday 11th April 2007

Southend Drama Society just can't stay out of the local press these days. Not only that, but we made front page news!

Congratulations to Paula and Danny, Rick and Gemma on the births of Lilly and Daisy Ann respectively.

An article about our impending doom by global warming didn't make it to the final copy and has been bumped to a future issue! :o)

Southend Drama Festival 2007
Posted: Sunday 1st April 2007

Last night saw this year's Southend Drama Festival draw to a close. How did Southend Drama Society fare when it came time to hand out the awards? Check our page dedicated to this year's festival right here to find out!

As a result of last night's outcome, Southend Drama Society are through to the Divisional Final of the All England Theatre Festival on 5th May 2007. Both Sganarelle and Blue Suede Blues are through, so be sure to come along and support the local team!

Southend on Sea Arts Council Open Day
Posted: Sunday 1st April 2007

We've discovered a nice video of the Southend Arts Council Open Day that Southend Drama Society participated in last September. The video features a brief appearance from Blackadder and Baldrick and rest of the Blackadder crew promoting our then upcoming production of Blackadder's Christmas Carol.

The video can be found on the Southend Arts Council website here.

Please note that, due to circumstances beyond our control, the venue for tonight's rehearsal of both Festival plays has changed from Saxon Hall to Leigh Wesley.

As surely as night follows day, a slap-up meal follows our AGM. This year saw the Southend Drama Society gang take over Pancho's Cantina in Westcliff.

A great time was had by all. Many thanks to John and Juliet for arranging everything. Photos will appear online in the near future.

The plays we are submitting to the first round of the All England Drama Festival this year have been allocated their performance dates. Sganarelle by Moliere and directed by Kay Banning will be performed on the evening of 30th March, while Blue Suede Blues by Diana Ruffle and directed by Rick Fiore will be performed on the evening of 28th March.

Members are advised that the Southend Drama Society Annual General Meeting will take place on Tuesday 20th February at 8.00pm at the Leigh Wesley. Relevant paperwork will be sent to all members in due course.

The AGM is an opportunity for all members to consider the Society's activities over the last year and what challenges lie ahead, so we would encourage all members to attend if at all possible.

The plays we will be submitting to the first round of the All England Drama Festival this year are Sganarelle by Moliere, to be directed by Kay Banning and Blue Suede Blues by Diana Ruffle, to be directed by Rick Fiore.

The first round takes place between 26th - 31st March 2007 at the Eastwood Studio Theatre.