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The official web site of Southend Drama Society

Written and directed by our own Danny Pavitt, this family adventure sees a group of elves and Christmas toys bravely try to thwart the evil plans of a dastardly and ruthless Snow Queen!

Santa and the Snow Queen will be at the Focus Youth Theatre, Short Street, Southend, on Saturday, December 5, at 1.30pm and 4.30pm. Tickets cost £8 for adults, £4 for children and under fours can see the show for free!

For more information and to reserve tickets, call 01702 308769.

Southend Drama Society are pleased to announce that their next production will be Table Manners by Alan Ayckbourn and directed by Graham Smerdon.

Surrounding events at meal times in the dining room, the play focuses on an extended family who despise each other, while at the same time not being able to get enough of each other!

Evening performances of Table Manners will take place from Wednesday 11th November through to Saturday 14th November. There will alsobe an afternoon matinee on Saturday.

From BBC News:

'Author and playwright Keith Waterhouse has died "quietly in his sleep" at the age of 80, a spokeswoman has announced.

Waterhouse made his screenwriting debut on the 1961 film Whistle Down The Wind.

But he remains best known for the 1959 novel Billy Liar - which was made into a critically acclaimed film starring Tom Courtenay in 1963.

He was a prolific newspaper columnist and playwright with works including Mr and Mrs Nobody and the 1989 West End hit Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell.

The play, based on the fellow journalist Jeffrey Bernard's weekly column in the Spectator magazine, was co-written with his frequent collaborator Willis Hall. Liar, the story of a daydreamer planning his escape from a job as an undertaker, went on to appear as part of the school syllabus.'

Billy Liar was performed by Southend Drama Society in 2005. Our condolences to his family and friends.

With just one day to go before the curtain rises on Southend Drama Society's latest production, this is just a quick reminder that tickets are still available, so please do come along to see what promises to be a highly entertaining show.

Good luck to everyone involved in the production - both on the stage and behind it.

A CLASSIC Oscar Wilde story will be coming to the Dixon Studio stage with Southend Drama Society’s summer production of Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime.

The costume comedy, set in 19th century London, tells of Lord Arthur’s struggle to fulfil a terrible destiny.

The society, semi-finalists in the All England Theatre Festival, is hoping the play will prove to be as successful as its previous shows – Family Circles, Play It Again Sam and Don’t
Dress for Dinner.

Director Kay Banning said: “It is quite a long time since the society has performed a period play, and this is the first one that the society has presented at the Dixon studio.

“It is a very amusing story and hopefully it will be attractive to the eye, as well as fun to watch.”

Lord Arthur is happily awaiting his impending marriage to the beautiful Sybil Merton. However, her mother, Lady Julia, is less certain of her future son-in-law’s integrity.

To be absolutely sure, she enlists the renowned palm reader Mr Podgers to examine Lord
Arthur’s hand to verify he has told the truth about his past, and that he will be a suitable husband in the future.

Unfortunately for the simple lord, Mr Podgers detects an awful secret – Fate dictates Arthur must commit a murder. Horrified by the shame such an act might bring upon Sybil, Arthur resolves the awful deed must be done before his marriage takes place a week later.

Ably assisted by his loyal butler Baines and the manic anarchist Frederick Winkelkopf, Lord Arthur endeavours to bump off one of his many relatives with hilarious results.

Kay added: “The last time that this particular play was performed by the Society was in
June 1992 for the Southend Borough Centenary Festival, held at the Focus Youth Theatre.

“Of that original cast, one is appearing in this production. Rick Fiore was then a very young man, whose first role with the society was the palmist, Mr Podgers, and he is appearing this time as the anarchist Herr Winkelkopf.”

Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime will be performed at the Dixon Studio in the Palace Theatre, London Road, Westcliff, from Wednesday July 15 to Saturday, July 18.

Evening performances start at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee beginning at 2.30pm.

Tickets cost either £9 for Wednesday and the Saturday matinee or £11 at all other times.

To book seats, call the Palace Theatre box office on 01702 351135.

SOUTHEND Drama Society has been left with a shelf full of silverware, followings its successful run in a knockout theatre competition.

The amateur group, based at Wesley Methodist Church, Leigh, was pipped at the post by a couple of points to a place in the final of the All England Theatre Festival, which is to be held this month.
However, the group’s multi-award winning production of a one-act play – The Last Bread Pudding by Nick Warburton – picked up a final award for stage presentation at the eastern division semi final held recently at the Eastwood Studio Theatre at the Eastwood School, Rayleigh Road, Leigh.

In all, the group has won six trophies for the performance which was guided by first-time director Darran Lebeter. These included:

Best Stage Presentation at the Eastern semi-finals for a set created by John Greenfield and Charlie Mellor on May 23
Winning team Eastern area (east division) quarter final on April 25
Winning team at the Southend Festival on March 26
Best director for Darran Lebeter at the Southend Festival
Best female performance for Samantha Lowe at the Southend Festival
Best comedy at the Southend Festival.

The group had only reached the Eastern semi-finals stage once before for its ground-breaking stage version of Ink and Incapability from the TV sitcom Blackadder in 2004. The full story of Southend Drama Society's success this year can be found here.

With the Eastern division semi-final of the All England Theatre Festival just weeks away, Southend Drama Society are moving forward with plans for their next major summer production, which we are pleased to announce will be Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, a comedy by Constance Cox, based on a short story by Oscar Wilde.

The production will take place at the Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, Westcliff from 15th to 18th July 2009 at 7.30pm. There will also be a matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday 18th July.

Tickets for Wednesday 15th and the Saturday matinee will cost £9.00, all other performances will cost £11.00.

The Palace Theatre Box Office number is 01702 351135 - book early to avoid disappointment.

Southend Drama Society is celebrating once again after winning the latest round of a knockout theatre competition. The group is now through to the semi finals of the All England Theatre Festival with its production of the one-act comedy, The Last Bread Pudding by Nick Warburton.

It is only the second time in the society’s history to have reached this stage of the prestigious contest, which pits amateur dramatics groups against each other in a head-to-head competition.

The last time Southend Drama Society reached this stage of the festival was in 2004 with its ground-breaking stage version of Ink and Incapability from the TV sitcom Blackadder.

Thanks to the ensemble efforts of the cast – Samantha Lowe, Paul Jennings, Carrie Groves, Peter Nawrat, Chloe Baum and Juliet and John Banks – the society has now won five trophies to its name.

At the previous stage of the contest in March, Southend Drama Society won four awards including best director for Darran Lebeter, best female performance for Samantha Lowe and best comedy.

The semi-final for the eastern division is scheduled to take place at the Eastwood Studio Theatre at the Eastwood School, Rayleigh Road, Leigh, on Saturday, May 23, starting at 6pm. The full story of Southend Drama Society's success this year can be found here.

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*Santa And The Snow Queen* Posted: Tuesday 1st December 2009 AN evil Snow Queen’s attempt to ruin Christmas is the subject of Southend Drama Society’s next festive production. Ideally suited for families with young children, Santa and the Snow Queen tells of a dastardly plot to hold Father Christmas for ransom. Four plucky elves and a group of magical toys find they are all that stand in the way of a fiendish plan to cancel Christmas. With just hours to go before Christmas Day, our heroes learn they must work together if they are to defeat the wicked Snow Queen. Director Danny Pavitt, who is also the author of the play, said the production will feature plenty of audience participation. Danny added: “Following on from the success of our last Christmas production, the Great Santa Kidnap, we were keen to put on another good, affordable festive show for families. Every one of the cast and backstage crew are all working hard to ensure we make this year is even better. Children and parents should be ready for lots of shouting and participation, which we all hope will add to the fun.” Santa and the Snow Queen will be at the Focus Youth Theatre, Short Street, Southend, on Saturday, December 5, at 1.30pm and 4.30pm. Tickets cost £8 for adults, £4 for children and under fours can see the show for free! To reserve tickets, call 01702 308769
*Our December Production: Santa And The Snow Queen* Posted: Sunday 20th September 2009 Written and directed by our own Danny Pavitt, this family adventure sees a group of elves and Christmas toys bravely try to thwart the evil plans of a dastardly and ruthless Snow Queen! Santa and the Snow Queen will be at the Focus Youth Theatre, Short Street, Southend, on Saturday, December 5, at 1.30pm and 4.30pm. Tickets cost £8 for adults, £4 for children and under fours can see the show for free! For more information and to reserve tickets, call 01702 308769.
*Our November Production: Table Manners by Alan Ayckbourn* Posted: Sunday 20th September 2009 Southend Drama Society are pleased to announce that their next production will be Table Manners by Alan Ayckbourn and directed by Graham Smerdon. Surrounding events at meal times in the dining room, the play focuses on an extended family who despise each other, while at the same time not being able to get enough of each other! Evening performances of Table Manners will take place from Wednesday 11th November through to Saturday 14th November. There will alsobe an afternoon matinee on Saturday.
*Keith Waterhouse 1929 - 2009* Posted: Saturday 5th September 2009 From BBC News: *'Author and playwright Keith Waterhouse has died "quietly in his sleep" at the age of 80, a spokeswoman has announced.* Waterhouse made his screenwriting debut on the 1961 film Whistle Down The Wind. But he remains best known for the 1959 novel Billy Liar - which was made into a critically acclaimed film starring Tom Courtenay in 1963. He was a prolific newspaper columnist and playwright with works including Mr and Mrs Nobody and the 1989 West End hit Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell. The play, based on the fellow journalist Jeffrey Bernard's weekly column in the Spectator magazine, was co-written with his frequent collaborator Willis Hall. Liar, the story of a daydreamer planning his escape from a job as an undertaker, went on to appear as part of the school syllabus.' Billy Liar was performed by Southend Drama Society in 2005. Our condolences to his family and friends.
*Lord Arthur Savile's Crime - Break a leg!!!* Posted: Tuesday 14th July 2009 With just one day to go before the curtain rises on Southend Drama Society's latest production, this is just a quick reminder that tickets are still available, so please do come along to see what promises to be a highly entertaining show. Good luck to everyone involved in the production - both on the stage and behind it.
*Lord Arthur Savile's Crime* Posted: Wednesday 24th June 2009 A CLASSIC Oscar Wilde story will be coming to the Dixon Studio stage with Southend Drama Society’s summer production of Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime. The costume comedy, set in 19th century London, tells of Lord Arthur’s struggle to fulfil a terrible destiny. The society, semi-finalists in the All England Theatre Festival, is hoping the play will prove to be as successful as its previous shows – Family Circles, Play It Again Sam and Don’t Dress for Dinner. Director Kay Banning said: “It is quite a long time since the society has performed a period play, and this is the first one that the society has presented at the Dixon studio. “It is a very amusing story and hopefully it will be attractive to the eye, as well as fun to watch.” Lord Arthur is happily awaiting his impending marriage to the beautiful Sybil Merton. However, her mother, Lady Julia, is less certain of her future son-in-law’s integrity. To be absolutely sure, she enlists the renowned palm reader Mr Podgers to examine Lord Arthur’s hand to verify he has told the truth about his past, and that he will be a suitable husband in the future. Unfortunately for the simple lord, Mr Podgers detects an awful secret – Fate dictates Arthur must commit a murder. Horrified by the shame such an act might bring upon Sybil, Arthur resolves the awful deed must be done before his marriage takes place a week later. Ably assisted by his loyal butler Baines and the manic anarchist Frederick Winkelkopf, Lord Arthur endeavours to bump off one of his many relatives with hilarious results. Kay added: “The last time that this particular play was performed by the Society was in June 1992 for the Southend Borough Centenary Festival, held at the Focus Youth Theatre. “Of that original cast, one is appearing in this production. Rick Fiore was then a very young man, whose first role with the society was the palmist, Mr Podgers, and he is appearing this time as the anarchist Herr Winkelkopf.” *Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime* will be performed at the Dixon Studio in the Palace Theatre, London Road, Westcliff, from Wednesday July 15 to Saturday, July 18. Evening performances start at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee beginning at 2.30pm. Tickets cost either £9 for Wednesday and the Saturday matinee or £11 at all other times. To book seats, call the Palace Theatre box office on 01702 351135.
*All England Drama Festival 2009* Posted: Wednesday 3rd June 2009 SOUTHEND Drama Society has been left with a shelf full of silverware, followings its successful run in a knockout theatre competition. The amateur group, based at Wesley Methodist Church, Leigh, was pipped at the post by a couple of points to a place in the final of the All England Theatre Festival, which is to be held this month. However, the group’s multi-award winning production of a one-act play – The Last Bread Pudding by Nick Warburton – picked up a final award for stage presentation at the eastern division semi final held recently at the Eastwood Studio Theatre at the Eastwood School, Rayleigh Road, Leigh. In all, the group has won six trophies for the performance which was guided by first-time director Darran Lebeter. These included: Best Stage Presentation at the Eastern semi-finals for a set created by John Greenfield and Charlie Mellor on May 23 Winning team Eastern area (east division) quarter final on April 25 Winning team at the Southend Festival on March 26 Best director for Darran Lebeter at the Southend Festival Best female performance for Samantha Lowe at the Southend Festival Best comedy at the Southend Festival. The group had only reached the Eastern semi-finals stage once before for its ground-breaking stage version of Ink and Incapability from the TV sitcom Blackadder in 2004. The full story of Southend Drama Society's success this year can be found here.
*Lord Arthur Savile's Crime* Posted: Wednesday 6th May 2009 With the Eastern division semi-final of the All England Theatre Festival just weeks away, Southend Drama Society are moving forward with plans for their next major summer production, which we are pleased to announce will be Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, a comedy by Constance Cox, based on a short story by Oscar Wilde. The production will take place at the Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, Westcliff from 15th to 18th July 2009 at 7.30pm. There will also be a matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday 18th July. Tickets for Wednesday 15th and the Saturday matinee will cost £9.00, all other performances will cost £11.00. The Palace Theatre Box Office number is 01702 351135 - book early to avoid disappointment.
*All England Drama Festival 2009* Posted: Sunday 26th April 2009 Southend Drama Society is celebrating once again after winning the latest round of a knockout theatre competition. The group is now through to the semi finals of the All England Theatre Festival with its production of the one-act comedy, The Last Bread Pudding by Nick Warburton. It is only the second time in the society’s history to have reached this stage of the prestigious contest, which pits amateur dramatics groups against each other in a head-to-head competition. The last time Southend Drama Society reached this stage of the festival was in 2004 with its ground-breaking stage version of Ink and Incapability from the TV sitcom Blackadder. Thanks to the ensemble efforts of the cast – Samantha Lowe, Paul Jennings, Carrie Groves, Peter Nawrat, Chloe Baum and Juliet and John Banks – the society has now won five trophies to its name. At the previous stage of the contest in March, Southend Drama Society won four awards including best director for Darran Lebeter, best female performance for Samantha Lowe and best comedy. The semi-final for the eastern division is scheduled to take place at the Eastwood Studio Theatre at the Eastwood School, Rayleigh Road, Leigh, on Saturday, May 23, starting at 6pm. The full story of Southend Drama Society's success this year can be found here.
*All England Drama Festival 2009* Posted: Sunday 29th March 2009 Oh what a night! No, we're not talking about the 1975 hit single by the Four Seasons, but the rather lucrative evening had by the cast and crew of Southend Drama Society's production of the Last Bread Pudding at this year's Southend Drama Festival! As is the tradition with this Festival, following a week of various drama groups performing their plays in front of an audience and the presiding adjudicator (this year it was Scott Marshall), the most stressful moment for all concerned comes on the Saturday night when the award nominees and winners are announced. This year was certainly no different. This year, we were nominated for a total of 9 awards, which is a remarkable achievement in itself. Of those 9, we won 4 - including the Ray Cooney Trophy for Best Team, which means we go through to the Eastern Area Final. Click here for details of who won what, along with pictures from the night. UPDATE 1: The report from Southend Arts Council has now been added. UPDATE 2: Coverage from the Southend Echo and Leigh Times has now been added.
Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) Posted: Sunday 29th March 2009 The Management Committee would like to advise all members that an EGM to present the final accounts for 2008 for approval will take place on Tuesday 31st March at 8.00pm at the Leigh Wesley.
*All England Drama Festival 2009* Posted: Sunday 22nd March 2009 As we enter the week of the Southend Drama Festival, Southend Drama Society are adding the finishing touches to their entry - The Last Bread Pudding by Nick Warburton and directed by Southend Drama Society's Chairman, Darran Lebeter. *The Last Bread Pudding* can be seen at the Eastwood Studio Theatre on Thursday 26th March. In the meantime, photos from the dress rehearsal can be seen here.
*All England Drama Festival 2009* Posted: Wednesday 11th March 2009 Preparations continue for Southend Drama Society's 2009 All-England Drama Festival entry. While the actors are hard at work developing their characters, the Southend Drama elves are working just as hard on developing the sets and costumes for the production. Everything is progressing well and we expect it to be a really good show.
*Congratulations, Mister President!* Posted: Friday 27th February 2009 Following this week's AGM, Southend Drama Society are pleased to announce that long-time member and ex-Chairman Frank McGrath OBE has been selected as President of Southend Drama Society. Congratulations, Frank - well deserved.
*All England Drama Festival 2009* Posted: Saturday 7th February 2009 With a new year comes another Southend Drama Festival, the first local round of the All England Theatre Festival 2009. As always, Southend Drama Society will be entering with the hope of building on previous successes! This year's Southend Drama Festival will be adjudicated by Scott Marshall. Monday 23rd - Saturday 28th March 2009, The Eastwood Studio Theatre, Rayleigh Road, Eastwood.
*Annual General Meeting* Posted: Saturday 7th February 2009 The Management Committee would like to advise all members that the Southend Drama Society Annual General Meeting will take place on Tuesday 24th February at 8.00pm at the Leigh Wesley. 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.
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