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2008 Entries: Babysitting Calvin and Hero

Southend Drama Society won the Best Comedy Award and the Adjudicator's Special Award last year. Again, we are submitting two plays for consideration in 2008 - our old favourite Babysitting Calvin by John Newmeir and directed by Danny Pavitt, along with Hero by Michael Lynch and directed by Mike Thompson.

Babysitting Calvin is an amusing tale of a young baby trying his best to protect his wife from his previous life from the clutches of a vile love rat!

Set in a small British casualty clearing station close to the lines on the Western Front in 1916, Hero concerns Private Ralph Underwood - a man nearing death from his wounds. He is cared for by young Nurse Penfold. As his death approaches the question arises whether charges should be laid against him for desertion and whether he should be allowed to defend himself. Dr Selkirk faces the dilemma of whether medical or military ethics should prevail. He is assisted in his final decision by the apparently inflexible Sister Hart. This play focusses on a question of values and ethics in the harrowing theatre of war.

Hero is being performed on the evening of Wednesday 12th March, while Babysitting Calvin can be seen the following evening on Thursday 13th March. Southend Drama Society member Sharon Goodman's entry, The Project or Antigone, the Modern Myth, can be seen on the 10th March.

2007 Entries: Blue Suede Blues and Sganarelle

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.

2006 Entry: Easy Stages

Written by N J Warburton and directed by Southend Drama Society's own Peter Nawratt, Easy Stages is a light hearted one act play that delves into the amusing backstage going-on of an amateur dramatics society.

Sounds familiar somehow...

2005 Entry: Rush to Judgement

Written by Southend Drama Society's own Brian Williams, Rush to Judgement is a challenging, original one-act play that encourages the audience to consider how quick we all can be to condemn others - before the true facts are known.

2004 Entries: Blackadder: Ink and Incapability and The Donahue Sisters

Following a highly successful run of Blackadder in 2003, Southend Drama Society have decided to submit one of the original three episodes they performed for consideration in this year's festival - "Ink and Incapability". The play, originally an episode from Blackadder's third BBC series, Blackadder the Third, is set in the Regency period and features such memorable characters as Prince George, Mrs Miggins and Dr Samuel Johnson.

The Donahue Sisters was written by Geraldine Aron. The story of three sisters who are reunited at their mother's funeral, and relive a horrific secret that occurred in the family attic many years before.

2003 Entries: Through The Gate and Babysitting Calvin

The first round of the annual amateur dramatics festival took place between 24th and 29th March at the Eastwood Studio Theatre, Rayleigh Road, Leigh. Through The Gate tells the tale of an man trying to come to terms with his past and reconcilling that past with a new love. Babysitting Calvin is an amusing tale of a young baby trying his best to protect his wife from his previous life from the clutches of a vile love rat!

2002 Entry: Between Mouthfuls
A play set in a restaurant. A waiter serves two dining couples whose personal lives deteriorate as the evening progresses.

2001 Entry: The Rose and Crown
The regulars of a local pub share the problems of their miserable daily lives and question the meaning of life - until Death arrives and refuses to leave alone.