Category Archives: News

CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER 2021

Hello everyone

After two years we have, at last, performed our first production after lockdown. What a successful return with “Lend Me A Tenor” by Ken Ludwig.

Congratulations to Lawrence and all those associated with the production which was extremely well received by our audiences.

The cast and backstage crew worked very hard through the rehearsals disrupted by COVID regulations and the need for cast members to self-isolate to create the eight wonderful performances!

Our grateful thanks and a BIG, BIG Thank You for your support go out to those members who donated and promoted the fundraising to friends and family, without this effort the Drama Club would have been in significant difficulty.

AUTUMN NEWSLETTER 2021

Hello everyone

It is exactly two years since we last performed, however we are all set with our first production after lockdown and we are so glad to be back.

Lawrence Chandler has taken on the comedy “Lend Me A Tenor” a play which we have done previously but which has been updated by the author, Ken Ludwig.  Evening performances will be Wednesday 17th to Friday 19th and Wednesday 24th to Friday 26th November 2021 at 7:30pm with Matinees at 2:00pm on Saturday 20th and Saturday 27th.

The cast and backstage crew have been busy since early September with rehearsals which have not gone altogether smoothly due to COVID regulations and the need for cast members to self-isolate due to infection of family and friends.  Currently everyone has the all clear!

SPRING NEWSLETTER 2021

Hello everyone

First of all – a very Happy Birthday to our President Enid who celebrated her birthday recently. We hope you had an enjoyable day.

Although we have been unable to meet in person, we have managed a few Zoom events for members including some readings of our own members’ offerings including Michelle Hope’s The Committee, a Baubles Update by Lawrence Chandler and Keith Irons’ Barneydale FM, episodes one and two of which we have now recorded and can be viewed via the club’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/gainforddramaclub.

Save Gainford Drama Club and the Academy Theatre

Save Gainford Drama Club and the Academy Theatre

https://gofund.me/c75762db

Open the link to make your donation

All amounts welcome, no matter how small

Thank you for your support!

2020 was the first year since 1949 that Gainford Drama Club did not stage a production. Because of lockdowns it has not been possible to use the theatre in any capacity, for rehearsals, performances or even social meetings. The Theatre cannot be used and even when lockdowns have been lifted, the size of the auditorium and adjoining rooms make social distancing, in accordance with government guidelines, difficult, with only approximately 15 to 20 seats being available. Because our major source of income comes through productions we, like other theatre groups, have been put in a serious financial situation.  As such we are looking to the generosity of our patrons and have set up a “Go Fund Me” appeal, for those who wish to continue their support for the Club. We hope it will not be long before we can once again host play readings in the theatre, even if socially distanced and we are drawing up the requirements for us to be able to re-commence rehearsals in 2021. Once again thank you for your support!

Newsletter November 2020

Who would have thought when we received the Teesdale Mercury Community Award for Contribution to the Arts this time last year that 2020 would be the first year since 1949 that we did not stage a production?

Equally, when I took over as Chairman of the Club in July 2020 we did not expect that in November we would be in a second lockdown with no prospect of using the theatre for rehearsals or performances for the rest of the year. Because of lockdown the Theatre cannot be used and even when that is lifted the size of the auditorium and adjoining rooms make social distancing, in accordance with government guidelines, difficult, with only approximately 15 to 20 seats being available.

So what has been happening and how can we move forward to get back on stage in 2021?

70th Anniversary Newsletter

We’ve Gone Digital

I hope 2019 is turning out to be a good year for you.  I just wanted to keep you all updated on what is happening with the club.  We have now successfully set up an on-line ticket system for booking your tickets and the ability to download them as an e-ticket or you can have them posted out to you.  Having just gone on-line to book 17 tickets myself it’s a really simple easy to use system.  Ticket sales are going well but we need to sell more as we have had declining ticket sales for the past few years.  Please go on line and book tickets we have had great feedback about the new system.  Just press the link below and you can do on-line or speak to them on the phone.  (Note there is a small booking fee but we have reduced the price of the ticket this time by 50p to account for this).

Summer Newsletter 2016

I hope you are all enjoying this summer weather it is long overdue.

Looking back our spring production, which now seems long past, was a very successful “Will You Still Love Me In The Morning”.  This was directed by Lawrence Chandler, and this play introduced Alistair Burn, treading the GDC boards for the first time, as well as two new members, Melissa Rawlings and Jo Leversuch, helping back stage.

For a while we have talked about the possible effects of the Darlington road closure on ticket sales. It does seem to have had an effect, as the last two plays, both were on after the road was reopened, showed a significant improvement in seat occupancy, at 84 and 91 % respectively.

Newsletter September 2015

Hope you all had a good summer and hopefully found some sun.

The next production for autumn has now been cast and rehearsals start next week. The play will be “The Game’s Afoot” by Ken Ludwig, a comedy mystery which won the Edgar Allen Poe Award as the best mystery play in 2012.  Tom Brown is making his directing debut and cast includes, Allan Jones, Iris Hillery, Lawrence Chandler, Maria Lowcock, Jo Longstaff, Michelle Hope, Ronnie Lowery and newest member, Aiden West.  It will run between 18th and 28th  November and once again the first Saturday will be a matinee performance.   As usual, your help is needed, just let us know if you’re willing to assist backstage, front of house, set building, etc.

Looking ahead we need to put in place the directors for the next two 2016 plays so if you would be willing to direct either the Spring or Autumn productions, please contact Ronnie or myself.  This is open to any member so please have a think about it and let us know.

We now have  a new social secretary, Michelle Hope, and she is in need of your talent for the club’s social event a Talent Night on 16th October so please don`t hide it come and strut your stuff.  Let Michelle know if you would like to perform, or just come along for the night and enjoy the talent, your support is needed either way.

Plans for next year, we are hoping to refurbish the theatre with new seating when the Darlington Civic Theatre carry out their major improvements and, hopefully, once again we can purchase their old seating.  For this reason we will be selling programmes again to help boost the coffers!  We would also like to obtain sponsors for the programmes so if any members have contacts please let us know.

I hope this will put you in the picture as to our Club’s plans and, don’t forget we do need to hear from you all with your ideas, suggestions, offers of help etc.

Best wishes

John Lowery

SPRING NEWSLETTER 2015

Blithe Spirit our spring production, directed by Alan Jones, was a great success and saw the introduction of several new members.  On stage we had two new members making their debut for the club, Michelle Hope and Jo Longstaff, and backstage Aiden West and Rob Smith.  They all proved to be great assets to the Club during the production.  The Saturday matinee again proved to be very popular, overall we had 565 people who watched the play, and judging from the many comments, thoroughly enjoyed it.

The autumn production will be directed by Tom Brown and play readings have already started to help Tom choose a play.  The next play reading will be on Monday 11th May,7.30 pm, in the Green Room.    

Iris Hillery is planning a Talent Night as a club social event on Friday 9th October.   We know we have many talented people in the Club so please don`t “hide your light under a bushel” come and “strut your stuff”.

We are trying hard to publicise the Club and its activities via social media adding to our existing website.   We have now added Facebook pages, one for members only and an open page to get our message out there, so please have a look at them and contribute them. 

DURHAM DALES FESTIVAL FOR PERFORMING ARTS:

We have been approached to see if the club would wish to join in a festival.  An extract from an e- mail is as follows:-

 “We are currently working towards setting up a festival in the area and wondered if this might be of interest?  As well as our own two productions (COSI FAN TUTTE and the rock musical – ! – BEOWULF), which we would love people to join, the main idea is for any groups and other performers to put on shows under the umbrella of the Festival: drama groups/comedians/orchestras/dance schools…  Perhaps groups have performed i n their local villages and could do a ‘swop’ with others; thereby getting extra enjoyment out of their hard work and doubling entertainment opportunities for their audiences.

The Festival will take place over the first two weeks of August (in the hope that should it be something people enjoyed sufficiently to want to do it again, perhaps we could tempt visitors to Edinburgh to make a detour – thinking ahead a little!)”

If anybody thinks this is a good idea for the Club to take part at this festival, please let me know.

Gainford Big Weekend, in June, are having a scarecrow competition.  It might be fun if we created a Drama Club scarecrow (could we put it outside the Theatre?).  Would anyone be up for helping produce one?   Please let we know.

Well that’s all for now!

John  

Play Readings

In order to decide on our Spring production we will be undertaking a couple of play readings in the Green room of the Academy Theatre on Monday, 8th December.

Allan Jones will be directing the spring production, play and dates to be arranged, so he will need to know who will be available.  If you would like to be considered for a part in the next play but can’t make the reading, please let me or Allan know.

Also, the following Monday (15th), same time and place, we are having our Christmas get-together, with a play reading, mulled wine and mince pies.  Again, let us know if you can’t make it!

If you are interested and would like to become involved with Gainford Drama Club, why not contact us and come along.