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Back in 1963 the BRAMCOTE HILLS
DRAMA GROUP consisted of John Smee, Rene Nicholls, Jan Thacker, Frank Thacker,
Betty Jones, Phillip Willey, Joyce Gillard, John Seely, Alan Husbands and Val
Christian. They decided to produce two one-act plays in the erroneous belief
that it would be easier than one three-act play. Encouraged by the response
and augmented by Betty Grimley and Lou Hess they went on from strength to strength.
Val and Lou are still active members 36 years on. Plays were performed at Bramcote
Secondary School (now called The Park) with tickets at 3/6d each, moving to
Alderman White School, Foxwood School, back to The Park and for the last few
years to Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton.
The Group quickly joined NANDA
(Nottingham and Notts Drama Association), entering their Festivals for three-act
and oneact plays. Prizes were awarded for best actress (Val Christian)
and costume (Spring 1600 and Daisy Pulls It Off), and others over the years.
NANDA also runs a competition for new plays, when the finalists have the opportunity
to see their new play performed by volunteer groups, and the group has readily
accepted this challenge on several occasions, and has even managed to stage
the winning play/sketch at times.
By 1983 the group felt the need
to expand, as did the Stanton Drama Club, and six joint productions were staged.
In 1985 the two groups decided to amalgamate as the BRAMCOTE AND STANTON DRAMA
GROUP. It has remained so ever since, producing two three-act plays annually.
The group has staged plays of
many styles, from classics (The Importance of Being Ernest), domestic (Spring
& Port Wine), sporty (Outside Edge), ancient Greek (Rape of the Belt), Elizabethan
(Spring 1600), anti-war (Not with a Bang), Sherwood Forest (Robin of Sherwood),
especially written by Joyce Gillard, Dickensian
(Christmas Carol), comedy/farce
(Off the Hook) and one long revue (Time Pieces).
There are some memorable after show parties in members' homes, car treasure
hunts, barbecues and fund-raising events such as coffee mornings and even hiring
once of a market stall. Friendships started on stage have grown into ordinary
life.
People sometimes wonder what 'kind'
of person joins a drama group ... It is teachers, lecturers, administrators,
head teachers, magistrates, electricians, scientists, civil servants, students,
nurses, secretaries, housewives and even ex-professional footballers (Brian
Bates is still an active member). Admittedly, not all want to act, but that
is useful because there is plenty of scope for set design/building/painting,
for lighting, sound props and front of house people. Joyce Gillard and Neil
Mackintosh have also written plays for us. Another member made the news in 1983
by being the loath heart transplant patient; he lived actively for another ten
years.
My own particular interest is
in Props which is anything the actor carries on or uses on stage. We have provided
or made things from fresh herrings (Fringe Benefits), sardines (Noises Off),
a mock banquet (Wind in the Willows), a real banquet (Not with a Bang), a puppet
theatre (Season's Greetings), champagne that had to 'pop' on stage and even
a sarcophagus (Bride and the Bachelor).
There really is never a dull moment
in the group. We have staged revues in local Old People's Homes many times and,
on one memorable occasion, at Lowdham Borstal, where the boys provided a feast
of jam sandwiches and cocoa as a reward.
In spite of the heavy cost of
staging plays, there is much enthusiasm for the future. Fundraising is high
on the agenda, and a car boot sale is planned. Frances Otter, who first directed
a play for Bramcote Hills Drama Group in 1966, will direct the next one in December
1999 at the Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton.
We must thank those few people who, in 1963, had the
vision to start the first Drama Group. |
