Having been knocked sideways after the last play, Anne would have been among the first to insist that ‘the Show must go on’ .

Therefore it is time to announce, and crack on with, the Summer production.

Dorchester Drama will be proud to present a couple of single act plays.

Out for the Count: – The Count, newly arrived from Transylvania at Dr. Sewer’s asylum, is hungry for more than Bridget’s fruit cup or Constance’s bloody Mary! Thwarted by a cross shaped birthmark and hounded by the Professor, the Count enlists obnoxious Rennet to help and nearly defeats the Professor and young Jonathan. But all have reckoned without Bridget’s escargots.

The Witches of Prestwick:- Three members of a local amateur dramatic society are rehearsing their roles as the witches in ‘the Scottish play’, with varying levels of competence. Bev, the ablest actress, has taken her role a bit too seriously and has been researching witchcraft to lend plausibility to her performance. Goaded by Jan and Lou, she gives them a crash course in magic!

Dates will be Thurs 28^th  and Friday 29^th July (and possibly Saturday 30^th of July also).

Venue is to be decided.

The Ladies of Dorchester Drama have been out buying hats, not for a wedding, but for the latest production “Ladies Day” by Amanda Whittington.

“Work, love and life are just one long hard slog for the fish filleting foursome Pearl, Jan, Shelley and Linda. But their fortunes are set to change when Linda finds tickets to Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot the year it relocated to York. Out go the hairnets, overalls and wellies, as the four ditch work, do themselves up to the nines and head off for a drink, a flirt and a flutter. If their luck holds, they could hit the jackpot – and more besides!”

Meanwhile, downstairs, other Dorchester Drama members are getting together for a drink or two and to read through some other scripts, from Ayckbourn to Coward and beyond.

If you fancy joining in, helping out with the play or just the social side, come along to the Victoria pub in Dorchester on Monday evenings, 7:30ish for the next few months.

Another cracking social evening, with members past, present and friends.

See a selection of photos below from the various skits and entertainment prepared for the evening. Having had to miss the evening myself, I can only hazard a guess as to what some members are up to…

Rehearsals are needing bigger spaces as we’re running the full play, so we’ve got the chance to mock up the set dimensions. This gives the Actors a feel for the space they will be performing in. It also gives the Techies a chance to try to spot problems before the Tech rehearsal.

Last night we spent some time putting together the fight scene. Here’s a little taster.

The Children (& Dee) have been practising some dance routines as well. The children have a variety of different roles,  here, they’re ducks dabbling.

Publicity is out there, please spread the word around as much as possible and come to see the play. Watch out for some of the cast members handing out leaflets in town on Saturdays in costume as well. All help welcome.

19th November, our opening night, is now less than a month away. Rehearsals are at full momentum and often interspersed with costume fittings.

There’s too many cast to list here fully, but the main characters are going to be played by:

• Toad – Lee Stroud
• Mole – Ann Ottaway
• Ratty – Ian Farley
• Badger – Mike Staddon
• Chief Weasel – Fran Sansom

There is also a whole host of weasels, field mice and other creatures that I’ll give credit too when I can.

The Directors are Dee Thorne & Lee Stroud.

We are still desperate for help behind the scenes and Front of House. We’re also hoping to get donations for raffle prizes as well. Anything you can help with please give us a call.

Tickets – Hold Fire, tickets are being printed and should be available next week, after half term. There will be a booking number to call for tickets, 01305 268692. You will also be able to buy tickets from Trinity Stores in Trinity St.

We’re doing 4 performances, 19th November 7:00pm, 20th November 7:00pm, 21st November 2:00pm & 7:00pm.

All performances will be at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester.

Prices will be £9 in advance or £10 on the door. All children’s tickets will be £6.

The next couple of weeks, 26th Aug & 2nd Sep, we will be meeting at Sunninghill main hall /Trinity Parish centre (where we put on Generations Apart) at 7:30pm to read through and cast ‘Toad of Toad Hall’.

Trinity Parish Centre – Culliford Road North, Dorchester. DT1 1QG

Apologies for the delayed update, Summer is always bedlam around here.

And lastly, huge Thanks to David who’s sent us footage of ‘Jeeves in Bloom’, performed by Dorchester Drama in 2013.

After last weeks workshop on ‘how to not act’ ( a lot harder than it sounds….), tonight we had our summer social evening.

An evening with a light buffet (mainly cakes, though thanks to Jonny for providing us with some salad so there was the odd vitamin) and home spun entertainment.

Alastair gave us a couple of his excellent monologues, complete with sound effects…

Billie gave us an alternative version of ‘Little Red Riding Hood’….

Colin and Jonny gave us ‘Fork Handles’…..

Anne opened a Fete for us, dripping with sarcastic wit….

Peter reviewed a very mediocre play brilliantly, delivering compliments which possibly showed that he’s had to do the same thing for real?

Maggie gave us the Family renowned version of the ‘Chubbly’ joke….

Andy gave us a version of some Hardy stripped to 30 seconds…

And Dee finished off with a demonstration on how to bake a cake, in true  Keith Floyd fashion, with liberal amounts of Chardonnay.

A little improvised dance by Olivia in the middle and some more cake…..

Next week is the AGM at the Colliton Club. 7:30pm.

The committee will be looking for some more members to help support them over the next year. Please come along if you can. If you can spare some time to be on the committee, even better. We are looking for another secretary and treasurer, plus other members.

Remember, the group cannot run without your support.

Cracking last night for the play. Thanks to everyone who came to see it and laughed in all the right places, and some of the wrong ones. Check out the gallery page for the latest photos.

Huge apologies to Dee Thorne, who we left off the programme and thankyou’s. She worked hard gathering costumes and, you know the knife that killed Penworthy, Yes, that was all Dee’s creation with some help from her husband. Sorry again. promise to do better in future.

So what now?. Well over the next few weeks and months we are running a few events. Keep an eye on the website, twitter and facebook for more updates. Dates below.

• Play readings at Sunninghill Community Hall on Wednesdays at 7.30 pm.  Starting this week, Wednesday 26^th November.  This isn’t a commitment to anything, it’s an evening out with some like-minded people, reading a few plays and enjoying a coffee.  We’d love to see you. Open to non members.

• Christmas Fun and Games  at the Colliton Club.  Monday 8^th December 7.00- 7.30pm start to be confirmed.  An evening of light-hearted competition and perhaps the odd bevvy.  All welcome, children, friends and non-members.  Come and join our pre-Christmas gathering. Have a go at a quiz or just come to catch up.

• Christmas Meal.  Friday 9^th January. Members only I’m afraid. OK so it’s a Post-Christmas Meal, but it’s going to be good. We are going to be at the Engine Room, Poundbury Garden Centre– just us, with Jess running the Bar.  This means, that as well as a great meal, we get to do what we want.  So dust off your party pieces, your favourite skit, the poem you learnt at school, get the kids to practise a song.  Of course, you can just come along, enjoy a meal and watch the rest of us have a go – if you want to!  Just come along, the more the merrier.  Further details to follow soon, but let us know if you’re interested.