Category: Meetings

This year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) saw us saying “farewell” to our committee Chair, Marianne Johnson; and secretary, Jane Austin. WDC are enormously indebted to them both for their significant efforts to shepherd the rest of the committee into a coherent shape as well as being all round great people.

Taking their place we welcome the amazing Amanda Dann as Chair, and Xan Kite as Secretary. Both are fabulous actors and have been treading the Wadhurst boards for many years now. With Russ Kirton (Treasurer) they have been busy writing and directing, filming and generally heroically piecing together another ‘Zoom’ collective play… to be released soon-ish.

I can’t remember the dates when John and Ann moved out to the Netherlands and when they came back  so can’t say when he actually created the increasingly sophisticated lighting and sound systems in the Hall.  But they have been a godsend for the Dramatic Club and for Wadhurst.

The Music Halls I devised with Hugh certainly challenged JB and he always rose to the occasion. Helping with the rising man-sized balloon was one!  I remember especially the back-lighting for the shadow drama with Frank Creasy.   “I can’t do it.”  “Oh yes you can!”, replied Hugh Orchard. And of course  he did.  The sounds of wind, screams, telephones, sea gulls, door bells, crashing china etc

Another huge success was the lighting for the Son et Lumière in the Parish Church (2000)  when he set up lighting outside, beyond the windows of the altar, and gradually, as we listened to the Bruch Concerto the lights dimmed until only a small part of the stained glass was lit.  Very moving.  Quite a few sniffs and hankies!

He always worked hard to support stage managers and props.
Every Dramatic Club needs a John Bush.

The Dramatic Club presented John with the pictured “Ladder man Award”

The Wadhurst Dramatic Club’s AGM will take place on the 10th February at 7:30pm in the Commemoration hall. If you wish to continue to see local people, young and old, expanding their horizons while entertaining others on stage in Wadhurst then please try to attend the AGM.

Click here to access the following items:

• AGM Agenda
• Nomination Form
• Minutes of the Last Annual General Meeting
• WDC Rules and Constitution – for approval at the AGM.

Join us at our Annual General Meeting when we discuss ideas for the future – we’d welcome your input.

Wednesday 13th Feb 2019 at 7:45 in the Commemoration Hall

Without a new Commemoration Hall on the horizon, we need to look at how we can improve and enhance the performance, rehearsal and storage space that we have – so anyone with ideas is very welcome to come along.  In this past year, we’ve invested in new sound, light and stage equipment, so we have a very real contribution to make.
We are a very inclusive drama club, we don’t have members, so all supporters are welcome at all our events.  We are looking at restructuring the committee to try and broaden the contribution while reducing the individual workload, so there is plenty of opportunity for involvement without too much commitment.  If you’d be prepared to our friendly committee, just click reply to this email. we’d love to hear from you. And of course there’ll be nibbles and drinks to toast the success of ‘Allo ‘Allo, W.O.T.T., Private Peaceful and Bah Humbug! and to welcome in the next dramatic year!

At the end of November we had a good ol’ catch up and not only reviewed 2017 but looked forward to 2018 and beyond. We celebrated our two Accolades of Excellence awarded by NODA South East Region for WYTKidz’ Grease and WDC’s Way Out West In A Dress. John Bush, our president, presented the NODA certificates to the respective directors, Amanda Dann and Kay Sasada. They will hang on our new picture rail in the Orchard Room.
The elected committee are John Bush (President), Jan Lynam (Chair), Marianne Johnson (Treasurer), Catherine Whitehead (Vice Chair), Jill Haskell (Minutes Secretary), Dot Smytherman, Amanda Dann, Anneka Bones, Merlin Beedell, Russ Kirton, James Edwards, Paul Desrosiers and Penny Bones.