Private Peaceful – the NODA review

Merlin Beedell/ / WYTKids

This moving story of a First World War soldier by Michael Morpurgo is translated into a powerful, thought-provoking drama performed by the Wadhurst Youth Theatre group, WYTKidz, directed by Amanda Dann.

Our local rep of the “National Operatic and Dramatic Association” (NODA) was very touched by the performance as can be seen in her: Private Peaceful NODA Review



‘Private Peaceful‘ is the story of a 16 year old, First World War soldier, Tommo Peaceful, who is awaiting the firing squad at dawn.  The night before, he relives his joyful childhood at school, his adventures with Molly, the love of his life, and the injustices of the war that brought him to the front line.

 

The three performances were on:
·         Friday 16th November at 7.30pm
·         Sunday 18th November 1.30pm and at 6.30pm

 

 

AGM 2017 – The results

Merlin Beedell/ / Meetings

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.

Hairspray the musical – Read the Review!

Merlin Beedell/ / WYTKids

The Noda review is now in! Photos and NODA Report

A vibrant and talented young cast will be taking to the Commemoration Hall stage at the end of October to bring you the scintillating and funny 60s musical, ‘Hairspray’.

In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, plump teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance programme. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight, and meets a colourful array of characters, leading to social change as she campaigns for the show’s integration.
In 2003 the show won eight Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical, out of 13 nominations. It ran for 2,642 performances, and closed on January 4, 2009. Hairspray was adapted in 2007 as a musical film and also had a London West End production nominated for a record-setting eleven Laurence Olivier Awards, winning four including Best New Musical.

 

Tickets: £8 for adults, £5 for under 18s, £25 family ticket (2 adults & up to 3 children) – available from the beginning of October on TicketSource or from Southern Cross Travel on Wadhurst High St (right next to the Commem).
Special rates for groups of 10 or more – please contact Catherine c.m.whitehead@btinternet.com or on 01892 783384.
Performances start at 7.30pm on Thursday 26th, Friday 27th and Saturday 28th with a matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday 28th October.  Doors and bar open half an hour before curtain up.

We’ll have you dancing in the aisles, you’ll come away singing and wowed by the young talent we have in Wadhurst!

“Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!” The NODA Review!

Merlin Beedell/ / Productions

“Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!”
The play, by Nobel prize-winning Dario Fo, is a combination of comedy and satire. A spontaneous demonstration by women against rising prices ends in a riot and mass theft. Crazy disasters pile on each other as Antonia and Margherita try to conceal from their husbands what they have stolen by pretending to be miraculously pregnant and try to convince a sceptical police inspector that all the local women are celebrating the feast of St. Eulalia, the patron saint of fertility. This leads to characters eating dog food, making soup from strange ingredients, hiding in coffins and a Maoist police sergeant following Giovanni and Luigi’s lead and looting goods from a jack-knifed lorry.
The comedy is fast and furious with an undertone of real pathos and contains some coarse language.

See the Full Programme and Review for the production that took place on Thursday 18th, Friday 19th and Saturday 20th May, starting at 7.45pm.

 

Platinum Platitudes

Merlin Beedell/ / Productions

A huge “Well Done” to the Platinum Review performers and crew. It was a fabulous show, and so many of the audience said lovely things in praise.  Some even said it was the best thing they had seen at the commem. Hopefully we can post some photos and video soon.

Website Outage Apology – If you had recently tried to access this web site, you would have noticed that it showed a horrible error message.  As you can see, this has finally been resolved. Lets hope it does no happen again!

Arms and a Man – Auditions: Tuesday 7th June at 8pm in the Orchard Room (that is the red door down the left side of the commem hall). Click here for more details

Platinum 70th Anniversary Revue in May 2016…

Merlin Beedell/ / Productions

Wadhurst Dramatic Club is 70 years old this year!  To celebrate we are looking for singers, dancers, actors, stand-up comics, magicians, instrumentalists, bands, entertainers, monologue performers story tellers and jugglers.  …If you have been waiting for the chance to bring your ventriloquism act to the stage – this could be it!! If you’d like to take part, either email Russ on russ.kirton@zestica.org.uk or pop into the Commemoration Hall on Sunday 7th February 2pm till 5pm and let us know what you can bring to the party!  If you can give us a flavour of your act on the day, so much the better. Everyone is welcome so please share this open invitation to be part of the 70th birthday party with a difference – platinum with attitude!

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