New members are always welcome!
Amateur Dramatics is (arguably) the most sincere “team” activity there is, where the cast and crew are all pulling together to give the best production we can, and having a great time doing it – all because we love theatre. We are always welcoming new members, whether on stage or doing the many “backstage” activities needed to stage a show.
Don’t worry if you don’t know what’s involved – we’ll give you training where necessary and full support. It’s a great way to get out of the house gain a new hobby, great experience and meet new people.
Rehearsals take place between 8.00pm and 10.00pm (September to April) on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Thelwall Parish Hall (opposite the Pickering Arms). If you’re interested in joining us, you’re welcome to come along and meet us at rehearsals.
Fancy Joining Us?
If you wish to join us then please fill out the membership form which is available to download on the Membership page. You can see more information and also download the form by clicking “Membership” to the left. Yearly cost for members is £10, which goes towards the insurance of you being a member. If you would like to ask us any questions, feel free to contact us, or join us at a rehearsal.
So what goes on?
The simple answer – dramatics. We put plays on. Three a year. A selection of comedies, thrillers, farces and pantomimes. The public sees the actors on stage, but there’s much more to the performance than meets the eye.
Cast
The cast members main responsibility is to learn their lines and moves for their part within the play. It is important that they turn up to as many rehearsals as possible to help everyone else. They will have to become their character and sort their costumes and any personal props they would have. It is important that they liaise with any of the technical team regarding issues such as props. The cast is the main responsibility of the Director/ Producer.
Director/Producer
This person has overall responsibility for the play up until the opening night, when he or she, with a sigh of relief, hands control over to the Stage Manager.
Stage Manager
The stage manager (SM) will be the one who sits in the wings making sure the curtains open and close when they should, that the actors are there ready for their entrances and the whole production runs smoothly. It’s quite a responsible job, which means the SM also has an Assistant.
Assistant Stage Manager
The Assistant Stage Manager (ASM) its in the opposite wing to assist the SM for jobs and cues that happen on that side of the stage. Luckily, by the wonders of modern technology (walkie-talkies) the SM and the ASM are in constant contact, and are also in touch with Sound and lighting.
Sound and Lighting
There’s usually one person in control of the lights and another in charge of the sound. Lighting is done by technical equipment such as a lighting dimmer desk. We have sound equipment ranging from mini-desk and CD (for the technophobes) to a laptop computer based system, and again it’s about following the script and clicking a mouse in the right places. Full training is provided for both sets of equipment if members wish to take on a new role within the Society.
Prompt
The prompt sits near the stage going through the script line by line ready to utter a few words of the next line so as to keep the play running smoothly. No actors like getting prompts, and everyone will deny they needed one afterwards, but we’re all human and it happens. The more alert the prompt is, the less the audience will notice anything amiss.
Properties and Set
These individuals are in charge of all the props, furniture and set changes for a show. The better they are at their job, the shorter the “closed curtain” intervals between scenes are. We usually nominate a “Props” and an “Assistant Props”. This is a good job to assist with when you are a new member.
Front of House
“Front of House” staff are one of the main backbones to the show; the show wouldn’t go on without them! We need someone on the door to welcome the audience as they arrive, to take their tickets, to sell sweets and raffle tickets, to draw the raffle after the interval, to make refreshments. It’s also important to have someone directing traffic in the car park.