Drama

Archway Theatre

Membership of the Archway Theatre Club entitles you to buy tickets for our productions and to use the club bar. About 800 club members receive newsletters providing details of each production with booking details, and containing other information about the Theatre. Membership is £10 per year. For further details please contact Club membership enquires on 01293 820597. The Company's origins date back to 1939, although it was not until 1952 that performances were given here in the archways under the road to Horley railway station. Over the years, we have built up an enviable reputation for high quality productions, the ten plays in our main programme each running for ten performances, with more for our "panto" slot in January, and three special performances by 80 8-16 year-old members of our Youth Workshop each June. With our exciting plans for the Studio Theatre we are constantly looking for new members to assist with all aspects of the theatre. If you have what it takes to become part of this progressive non-professional theatre company of about 150 aged 16-90 then contact Company membership enquiries on 01825 791292

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Banstead and Nork AOS (OI)

Banstead and Nork Amateur Operatic Society has been established since 1928, it is a thriving and friendly group of singers, dancers and actors from all walks of life. They perform two productions each year; the spring show is a fully staged musical in May at either Epsom Playhouse or the Adrian Mann Theatre whilst the autumn production is usually a pantomime or variety show at Banstead Community Hall late autumn. Recent shows have included "Calamity Jane", "Crazy for You", “Blitz”, “Oliver” and “Sugar”. This friendly group welcomes new members both on stage and back stage. There is an active social side. Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings at 8pm at the Nork Community Centre, Nork Way, Banstead, and principals on Thursdays 8-10pm. For the younger performers they have a Junior Section of the Company called BANJOS. For details of all BANAOS activities see the website www.banaos.org.uk . The Membership Secretary is Carole Daniels on 020 8643 1084.

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The Barn Theatre

The Barn Theatre, purpose built as a local community theatre, was opened in 1924. It is largely constructed of timbers from a local 15th Century saw-mill barn and still serves its original purpose of linking the town of Oxted and the village of Limpsfield to provide a venue for social events. It now hosts plays, musical evenings and a variety of other entertainments by resident and non-resident local societies. Some international celebrities have 'trodden the boards' at the Barn over the years. In the early days Dame Flora Robson, Anna Wing, Lady Violet Bonham-Carter, Dame Eileen Joyce, Randolph Churchill, Christopher Fry and Michael Tippett and recently Ray Allen and Lord Charles, Roy Castle, Ronnie Corbett, Richard Stilgoe and Jimmy Tarbuck have entertained audiences.

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BODS

BODS was established in 1937. Since then, the Society has presented a wide range of highly praised operettas, musicals, “Olde Tyme” music-halls, dramas and comedies. Recent productions have included 'My Fair Lady”, “No, No Nanette”, “Patience”, “Ruddygore”, “The Mikado”, “Christopher Columbus” (music by Offenbach), “The Cemetery Club”, 'Move Over Mrs. Markham” and “Blythe Spirit”. BODS also founded what is now known as the Southern Counties Drama Festival. The Society operates in Betchworth Village Hall, just off the A25, between Reigate and Dorking. It is famed for its friendly atmosphere and warm welcome to newcomers both on– and off-stage. Please contact the Membership Secretary on 01737 270768.

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Chipstead Players

Founded in 1924, The Chipstead Players have a long history of presenting plays in Chipstead. With a current membership exceeding 300, including a thriving junior section, they produce five full-length plays each season. Although their primary aim is to encourage and promote the art of acting and stagecraft, they also have an active social events calendar. The group has its own premises in Hazelwood Lane, Chipstead including the modern, professionally equipped Courtyard Theatre. If you would like to join – to act, work backstage, or as a supporting member, please contact the Membership Secretary on 01737 555680.

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Gatton Community Theatre

Gatton Community Theatre Ltd is a registered charity that exists to create large scale, participatory theatre events by and for communities in Surrey. Its productions take place once every eighteen months. The use of unusual or unexpected locations plays a key part in GTC productions and it operates a truly representative community organisation. In previous productions performers aged in range from 4 years to over 80 years and actors and musicians came from many diverse backgrounds. The company seeks to expand members’ professional training and development in a wide range of theatre skills and employs professional artistic directors to workshop, devise and direct its productions with a professional technical team. There are no restrictions on membership of the company, we do not charge a fee to belong or participate and it is open to all who are interested in performing arts and would like to become involved - either as cast member, backstage support or steward. Contact Maggie Kippen, tel: 01737 832757

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MADS

Merstham Amateur Dramatic Society (MADS) was founded back in 1930 (when believe it or not, rehearsals were conducted in evening dress!) and revived very successfully after the Second World War. We went on to become one of the foremost Amateur Societies in the area, performing at least twice a year at our home, the purpose-built little theatre which is Merstham Village Hall. The opening of the Harlequin Theatre in Redhill brought new challenges and it is always a valuable experience for amateurs to perform on a professional stage. In order to keep up with changing times, we have presented nine productions there, starting with “Tom Jones” in 1993 and culminating in the Autumn of 2005 with a highly-acclaimed production of “The Heiress” by Henry James. We are a friendly Society, with a ‘professional’ outlook on our productions and we always strive for a high standard which has our audiences coming back for more. We don’t neglect our roots, however, and have now returned to the newly refurbished Merstham Village Hall. Contact: Jackie Curran on 01737 822430 or curran55@tiscali.co.uk for more Merstham ADS information. MADS on the MOVE is the part of Merstham ADS which provides daytime live drama performances. Since the summer of 2002 we have been taking rehearsed one act play readings, sketches, etc. out into the community and this has provided a 2 fold benefit. It entertains people who are unable to go to the theatre and it gives our members a chance to act without having to learn lines! New participants are always welcome but must be available in the daytime to rehearse and perform. Visit us at www.mersthamdrama.org.uk Contact: Barbara Garton on 01342 713061 or barbara@glencourt.co.uk for more MADS on the MOVE information

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Miller Centre Players

This company operates out of the Miller Centre in Caterham where it uses a fully-equipped 200-seat raked theatre. The Players funded a £125,000 refurbishment to equip the theatre with state-of-the-art lighting and sound plus a stage revolve. MCP has about 240 members and currently stages nine productions a year, each running for nine days. Rehearsals are usually Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with occasional Sundays. On alternate years MCP takes a production to the Minack Festival in Cornwall. Players have their own scenery workshop and rehearsal studio as well as a very large wardrobe department which makes most of the costumes for its productions and also hires out costumes to other societies. Recently described by the editor of Amateur Stage as "the envy of both professional and amateur theatre practitioners who have seen it grow into what it is today."

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Oxted Players - TOPS

The Society was formed under the name of Student Players in 1946 and perform at The Bam Theatre, Bluehouse Lane, Oxted.   We have at least 2 plays each year plus a very popular Pantomime each January. We also regularly participate in the Betchworth Festival.   Our membership spans ages 8 to 80 plus. In the summer we organise a professionally run workshop for our junior members when they present their own play. In alternate years we also have a Junior Production.   We welcome anyone interested in all areas of stage productions. Contact Pat Brown on 01342 893522.

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POLESDON LACEY SHAKESPEARE

Polesden Lacey Shakespeare was created at the end of 2008. The National Trust at Polesden Lacey for many decades had funded the annual summer performances of Shakespeare’s works in the Open Air Theatre at the property. Having reviewed the productions they were putting on at the summer festival, it was decided that they would not continue to budget for the work but would ask those who had looked after the artistic side previously to budget and run all aspects of the production . Margaret Hunter an experienced festival director agreed to produce ‘ A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and organised a small team from across East Surrey to assist. We drew our actors stage staff and constructors from, Reigate Banstead, Mole Valley and around the edges of East Surrey.

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WODS

As a result of a group of people getting together to raise money for a new Village Hall some 30 years ago Woodmansterne Operatic & Dramatic Society was formed. From initial modest revues, we now stage major musicals - recent successes include Annie Get Your Gun and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, as well as occasional plays or Revues / Old Time Music Hall with traditional fish and chip suppers. Our productions are staged at St. Peter’s Church Hall where we design, build and paint all our own sets. A storage facility/workshop unit has recently been added to allow current production scenes to be worked on throughout the full rehearsal period. WODS now has around 60 members, many of whom come from a much wider area.In addition our flourishing Junior Section, who stage a (usually home-written) pantomime each February, celebrates its own 25th anniversary in 2006. New members are always welcome for either (or both) performing or back stage roles and various social activities. For more details, please contact Mr Tony Heal on 020 8407 3011.

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