VE Day 80th Anniversary and Commemoration
Wild Goose Chase
Winfrith Drama Group’s production – “Wild Goose Chase”, written by Derek Benfield.
The show was performed as a radio play on Friday 24th January and Saturday 25th January 2025 in Winfrith Newburgh Village Hall.
𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙡𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧-𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙡 𝙨𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙪𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙟𝙚𝙬𝙚𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙩 – 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 – 𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙡𝙚. 𝙎𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙨, 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙜𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙚.
Lockdown in Little Grimley
In a time of lockdown, Little Grimley Amateur Dramatic Society’s Chairman, Gordon, calls an emergency meeting, complete with social distancing, to discuss his idea for their next production when restrictions ease – a touching love story set in a hospital, with all profits destined for the NHS. But based on their previous efforts, will the NHS actually end up worse off?
“Lockdown” is the latest addition to the popular Little Grimley series, which follows the antics of a hapless Amateur Dramatic Society desperate for audiences, but lacking in numbers, taste and talent.
The Arabian Nights
Directed by Susan Bessant
| Scriptwriter |
| Stage Manager |
| Assistant Stage Manager |
| Lighting & Sounds |
| Scenery Painting |
| Prompt |
| Music and lyrics |
| Additional lyrics |
| Sounds and music production |
| Costumes |
| Choreography |
| Children’s choreography |
| Make-up |
| Refreshments |
| Front of House |
| Bookings |
| Neal Smith |
| Rab Parish |
| James Bland |
| Richard Markham Pat Boland |
| Susan Bessant, Amy Belcher, Wendy Jones and cast members |
| Mo Parish |
| Robyn Semple-Dower |
| Neal Smith, Dave Evans |
| Jonathan Moore |
Wendy Jones, Ruth Evans, Kate Pope & members of the cast |
| Susan Bessant |
| Gemma Dale |
| Jill Maynard |
| Friends and family of the cast |
| Friends and family of the cast |
| Winfrith Village Stores |
This show is dedicated to the memory of our friend Susan Mottram, who was a part of our Drama Group family for so many years. Thank you Sue, for all the happy memories – you will always be in our hearts.
| The Narrator |
| Aladdin |
| Princess Jasmine |
| Dame Widow Twanky |
| Washed Uppee |
| Sinbad the Sailor |
| The Wicked Wazir |
| Wazir Junior |
| The Emperor Penn Gwinn |
| The Empress Kylie |
| The Genie of the Lamp |
| Ali the Barber Dancers |
| Mo Parish |
| René Smith |
| Amy Belcher |
| Dave Evans |
| Neal Smith |
| Pat Pettit |
| Jonathan Moore |
| Jill Withey |
| John Yonwin |
| Lesley Gazeley |
| Susan Bessant |
| Kate Pope Julie Trent Bernadette Crowe Ruth Evans Wendy Jones |
The Cemetery Club
In July 2023 two performances of this touching comedy drama were carried at at Marley House in Winfrith.
Directed by Kate Pope
Starring:
| Ida | Susan Bessant |
| Lucille | Wendy Jones |
| Doris | Inez Wilkins |
| Sam | Neal Smith |
| Mildred | Pat Pettit |
| Random Grave Digger | Rab Parrish |
Sound : Jon Moore
Set Building: Rab Parrish
Prompt: Mo Parrish
plus help on the day from various group members.
The Cemetery Club follows three widows, who meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husbands’ graves. Ida is sweet tempered and ready to begin a new life, Lucille just wants to have fun and Doris is prudish and judgemental, particularly when widower Sam the butcher enters the scene; a touching and humorous tale ensues.
Cinderella and the Velvet Slipper
| Written by Peter Nuttall | Directed by Susan Bessant & Amy Belcher |
The Cast
| Cinderella | Robyn Semple-Dower |
| Georgina | Jonathan Moore |
| Davina | Inez Wilkins |
| King Charming | Jill Withey |
| Prince Charming | Pat Pettitt |
| Dandini | René Smith |
| Buttons | Wendy Jones |
| Twiddle | Kate Pope |
| Toggles the Witch | Susan Bessant |
Backstage
| Stage Manager | Rab Parish |
| Lighting & Sounds | Amy Belcher and Dave Evans |
| Scenery Painting | Susan Bessant, Amy Belcher & Wendy Jones |
| Prompt | Mo Parish |
| Music | Robyn Semple-Dower |
| Sounds and Effects | Jonathan Moore |
| Wardrobe | Wendy Jones |
| Childrens’ Choreography | Gemma Dale |
| Additional Script | Neal Smith |
| Make-up | Jill Maynard |
| Refreshments | Friends and family of the cast |
| Front of House | Friends and family of the cast |
| Bookings | Winfrith Village Stores |
Last Tango and Panto in Little Winfrith
29th and 30th September 2022
TANGO
LITTLE Winfrith Amateur Dramatic Society is in trouble. The membership has dwindled to four – the audiences aren’t much bigger – and if they don’t come up with some rent money soon, they’re going to be thrown out. “There’s only one thing that sells tickets these days” argues Gordon the Chairman. “Sex!”
Thus begins the chaotic and hilarious build-up to an evening of extraordinary home-grown drama – an evening the locals would never forget!
PANTO
The sequel to the tremendously popular ‘Last Tango’ sees Gordon, Margaret, Joyce and Bernard tackle the Christmas pantomime with predictably hilarious results.
The Wizard of Oz, The Adventure Continues…
Performed April 2022
Written by Neal Smith
Directed by Wendy Jones
The Rat Trap
October 2021
Written by: Neal Smith
Directed by Kate Pope
Winfrith Drama Group invites you to become detectives! “The Rat-Trap” is a brand new light-hearted murder mystery to be staged at Winfrith Village Hall on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd October 2021 (with a two course supper).
Eight celebrities are enticed to a seemingly deserted island; all are full of their own importance, all have a reason to despise, hate or generally dislike all of their fellow celebrities. Marvel as their vacuousness shines out and they soon get their claws into each other, but only one is willing to resort to murder, but why?
Was it pompous writer, Richard? Celebrity chef Gordon? Washed up comedian Eric? Sleazy politician Norris? Hippy singer and songwriter Judy? Minor royal, Archie? Or celebrity airhead Chardonnay? And why has celebrity critic Grace suddenly appeared – uninvited? And who is their absent host Ms Sue Dohnim and her sidekick the mysterious Mr Rhee? Blimey, that’s a lot of questions!
So, can you work out who organised this delightful get-together and why?
And who committed the murder and why
Beauty and The Beast
