CADS is once again running a cake stall at this popular pre-Christmas event on Saturday 17th November at Clacton Town Hall and we need your support.

If you are able to give an hour (or more) of your time to help run the stall, please contact Ralph on:
01255 432307,
rwr0251@yahoo.co.uk

If you can make some cakes or biscuits, bring them along on the day.

Thank you in advance for your support!

To tie in with the centenary anniversary and memorials of the end of the first world war, our next production Weds 28th November – Sat 1st December 2018 will be ‘The Accrington Pals’ by Peter Whelan.

This is a very moving play which follows the story of the innocent and enthusiastic men who volunteered their services to their country after Kitchener's calls for a New Army. Their experiences of life on the Western Front are contrasted with the women who are left behind in Accrington; women who come together as friends when facing financial, social and sexual deprivation, as well as being thrown into the social changes that came along with the absence of many men.

The main characters are; May, independent, hard-working, fruit and veg stall holder, Tom her lodger, optimistic and idealistic and Eva, May's trusted and generous confidante and sweetheart of Ralph. The play has fun and light hearted moments, which are starkly contrasted with the terrifying reality hundreds of men faced at the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

CADS (Clacton Amateur Dramatic Society) were thrilled and proud to return with two trophies from the Awards Ceremony on Sunday , held in St Ives by the Eastern Area of NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association).

They were awarded the Best Play in the North East Essex Section 2017 for their November production of Peter Gordon’s ‘Murdered to Death’, the hilarious spoof Agatha Christie ‘whodunnit’. Then at the end of the ceremony the same production was awarded the prestigious Best Production Shield for 2017. Ann Platten, the NODA representative for our area , commended CADS for the consistent high quality of their productions; indeed the March 2017 production of 'The Importance of Being Earnest' was also nominated for an award. As always, CADS’ productions are a real team effort, so everyone in the society is thrilled with this success.

As 2017 was the 70th anniversary of the Society, it was the icing on the society’s anniversary cake!

CADS belong to NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association) which was founded in 1899 and is the main representative body for amateur theatre in the UK, supporting local groups like ours in a number of different ways to achieve the highest standard of production. NODA operates through 11 regional councils and CADS, who have been a member for many years, is in the Eastern region.

Some people may think that amateur dramatics is no longer the driving force it used to be in theatre and as such is somewhat outdated, but that is far from the case. Here in the East, NODA has over 280 members competing to be the best and the "friendly" competition makes sure we are kept on our toes as each year we strive to win our own local "awards".

We are pleased to report, amateur theatre is most definitely alive and well and flourishing in East Anglia!!

This event proved very popular and tickets sold out quickly, so apologies to those of you who missed out on this fun evening. It was such a success that we shall be putting on another one – watch this space for details!

Despite the snow and icy winds outside, everyone had a great time at Wick Lodge, who put on a very good supper.

Thanks and congratulations go to Charlotte Root for organising the evening, ably assisted by Brenda and Ralph White-Robinson. Thanks too to the cast, the Houndslow family : CADS members Keith Sippitt, Lisa Winterford, John Thomson, Alex Bass, Charlotte Root and Vicky Tearle, and our visiting policeman Chris. (Nobody guessed who dunnit!)

Thanks to Ted Tearle for running the raffle and Barbara Tyrrel for her Charleston demonstration.

An excellent evening !

Our production after Accrington Pals will be 'Wife After Death' on Thursday 7th March - Saturday 9th March 2019, a comedy by well-known writer Eric Chappell (Rising Damp fame), to be directed by Vicky Tearle.

The read through will be held on Monday 3rd December at 7.30pm, with auditions on Thursday 6th December, 7.30pm, both at Albert Edward Hall, Legerton Drive, Clacton, CO16 8BW.

We do hope you will come along, and we look forward to seeing you!

For more info click here

01255 432307,
brendawhiterobinson@hotmail.co.uk