Hertford Dramatic & Operatic Society
Registered charity 271065
Registered charity 271065
Please note this programme may be subject to change without notice.
All synopses were supplied by the competing teams.
The Awards Ceremony takes place after the last production on Sunday 31st July 2016.
Click on any item below to reveal (or hide) more details.
By Jonas Hassen Khemeri,
translated by Frank Perry.
Presented by University Players (Hamburg, Germany)
We are delighted that the University Players in Hamburg are able to come to Hertford to open the festival, and hope you will be able to be there to welcome and support them.
By Nick Walker
Presented by Lighthorne Drama Group (Lighthorne)
An amateur performance by arrangement with Nick Walker
Lifecoach Derby Anderson is summoned at short notice to counsel the UN Secretary General in London for a peace conference. Escorted through the building by bodyguard Jack, on first day back at work after being shot on duty, results in a life-changing journey for them both.
By Simon Mawdsley
Presented by White Cobra Productions (Northampton)
An amateur performance by arrangement with Simon Mawdsley
A man in a mask and a woman in real trouble! Add some phobias, a wasp and a dash of reggae and you’re left with a big hearted comic drama full of menace, laughter and dirty carpets!
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
adapted by Steve Canny and John Nicholson
Presented by MADS Theatre (Macclesfield)
An amateur performance by arrangement with Nick Hern Books
A fog shrouded moorland, whispers of a fearsome, supernatural beast stalking the land, a dead body found with an expression of horror on his face, actors frantically changing trousers in the wings ...
The great detective Sherlock Holmes is summoned to unravel the mysteries surrounding the death of Sir Charles Baskerville and investigate the ancient curse of the Hound of the Baskervilles.
Three actors attempt to tell this classic tale using nothing more than a few props, hats and sheer ingenuity.
By Les Clarke
Presented by GADOC (Guernsey)
An amateur performance by arrangement with Drama Association of Wales
Dottie looks after her friend Rose in their home in which they have lived for the last eight years. It has recently been taken over for redevelopment and the council are trying to find them alternative accommodation. This is a proving difficult as Rose’s illness is getting worse and she is adamant that she won’t move.
By Heather Dunmore
Presented by Another Theatre Company (Milton Keynes)
An amateur performance by arrangement with Heather Dunmore
A cautionary tale about the downside of social media.
By David Tristram
Presented by Clavering Players (Clavering)
An amateur performance by arrangement with Samuel French Ltd
A Fabulously funny short comedy, Henry and Alice’s marriage is flagging, fantasy blurs into reality, secret passions explode and two worlds which seem a million miles apart are suddenly on a collision course, only their pet goldfish Orca, and you, will ever know the true story.
By Marsha Norman
Presented by Legion Players (Douglas, Isle of Man)
An amateur performance by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd.
On a seemingly normal evening, we meet Thelma Cates (Mama) an aging mother and widow who lives with her daughter, Jessie. Divorced and mother of a hoodlum son, Jessie – unsatisfied and depressed – struggles with life. On this night Jessie is busy organizing the household affairs and making lists, when she casually asks her mother about the whereabouts of her father old revolver!
By Arlene Hutton
Presented by Rushen Players (Port St.Mary, Isle of Man)
An amateur performance by arrangement with Playscripts Inc.
A defence lawyer cross examines a young woman during her testimony in a sexual case – and in doing so turns her innocent walk in the park into a nightmare, real or imagined. Dedicated to women who walk in public.
By Arlene Hutton
Presented by Back To Front Theatre (Woking)
An amateur performance by arrangement with Ki Agency
In December 1940 a cross country train carries the bodies of F Scott Fitzgerald and Nathaniel West. The two characters meet on this train and take us on a journey through their lives, prejudices and hopes.
By Austin Hawkins
Presented by Teignmouth Players (Teignmouth)
An amateur performance by arrangement with Austin Hawkins
Self contained, but part of a trilogy. Sharon is an escort working in her bed sit. She is visited by Mary, whose husband has visited Sharon a few days previously.
By Paul Adam Levy
Read by members of Hertford Dramatic & Operatic Society
A rehearsed reading of the winner of the New Play Competition for aspiring authors.
An entertaining talk from this week’s GoDA adjudicator, Jan Palmer Sayer B.Ed MA GoDA challenging our idea of what theatre is, and what it can be, based on her experience and work as an adjudicator.
By Justin Butcher
Presented by White Cobra Productions (Northampton)
An amateur performance by arrangement with United Artists Ltd.
As the twentieth century ticks away, the mysterious white faced clown Scaramouche Jones emerges from the circus ring for the very last time. With just an hour remaining before the new millennium, he finally tells of his journey from a Trinidadian whorehouse to the big top. Justin Butchers classic piece of theatre brilliantly weaves the actual events of a century which shaped the world we live in today, with the life story of an extraordinary character. At times hilarious, at times heartbreaking.
The Purple All-Stars are groups of people with learning disabilities who use creative arts to deliver equitable health messages. They work alongside the Community learning Disability Nursing Service; Led by the Creative Practitioner, Kate Harding from The Health Liaison Team. Four groups of All-Stars have been established across Hertfordshire . The groups use all forms of the arts from shows to film, photos to graffiti.
The St Albans Purple All-Stars have performed all over the county at many events, training days and conferences. Notably at QE2 hospital opening, Hatfield Christmas lights switch on and The County Show.
Adapted by Rebekah Fortune
Presented by Total Arts Community Theatre (Tamworth)
An amateur performance by arrangement with Rebekah Fortune
A fast paced farce of mistaken identity set in a circus. /p>
By Keith Hill, Bev Clark and William Shakespeare
Presented by Hand In Hand Theatre (Wirral)
Ensemble theatre incorporating physical and clown theatre. It is the night of Shakespeare’s death and his disgruntled servant tells him how he longs for a name. As Shakespeare drifts in and out of sleep his dreams become nightmares as a company of clowns perform very different versions of his play and it soon becomes a comedy of errors. This is an original, funny, imaginative, colourful cavalcade of characters from the Bard.
Followed by the Awards Ceremony
Some of our productions take place at BEAM Hertford. Tickets are only available online.
Tickets for productions at Bentley House are available from Ticketsource. Click below to book tickets online.
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