The Club, whose aim is to study and perform any kind of theatrical work, was first started in 1945 and we have been going from strength to strength ever since. The Club has been a member of The National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) for many years and aims to be innovative and enterprising, building on the enthusiastic foundations laid by its founder members. Further details of current and planned activities can be found on the Club's website

Joining
If you are interested in becoming a member, you should contact the Membership Secretary John Bush (01892 782 391).

Our Theatre Space
The majority of Club productions are staged in Wadhurst Commemoration Hall. This village hall seats up to 200 people and has a large stage with good stage equipment, excellent sound and lighting systems, and adequate changing facilities. The Club also owns its own wardrobe on site.

Rehearsal Rooms
The Club mainly rehearses mainly at Uplands Community Centre but also uses several other local venues.

Productions
We try to present 3 major productions each year (generally in January, May and October), perhaps one or two one-night 'variety' shows, as well as holding social and fund-raising events. Productions include Pantomimes, Plays, Music Halls, Musicals or even Book Shows.

Chairman - John Northover
Unlike his Great Uncle Albert and Great Aunt Muriel, whom he has just recently discovered quite by chance were Wadhurst residents from 1933 to 1935, John himself has lived here only since November 2000. He became a Member of the Dramatic Club early the following year and his first appearance with the Club was in 'Breath of Spring'. This was followed by appearances in 'Pack of Lies', 'Sandcastles', 'Lettice & Lovage', 'Dinner Ladies' and most recently, 'Caramba's Revenge'.

He has served on the Club Committee for three out of the last four years and was pleased to be re-elected to the Committee at the AGM held on 30 August 2005. He has since been persuaded to assume the office of Chairman and with the able assistance and support of his fellow collaborators on the Committee, he hopes to be able to steer the Club through yet another successful and activity-filled year.

Secretary - Gill Gordon-Williams
Gill had been a dancer in amateur productions, since she was a child. However, in the 1980's she decided that it was no longer an attractive sight for audiences and, on moving to East Sussex, decided to try her hand at acting (with another club) and found, to her surprise, that she enjoyed it as much. Her debut with WDC was in 1995 when she landed the part of Maxine in 'Stepping Out'. Since then she has portrayed many characters culminating in 2004 as Silly Billy in 'Mother Goose' and Dolly in 'dinnerladies' by Victoria Wood. Gill can also often be found in the Club's wardrobe department or charity shops ferreting around for that elusive costume or obscure prop.

Treasurer - Neil Rose
Maybe the Club's longest lapsed member. Neil first appeared on the Wadhurst stage as Frog in 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' in 1966. In the same year he played Wedgewood in 'Wild Goose Chase' and he was allowed to speak for first time in 'The Hollow Crown' a year later. A pantomime appearance as a Squire's henchman convinced him that his acting skills, especially singing, did not match WDC's demanding standards. After a year or so helping backstage, he forgot to renew his membership until 2003 when he was elected Treasurer, a position previously held by his father three decades earlier.

Membership Secretary - John Bush
Joined the Club in 1973. He was Club Secretary for many years and has appeared in many productions, including 'Tom Jones' and 'Aladdin', but his current love is electrics. He is our resident lighting and sound 'whizz' and spends many hours up ladders tinkering, but he's never happier than when he tries to 'blow us all up' with his special effects! John's ceaseless efforts were rewarded with a NODA Long-Service medal last year. He is also secretary of the local Probus Club and a member of the Commemoration Hall committee.

Members

Martin Elson
A recent arrival on the Wadhurst scene, Martin directed 'The Cemetery Club' earlier this year and hopes to direct the October show in 2006. In a much earlier life, he made acting his career, working in several Rep companies around the country. He and his wife Anthea owned and ran a Torquay Hotel (Basil Fawlty lives on!) for the past 14 years which required acting, but of a different sort. Having spent most of his spare time in Amateur Theatre, Martin's real interest lies in Directing and Stage Management, but he has been known to tickle the ivories when pushed!!

Colin Hand
Colin joined the club in the 1970s as stage crew and scenery painter and has continued splashing paint and heaving sets ever since. This is his second term as committee member. His other interests include vintage trains, architecture, maps, travel, jazz, grandchildren and serious enjoyment of retired life.

Barbara Liddle
Barbara began her amateur acting career as a chorus girl in panto with Edinburgh People's Theatre and distinguished herself during rehearsal one evening by kicking her standing leg out from underneath her and rolling under the piano! Since then she has played many different roles from charlady to Fairy Queen but has always avoided anything to do with dancing until recently when she learnt to tap-dance for her part in 'Stepping Out'. She was a member of The Service Players in the Isle of Man for eight years and has been happily linked with Wadhurst Dramatic Club since moving to the area ten years ago.

Anthea Penhallow
A newcomer to the Club, but have been involved backstage in several recent productions. Anthea has been in the Am Dram business for many years, combining this with a career in Teaching and more recently, with her husband, owning a family hotel in Torquay. Both these careers have benefited from a somewhat Theatrical approach! Always backstage, either as Stage Manager or scrounging various props, Anthea's son Will has maintained the family traditions as a Drama Teacher in Eastbourne.

Dot Smytherman
Dot is one of the Club's great character actresses. She first trod the boards for Wadhurst in 1975 and has been a very valuable committee member for many years. Dot's massive contributions to the Club over the years were rewarded with a NODA Long-Service medal last year. Dot has chalked up many productions, and is especially known for her portrayal of elderly or drunk ladies - most memorably Mrs Meadows in 'Steaming' and more recently as the inebriated Miss Furnival in 'Black Comedy'. Children and adults alike particularly enjoy 'BOOING' Dot as the wicked witch or wicked fairy in most of the Club's Pantomimes!

Member & Life President Hugh Orchard
Hugh was elected a Full Member of the Club on April 1st 1962 and has trodden the boards on numerous occasions as well as directing many successful pantomimes, dramatic plays and Old Time Music Halls. Hugh was for many years the chairman of the Club's Old Time Music Halls. He particularly enjoys taking part in pantomimes - he says they bring out the small boy in him! Hugh is an inspiration to us all: in addition to receiving the NODA Long-Service medal, in 2006 he was awarded two further five-year bars. His other talents lie in lighting and sound.

Advertising If you would like to sponsor, pay, lend, donate or link to us, please contact John Bush (01892 782 391) to discuss terms.

Costume hire We have built up a good range of costumes and are adding to them all the time. Individuals and other clubs may hire costumes from the club on Friday evenings between 7.30 and 9.30pm by appointment. Please contact John Bush (01892 782 391) well in advance if you wish to choose costumes for a production or for a party.