Over 40 and still going strong!
by Hazel Jarrett
YES! That’s us at Sherston Drama Group!! As the longest-serving member it is my pleasure write this short history of the Group.
In about 1976 the Mothers Union in Sherston presented a short play called “Miss Pringle plays Portia”. Amongst others, Kate Crutcher, Marcia Cousens and Mary Edwards were involved. When funds were being raised in 1977/8 for the Bells Appeal, these people (with the addition of such worthies as Edna Black and David Walsh) got together and produced “The Camel’s Back”.
This was so well received in the Village that Mary Edwards thought it was time Sherston had it own official drama group. She called a meeting in the Village Hall in July 1978, and this is when I arrived on the scene. A committee was formed with Chris Dobb as chairman, a play was chosen and a director, Frances Connell, was found. We held a coffee morning at Kate Crutcher’s to raise enough money to buy scripts.
Rehearsals commenced in the Sitting Room at the Old Vicarage, and we finally presented our first play “Fish out of Water” in Spring 1979. We repeated this play in an updated version for our 35th anniversary year.
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The 1979 cast of 'Fish out of Water' -the first ever SDG production
We rehearsed in the (old) primary school for some years but its unavailability during school holidays and rocketing hire fees drove us out. We then used people’s sitting rooms, the Scout Hut, and more than one local village hall. Thanks to Alan Dickenson’s negotiating skills we then found a regular rehearsal space in the British Schoolroom, and it remains our rehearsal home, thanks to the trustees. Hilary Johnson was a hugely influencal director in the early days, who set the high standards we still aspire to today.
We have naturally had many ups and downs over the years, including power cuts and cast dropping out at the last minute, but the show has always gone on. Improvements to the Village Hall have made things easier for us, but we still have no permanent stage. Malcolm Jarrett and Arthur Gutteridge (both, sadly, no longer with us) designed and built our “new” stage in 1982. This has to be erected and demolished at every production, together with the lighting and sound equipment.
Malcolm Jarrett, who designed and built the stage we still use today
1992 Jack and the Beanstalk
1981 Variety Show
We owe a debt of gratitude to the army of backstage and Front of House helpers over the years (too many to mention here) and we pay tribute especially to those who have given time to sit on the Committee. We are also extremely thankful for our truely wonderful and supportive audiences, without whom there could be no productions!
Although some things have inevitably changed over time in SDG, other things are recognisably the same - notably the aim to produce excellent entertainment whilst also having a great time!
1997 Move Over Mrs Markham
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1981 A drama group party!
If you're interested in pictures and films of old productions, do head over to the archives page, where you can find many more!