NEWS - mid-June 2025
AGM – Thu 26/6/25 7.30pm all welcome
Our AGMs are enjoyable occasions in themselves, with drinks and nibbles, plus you get chance to have your say in shaping the future direction of our company.
It’s also time for Committee elections - sadly, four Committee members are stepping down this time so please let us know if you’d like to stand! Thank you to those who have already expressed interest – looking forward to seeing you on the night.
Social Activities
It's been suggested we set up a new QUADS WhatsAPP group for members to facilitate arrangements for social events – if you’d like to be part of that, please let Cheryl Roberts know
NEWS - early June 2025
Suddenly the year is rushing by! After May’s fabulous production of ‘Death by Fatal Murder’, directed by Mags Hutt, we’re in for a busy June.
AUDITIONS
Monday 23 June and Wednesday 25 June 2025 – 7.00pm at the Church Hall – all welcome
Just three weeks now to auditions for our November 2025 production, ‘No Sex Please- We’re British’, directed by Paul Makinson. This piece, Britain’s most commercially successful West End comedy is fast and very, very funny! Director Paul is out to maintain the pace and humour – it’s going to be hard work but definitely a lot of fun! Come and join us! See our Home page for details.
If you’re interested in a part, helping out with the production or simply in finding out more, please contact us to help us plan. As ever, auditions are informal and friendly. You’ll get chance to learn something of the Director’s vision and what will be involved. You can come along to both auditions but it’s fine if you can only make one.
Similarly if the dates/times of the auditions may be tricky for you, just let us know and we’ll be pleased to make special arrangements.
Finally, please feel free to share details of the auditions with anyone you think may be interested! We look forward to seeing you at auditions.
AGM
Thursday 26 June 7.30pm
We would love to see you at the AGM to reflect on the past year and plan for future ones. All welcome! It will be great to hear your ideas. Thank you to those who have already got in touch expressing interest in joining the Committee. If you can make it please let us know so we can plan refreshments.
Gym & Tonic
11 - 14 June Belper Players
In the meantime….how about a spot of Gym & Tonic? John Godber’s play is a comedy with adult themes that’s sure to make for a highly entertaining evening. Performed by our friends at Belper Players, you can book your tickets here.
NEWS - April 2025
Death By Fatal Murder 14-17 May 7.30pm
Whodunnit this time?? Bagshot Manor is definitely a dangerous place, and you certainly won’t have to wait long for the first murder…
Comedy, drama, mystery and murder – this ‘sleuth spoof’ play has it all and is a must-see for anyone who enjoys detective dramas, particularly fans of Agatha Christie!
Directed by Mags Hutt, the play is both hilarious and gripping. It features a wonderful cast of both QUAD's regulars and newcomers including the characters of outrageously inept yet pretentious (Defective?) Inspector Pratt, charmingly eccentric Miss Joan Maple and others, such as gossipy Welsh clairvoyant Blodwyn Morgan (just wait for her séance!) and intriguing Italian gigolo, Enzo Garibaldi.
You’d be clueless to miss it!
Help with Front of House & Flyer Distribution
Our Front of House Manager for "Death By...." is looking out for people who’d enjoy the opportunity to help welcoming and seating the audience and to serve drinks in the interval – getting the chance to see the show for free! If you're interested, please contact us: Click here – we’d love to hear from you.
Coming up…
- Look out for the date of our AGM to be announced soon – your chance to share ideas for the future and even stand for Committee!
- We’ll also have further social play readings – the last one, 'The Charlatan’ was very enjoyable and thanks to all for attending!
- Sunday 20 July 2025 is the date of the annual Eagle Awards at Derby Theatre. We have entered both our productions this year and hope for nominations – whatever, it’s really a great evening of entertainment and a chance to rub shoulders with all the other great societies in our area, celebrating local theatre. Anyone can attend and it really is a wonderful celebration of Derby's amateur dramatics - don't miss it. Get more info on their Facebook page: Eagles FB
NEWS - March 2025
Our last social play reading, ‘No Sex Please We’re British’, led by Paul Makinson, made for a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining evening of fast-moving comedy reading this hilarious play.
‘The Charlatan’ by William Norfolk Thursday 27 March 2025 7.30pm Quarndon Church Hall
Our next social play reading is something completely different! We’ll be transported back to Vienna of 1777, in the company of the (literally!) mesmerising Dr Anton Mesmer and a gifted but blind young pianist whose blindness he claims to cure through his animal magnetism…but what will the coffee-house gossips make of it all? Scandal and intrigue follow…
All welcome!! Don’t miss out – as ever, play readings are relaxed and informal and everyone can join in – bring a friend if wished! It’s a great opportunity to meet society members. Please just reply to this email to let us know if you can make it.
QUADS 'Death by Fatal Murder’ by Peter Gordon 14 – 17 May 2025
Inspector Pratt’s record of crime detection at Bagshot House is not enviable. Despite a mounting body count In his previous visit he’s back to solve another murder, ‘helped’ by the incorrigible Miss Maple plus Constable Thomkins, upper-crust Ginny, Italian gigolo Enzo, Welsh clairvoyant Blodwyn Morgan and others. Another great show beckons with a cracking cast including new faces to the QUADS stage. Our last show was a sell-out so get your tickets now. quarndon-amateur-dramatic-society.
Also – reminders that our friends at The Marlowe Players are performing 'The Actress' 25 - 29 March 2025 www.ticketsource.co.uk/marlowe-players
- and our friends at the NODS are performing Cluedo at The Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton 2 – 5 April 2025 https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/derbyshire/duchess-theatre/cluedo-nods/e-aemjvj
NEWS - January 2025
Happy New Year from all at QUADS.
Here are a few upcoming events to help banish the January blues:
May Production: 14 - 17 May - ‘Death By Fatal Murder’ by Peter Gordon
As ever, a great cast needs a great production Team and we’re now looking for people to fill essential roles – Prompt, Set build, Props, Publicity, Wardrobe, Front of House, Stage Manager – etc!! There’s lots to do so......
*** Production Meeting for 'Death By Fatal Murder’ on Thursday 23 January at 7.00pm at the Hall ***
Please come along if you can and get involved in the show. Please let us know you're coming. Also, if you’d like to be involved but can’t make the meeting, please contact us. We need you!
Social Play Reading of The Doll, (part 2) by Isabel Footring 7.30pm 23 January 2025 at the Hall
This dark folk tale is penned by QUADS member Isabel Footring. Featuring a stormy night, a forest, a young girl and Baba Yaga mysterious figure from Slavic folklore…and of course, The Doll….We read Part 1 of the tale at our November play reading – this will be the concluding part! Hope you can make it. Don’t worry if you missed Part 1, we’ll fill you in on the plot!! Play readings are relaxed and informal – all welcome. Please get in touch and let us know if you’re interested, that will help us with planning.
Why not come to both? (But don’t worry if you only want to attend one or the other!)
Jack and the Beanstalk 16 - 19 January 2025
Our friends at Chellaston Players are performing ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ at St Peter’s Church Hall 16-19 January – it will feature Paul Makinson, who directed our sell-out success ‘Murdered to Death’ in November 2024 and QUADS regular John Elliott – so we know it’s going to be good! Get your tickets for this fun-packed family-friendly show here:
Tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk
The Snow Queen 24 Jan - 8 Feb 2025
QUADS’ Connor White (soon to star again as Inspector Pratt in May!) will be appearing in St Nicholas Players production of ‘The Snow Queen’ at St Nicholas Church Hall Allestree – it’s sure to be a blast!
Get your tickets here:
NEWS - November 2024
What to do on dark November evenings…
‘Murdered To Death’ by Peter Gordon 13 – 16 November
Tickets are still available but three-quarters are sold!! And going fast - so make sure to grab yours if you haven’t already! Buy tickets
Our fabulous cast includes long-standing members marvellous Max Roberts who has appeared in and directed many QUADS shows, super-talented twice Eagles-nominated Sonia Hardy; four wonderful more recent regulars – Andrew Barlow, Mags Hutt, Connor White and Emily Turner, and four newcomers to the QUADS stage – Terry Stevenson and Angela Knight, both of whom who have starred in other local shows, and Chloe Finneran and Emily Johannson, both making their stage debuts! We’re excited to have such a dynamic cast, led by Director Paul Makinson (you may have seen his recent hilarious performances in Breezeblock Park and Neighbourhood Watch), supported by indispensable action woman Sue Harrison.
A few sneak peeks at rehearsals reveal this Agatha Christie spoof is going to be a real cracker!
Social Play Reading Evening 26 November 7.30 at the Church Hall
Our next Social Play Reading will be an exciting double bill!!
- The 15 Minute Hamlet by Tom Stoppard led by Izzy Lamb, we’ll canter through this 1976 comedic abridgement of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, written by Tom Stoppard. The play, an excerpt from Dogg's Hamlet, condenses the original Hamlet, including all the best-known scenes, into approximately 13 minutes of on-stage action. Can’t wait!
- The Doll, by Isabel Footring. This dark folk tale is penned by new member Isabel Footring. Featuring a stormy night, a forest, a young girl and Baba Yaga, a mysterious figure from Slavic folklore…and of course, The Doll….This will be the premier reading of this intriguing new work!
As ever, our Social Play Readings are friendly, fun and informal. We’ll be using the main Hall this time, and light refreshments will be included. A nominal charge of £2 will be made to help cover hall hire. ALL WELCOME - come alone or bring friends/family for a fun, relaxed evening – just reply to this email to help us with script and refreshment numbers, and if you have any queries!
Finally, our friends at Captive Audience are performing Blackadder’s Christmas Carol 20-23 November
This sounds like a wonderful evening – book your seats quickly before they disappear!
Congratulations to Sonia Hardy for her nomination for the Timothy Dalton Award for Best Performance in a Play at this summer’s Eagle Awards!
Thanks to all for attending our Social Meal in September at The Cow, Dalbury Lees – a great success!
Our programme of Social Play Readings and visits to other societies’ shows continues. The Social Play readings are freely open to all – please email info@quarndonquads.co.uk for more details and to join our mailing list.
Or come along to rehearsals every Tuesday and Thursday to see what we get up to!