“STEWARTON DRAMA GROUP will start their 40th season of drama on Wednesday 15^th August 2012 with an Open Evening for members, patrons and potential new members and patrons.  The club is always keen to meet people in the local area who are interested in any aspect of drama or theatre arts.

The Group meet on Wednesday and Thursday nights in their own Premises, complete with a fully functional stage, rehearsal room, costume store, kitchen and lounge, in the Scout Building, Corsehillbank Street, beside the Tennis Courts in Stewarton.

Productions are cast by all interested Group members reading a section of the play script at a casting evening, so that the director can select the right actors and actresses for the parts. The Group then get to work on the technical side of the production where there is always plenty to do building the scenery, designing and painting the set, collecting the props, preparing the lighting and sound plans, and choosing the right costumes, music and stage make-up.

Last year was a tremendous success for the Group. The season opened with an informal ‘New Members & Patrons Evening’ in August, which saw several new members join the club and then go on to give their debut performance for SDG later in the year. The first, and very successful, production of the season was Mike Leigh’s comedy classic ‘Abigail’s Party’ in October. The big show of the year was the Pantomime ‘Cinderella’ featuring a talented junior chorus performing to packed houses in December. Then after the New Year it was on to the February performances of three one act plays: ‘Up in the ‘Mornin’ and ‘Fusion’, supported by special guests ‘The Dunlop Players’ who performed their production of ‘What’s For Pudding?’ as part of the show. Finally, the season closed on a high with 3 performances of the hit comedy play ‘Ladies Down Under’ in May.

And the Group’s trophy cabinet is now packed with 8 new pieces of silverware thanks to the success in national drama festivals of their full-length play ‘Abigail’s Party’, their one-act play ‘Fusion’ and their revival performance of their one-act play from last season, ‘Excess Baggage’. 

If all of that encourages you to find out more about getting involved next season, the Group are inviting anyone, over the age of 18, interested in local theatre to drop into their Premises in the town’s Corsehillbank Street on Wednesday 15^th August from 7.30pm. This will be a great chance to come along, see round the Premises, have a chat with existing members, and find out more about the Group’s planned productions for the new drama season which kicks off with the toe-tapping comedy play 'Stepping Out' which the group will perform in the Stewarton Area Centre on Thu 11th, Fri 12th and Sat 13th October 2012 at 7.30pm. 

Alternatively, for only £30 a year you can become a Patron of the award-winning Group and receive two tickets for each of their four annual shows as well as a complimentary copy of the Group’s monthly newsletter “Cuelines”

Drama Group President, Nancy McPherson said:

“We’d love to meet you if you are interested in any aspect of drama - whether you fancy treading the boards, helping out backstage, making costumes, singing and dancing in our pantomime chorus, or simply supporting the Group by becoming a Patron - please come along and meet us on Wednesday 15^th August in our Premises.