Hello everyone
First of all – a very Happy Birthday to our President Enid who celebrated her birthday recently. We hope you had an enjoyable day.
Although we have been unable to meet in person, we have managed a few Zoom events for members including some readings of our own members’ offerings including Michelle Hope’s The Committee, a Baubles Update by Lawrence Chandler and Keith Irons’ Barneydale FM, episodes one and two of which we have now recorded and can be viewed via the club’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/gainforddramaclub.
If you enjoy our Facebook offerings, why not share with your friends and support us by visiting the GoFundMe fundraising page – https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-gainford-drama-club-and-the-academy-theatre?qid=01eb8358d2342dc4f390ce39674cfe36 which so far has exceeded £1000 which is a great result. Our grateful thanks are due to those members who have donated and promoted the fundraiser to friends and family, without this effort the Drama Club would have been in significant difficulty.
We continue to seek funding to enable us to put on productions soon. Please visit our public Facebook page (you don’t need a Facebook account) to see what else members have been up to during lockdown to entertain you!
For members don’t forget that our year end finishes on 31st May and subscriptions for the year 2021-22 are due in June – please, if you are able to, set up a Standing Order for £15 as this will boost our income and help with the expenses of rent when is becomes due. We are very grateful to the Village Hall Committee for allowing us a payment holiday during the pandemic.
The other date you should note in your diary is the 2021 AGM which will be held on Wednesday 30th June at 7.30 p.m. in the Academy Theatre. We are planning this in anticipation that the “roadmap” relaxation of restrictions will proceed as expected. Social distancing will be possible for the expected numbers for the AGM and we may even be able to enjoy refreshments afterwards as usual!
As the pandemic continues we are looking at when it may be possible to reopen the theatre without breaching government guidelines. Because the theatre has a small capacity, social distancing rules mean that under current restrictions it is unlikely that we will open before mid-year, allowing rehearsals to recommence for a production in November/December, so watch this space.
Attached to this Newsletter is a short quiz about the Club – just for fun – but if you email your answers to iris@ajalon.co.uk there will be a draw from the correct ones received for some small prizes! You may know the answers without research but you can find them on our web site www.gainforddramaclub.co.uk. If you need an editable copy of the quiz it is available at https://gainforddramaclub.co.uk/docs/GainfordDramaClub%20Quiz.docx. Closing date is 31st May 2021
Until we meet again!
Allan Jones
Gainford Drama Club Chairman