Denise Gibbons and Geoff Hunt will be on hand to take properly-lit portrait photos and Gille will be making notes of any or all productions you have been involved with – on stage, back stage or both – over the years, so please come with your memories prepared.

It is really important that we have a good turnout on the day, because this is a once-only opportunity to get into the annals of the Club and to make this idea work, so please do come, even if only for a few minutes, at some stage during the afternoon.

DIRECTIONS (for those who need them!)

From the town centre: come up North Parade, heading towards Bath. At the brow of the hill ignore a right turn into Berkley Rd. You are now in Fromefield. Continue straight on for about 200 yards. We are behind the trees on your right. Entrance is directly opposite The Priory (big stone building set back – used to be ARC headquartes for those who still remember)
Ample park,ing along wall. 01373 472997

IRITF

Philip de Glanville reports

We had our casting,/reading for Ray Cooney's gloriously funny hospital farce It Runs In The Family on June 12^th, and I am delighted to announce that we have a top-notch comedy cast, and that it includes several members who haven't been seen in an FDC production for a while – David and Debbie Holt (Arsenic & Old Lace – Autumn 2003), David Riley (See How They Run – Autumn 1999), Heather de Glanville (Night Must Fall – Spring 2004), Val Atkinson (Pack of Lies - Autumn 2004) Geoff Hunt (Arsenic & Old Lace – Autumn 2003), and Den Hunt (Pack of Lies - Autumn 2004) – plus Alan Burgess, Lesley Swinburn and David North ('Allo 'Allo - Autumn 2005), with Felix Byrne who joined us as Slim in Of Mice & Men earlier this year (and who has since been honing his comic timing in rehearsal for An Evening with Gary Lineker,) and newcomer Steve Saul who brings with him a lot of comedy experience gained through doing stand-up. Martin Coat is going to help out on the directing side this time. Alan Woolley will be stage managing, and though the production will need very little in the way of a stage crew, and props and costume should be relatively easy, there will be a fair bit of construction required on the set and offers of help from September onwards would be very welcome.
Ring Alan on 01373 474006 or email aawoolley@yahoo.co.uk

It should be a really cracking production – tears were streaming down our faces again in the reading and I find it laugh-out-loud funny whenever I pick up the script – so, if you like that sort of thing, make a note to book early for Nov 9-11th. We are doing only three performances and with the Club's burgeoning reputation, and such a stellar cast, I think we stand a good chance of selling out.

PdeG

Dance is Work

Tap sessions have been running under Janice Alden's tutelage this past month and the pace is hotting up! Numbers have fluctuated up to 19 on the second week and down to 9 this past Sunday, presumably because the holiday season is just beginning. Several new faces have joined the Club and the tap class since we started the sessions and more are expected once Frome Festival is over. Please note that there will be a month's break in August. If you want to take part just come along to the Dance Centre on Christchurch St W (diagonally opposite The Memorial Theatre) 1100 on Sundays – cost £3.00.

TRAILER

It is proving more difficult than we expected to find a suitable trailer for the Club to haul set around in. We want a single axle box trailer, 10' long, 5' wide and 6' high in reasonable condition. Brakes would be an advantage but not essential. Lots of them are advertised on e-bay but they usually go for more than the £800 we have to spend or are impossibly far away. Can anyone help? Phone 01373 474006 or email Alan aawoolley@yahoo.co.uk

ME FESTIVAL NEWS

Frome's 6^th annual Festival is nearly upon us and we are delighted that there is more theatre on offer than in previous years – a trend which we'd like to see develop further, and which we hope FDC members will support. The Club is involved directly in two ways:

SUNDAY 9th JULY at 6.30pm

FDC presents
'LUNCH' by Stephen Berkhof
directed by Emily Lewis
Upstairs at The Griffin Inn
Admission FREE

A man and a woman meet at lunchtime near the sea. It could be anywhere. He sells space. She is empty. They make a strange, fascinating, disturbing couple.

The Man is played by Kelly Merritt from Warminster who has lots of credits in local amateur theatre and was last seen at the Merlin playing Abanazer in the Christmas panto. The Woman is played by Beaux Bryant who moved to Frome only recently. In the past she has toured professionally with SNAP Theatre Co. Emily Lewis is a first-time director for Frome Drama Club.

MONDAY 10th JULY at 8.00pm

FDC presents an open playreading of,
'HABEAS CORPUS' by Alan Bennett
Upstairs at The Packhorse
Admission FREE

It is 15 years since the Club performed Alan Bennett's wonderful satirical poke at the ‘Permissive Society'. He wrote it while still fresh from Beyond The Fringe. It is broad enough to be very funny, sharp enough to be very witty, and just naughty enough to be slightly risqué. An unmissable evening of fun for those who want to read the play aloud and those who want just to listen.

In addition watch out for Rope, directed by Geoff Hunt and featuring two of our members – Calum Grant and Martin Coat, which has sold all 16 tickets but which might be performed again in the week, and try and get to see two more of our members (Claudia Berry and Felix Byrne) in An Evening With Gary Lineker directed by Martin Dimery at The Memorial Theatre on Friday 7th July at 7.30pm, Also don't miss Pip Utton's remarkable tribute to Roy Orbison in Only The Lonely on Tuesday 11th July at the Merlin Theatre at 7.45pm

FDC Programme

Sunday 9th July
Lunch
by Stephen Berkhof
The Griffin, 6.30pm

Monday 10th July
Playreading:
Habeas Corpus
by Alan Bennet
The Packhorse, 8pm

Sunday 16th July
PIMMS & PICS
at The Red Cottage
See you all there!