Nork Residents' Association

Have you ever thought you’d like to be involved in amateur drama?

This inexpensive hobby involves so many interesting and challenging aspects – apart from ‘treading the boards’ there are many other possibilities – lighting, building sets, making and collecting props, sound effects, prompting, costumes, directing, production assistant – to name but a few. There are also a number of social activities which don’t necessarily involve drama at all but provide an opportunity for meeting, chatting and even drinking!

We are a sociable, friendly Group who are actively looking for new members to swell our numbers and thus enable us to consider larger cast plays without looking further afield.

For those interested in the Group’s history it was started in 1956 by young wives attending St Paul’s church in Nork and was then reformed in 1962 to include men and people of all ages. Since then the Group has regularly performed two full-length plays each year, as well as a variety of one-act plays forming a double or triple bill.

In order to enhance its playing abilities, the Group decided, in 1965, to participate in festivals and has always enjoyed taking part in competitions, learning extensively from both the experience and the adjudications. We still enter the All England Theatre Festival of One Act plays and have achieved some success over the years, appearing several times in the Divisional and Eastern Area finals and, in 2008 representing England in the British Final, having won the coveted All-England festival trophy. This year the Group won the Southern Counties Festival with their production of “The Long Road” by Shelagh Stephenson (a gritty, topical play concerning the effects of knife crime).

Until the demise of the South East England Festival of Drama (SEEFOD) held originally at the Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon and then the Harlequin Theatre, Redhill - we regularly took part in this highly prestigious annual event, the only one of its kind in the South East, in which societies throughout the region competed in full-length productions. Winning with plays as diverse as “Daisy Pulls it Off”, Lorca’s tragic “Blood Wedding” and Rattigan’s courtroom drama “Cause Celebre”, we believe underlines the Group’s versatility as well as their ability.

A strong student section was formed in 1973, which ran for over 25 years, winning many local accolades in County Youth Festivals and providing the ‘jumping off point’ for over a dozen or more entrants to the profession, a number of whom have appeared in the West End and on TV.

We are a friendly, forward-looking, ambitious amateur drama group in the heart of Banstead, performing regularly at the spacious, purpose-built Adrian Mann theatre, (NESCOT), Ewell with its comfortable, tiered seating, licensed bar and ample car-parking facilities. Although no longer connected directly with St Paul’s church, we have kept their name and roots in the area.

As well as performances, a number of social activities are held throughout the year including regular play readings, Quiz and Race nights, suppers, drinks, visits to other Group’s plays and monthly club nights for members and friends held on the first Monday of every month from 7.45 p.m. to 10.15 p.m. at the Spencer Room, United Reformed Church, Banstead.

St Paul’s is always interested in attracting new members, whether it be those keen on appearing on stage and/or working behind the scenes! No experience is needed – just enthusiasm!. Why not come to one of our club nights - you will be assured of a great welcome as well as being able to find out more about this enthralling hobby!

For more information about the Group, please look at our website: www.stpaulsdramagroup.co.uk