History of Stromness Drama Club
The Stromness Drama Club (Founded 1989)
The Inaugural Meeting of the Stromness Drama Club took place on Thursday 16th November 1989.
“Fraser Dixon in the chair gave background information on the reasons for the meeting. The 15 people who turned up to the meeting agreed that the club should meet on a regular basis, once a month, to have play readings, visiting speakers or other items of interest to members as well as put on productions of plays.”
The committee selected was:
Chairman - John Broom
Secretary - Phyllis Brown
Treasurer - Dennis Bullen
Committee - Connie Buchan, Jean Robertson, Maisie Smith, Fraser Dixon and Juliet Kepl.
(Note: Shortly after the inaugural meeting, John Broom took ill and Fraser Dixon assumed the role of Chairman.)
1990 Christmas Revue (programme?)
1991 SCDA one-act festival:
“The Tram Track Tragedy” by Michael Kilgarrif. Directed by Fraser Dixon.
Christmas Show:
Pantomime “Frankenstein, the Panto”. Directed by Phyllis Brown
1992 SCDA one-act festival:“Gosforth’s Fete” by Alan Ayckbourn. Directed by Fraser Dixon.
Scotland’s Top Club:
With captain Dennis Bullen, and team members Phyllis Brown and Juliet Kepl, the Club won Grampian Television’s “Top Club 1992’ knock-out quiz competition, together with a prize of £3,000 which they donated towards the building of the McMillan Cancer Ward at the Balfour Hospital, Kirkwall. On their way to victory they defeated Peterhead Jobcentre, Urquhart SWRI, Aberdeen Customs and Excise, and, finally, Aberdeen ‘Golfing Greats’.
One-Act Play Competition:
Looking for new material, the Club organised a one-act play competition, with the judges being Penny Aberdein, Vivia Leslie and Marjorie Linklater.
The judges placed “Eating the Apple Core” (author?) as the winner. Placed 2nd was “An Educated Guest” written by Jeremy Hope, and 3rd “The Horseman’s Word” by Duncan McLean.
Christmas Show:
Pantomime “Ali Baba”. Directed by Dennis Bullen.
1993 SCDA one-act festival:
“An Educated Guest” by Jeremy Hope. Directed by Fraser Dixon.
Christmas Show:
Pantomime “Pinocchio”. Directed by Phyllis Brown.
1994 SCDA one-act festival: – no entry
Christmas Show:
Revue “Knit Yourself a Lost Weekend”
1995 SCDA one-act festival:
“Last Tango in Little Grimley’ by David Tristram. Directed by Phyllis Brown.
Placed second, winning the Firth Trophy. Performed at the Northern Divisional Finals in Aberdeen.
Christmas Show:
Pantomime “Cinderella”. Directed by Phyllis Brown and Dennis Bullen.
1996 SCDA one-act festival:
“The Measures Taken” by Bertolt Brecht. Directed by Graham Garson.
“Stromness Drama Club’s Finest Moment”.
With a cast of Phyllis Brown, Brian Flett, Chris Meek and Sweyn Hunter, together with the chorus of Jim Scott, Zoe Eccles, Ingirid Morrison and Megan Eggeling, as well as Tim Geddes as pianist, they were placed third overall at the Orkney Preliminary Festival. According to the rules of the competition, however, only one team from a club can go through to the Divisional finals. As the first two placed plays were both from Palace Players, Stromness were on their way to the Northern Divisional finals in Montrose.
After a second place, they were then on their way to the Scottish Finals in Inverness.
And they won! - a first for both the Club and Stromness.
“Cheshire cats did not have a look in when Graham stepped forward to receive the Wheatly Tassie! We were amazed; everyone was generous in their congratulations; we phoned home to incredulous families; we showed our teeth to flashing cameras; we were heading for Wales!”Review by Phyllis Brown.
So now they were on their way to represent Scotland in the British Finals at Theatre Clywd, Mold, Wales. Sadly they did not win, but their amazing achievements are not forgotten, and are regarded by the club members as ‘our finest moment’.
Christmas Show:
Revue “What Wise Men Never Do”
1997 SCDA one-act festival:
“The Sea King’s Daughter” by George Mackay Brown. Directed by Graham Garson.
Winners of the Challenge Cup at the Orkney Preliminary Festival; a first for the Club. Awarded the Kennedy Thompson Quaich for Best Stage Presentation at the Northern Divisional Finals in Blairgowrie.
Autumn Show:
“Accidental Death of an Anarchist” by Dario Fo. Directed by Graham Garson.
Interestingly, the performance of this production took place during the week that Fo was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, but was otherwise not connected to the event in any way!
Scotland’s Top Club:
With captain Dennis Bullen, and team members Phyllis Brown and Graham Garson, the Club again entered Grampian Television’s “Top Club’ knock-out quiz competition. Unfortunately they were unable to repeat the level of success achieved 5 years earlier.
Christmas Show:
Pantomime “The Pied Piper of Hamnavoe”. Directed by Phyllis Brown.
1998 SCDA one-act festival:
“The Virtuous Burglar” by Dario Fo. Directed by Graham Garson
Christmas Show: None
1999 SCDA one-act festival:
“A Different Way to Die” by Lynn Brittney. Directed by Graham Garson.
Christmas Show:
“The Owl and the Pussycat went to See …. ” by Sheila Ruskin and David Wood. Directed by Jane Hunter.
2000 SCDA one-act festival:“Backdoor Challenge”. Written by Imogen Kerr. Directed by Imogen Kerr and Phyllis Brown.
Won the George Scott Trophy for the best set which was designed by Antony Eggeling.
Spring Show:
“The Good Clown and The Bad Clown” by Renata Allen. Directed by Graham Garson.
This was a children’s production, with a large cast, to inspire interest before casting “Oliver”.
Christmas Show:
“Oliver”. Directed by Jane Hunter.
2001 SCDA one-act festival:
“Albertine in Five Times” by Michel Tremblay. Directed by Graham Garson.
Challenge Cup winners at Orkney Preliminary Festival. Orkney qualifiers for Northern Divisional Finals were judged this year in Orkney due to Foot & Mouth Disease restrictions. However, they were not placed.
Spring Show:
“Our Day Out” by Willy Russell. Directed by David Fidler.
Christmas Show:
“The Sound of Music”. Directed by Graham Garson.
2002 SCDA one-act festival:
Hamnavoe - “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern” by W.S.Gilbert. Directed by David Fidler.
Challenge Cup winners again at Orkney Preliminary Festival. Performed at Northern Divisional Final in Kirkwall.
Greenvoe - “Lone Star’ by James McLure. Directed by Graham Garson.
Placed 3rd at Orkney Preliminary Festival – won A C Hunter Cup.
Youth - “We’ll be home tomorrow” by Wayne Denfhy. Directed by Jane Hunter.
Winners of Orcadian Youth Trophy. Performed at Northern Youth Divisional Finals in Aberdeen.
Christmas Show:
Pantomime “The Three Musketeers – Le Panteau”. Directed by Sweyn Hunter.
2003 SCDA one-act festival: (A record 4 entries from the club!)
Brinkie’s - “Waiting for a Bus” by Peter Barnes. Directed by Diana Preston
Greenvoe - “The Hardman (Act One)” by Tom McGrath and Jimmy Boyle. Directed by Graham Garson
Runners-up at Orkney Preliminary Festival – won Firth Trophy, as well as the Jean Campbell Memorial Trophy for best play depicting Scottish Life and Character. Performed at Northern Divisional Finals in Dunkeld.
Hamnavoe - “Sweethearts” by W S Gilbert. Directed by David Fidler & Phyllis Brown
Youth - “Spud Ferret and the Case of the Stolen Diamonds” by Jeff Gallagher. Directed by Jane Hunter.
Third overall at Orkney Preliminary Festival. Winners of the A C Hunter Cup and the Orcadian Youth Cup, as well as the George Scott Cup for the best stage setting. Performed at Youth Festival in Arbroath.
Christmas Show:
Musical “Bugsy Malone”. Directed by Jane Hunter and Graham Garson.
2004 SCDA one-act festival:
Hamnavoe – “Creatures of Impulse” by W.S. Gilbert. Directed by David Fidler.
Greenvoe - “Marcel pursued by the Hounds” by Michel Tremblay. Directed by Graham Garson.
Took 2nd place at Orkney Preliminary Festival, winning the Firth Trophy.
Performed at Northern Divisional Finals in Aberdeen.
Youth – “Kids” by John Morgan. Directed by Niamh Delaney, Colin Nicolson and Finlay Harnden.
Christmas Show:
Pantomime “Aladdin”. Directed by Graham Garson.
2005 SCDA one-act festival:
Hamnavoe - “The Laramie Project” by Moisés Kaufman. Directed by Graham Garson.
Placed 2nd in Orkney Preliminary Festival – won Firth Trophy. Performed at the Youth Divisional Finals, but where not placed. However, they went on to perform for a week at “The Zoo” in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2005.
Greenvoe - “Bouncers – 1990s remix” by John Godber. Directed by Graham Garson.
Although placed only fourth at the Orkney Preliminary Festival, Orkney had three teams qualifying for the Northern Divisional Finals, and ‘Bouncers’ went through to the Arbroath Northern Divisional Finals as 1st reserves. They won, and went on to the Scottish Finals in Stirling, where they were placed a very creditable second.
Christmas Show:
Pantomime “Bobby Shaftoe”. Directed by Phyllis Brown.
2006 SCDA one-act festival:
“Buck Fever” by Bill Bozzone. Directed by Graham Garson.
Placed 2nd at Orkney Preliminary Festival – won Firth Trophy. Performed at Northern Divisional Finals. (Where?)
Greenvoe (Youth) - “The Retiring Highwayman” by Michael Legat. Directed by Martha McGill.
Hamnavoe (Youth) - “Is it Time Yet, Dad?” by Wayne Denfhy. Directed by Niamh Delaney.
Christmas Show:
Musical “Disco Inferno”. Directed by Graham Garson.
2007 SCDA one-act festival:
Greenvoe (Youth) - “Bouncers 1990s remix” by John Godber. Directed by Graham Garson.
Took 3rd place at Orkney Preliminary Festival – won A C Hunter Cup, and Orcadian Youth Trophy.
Performed at Dunkeld Northern Divisional Finals, Youth Divisional Finals in Blairgowrie and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2007.
Christmas Show:
Musical “Chicago”. Directed by Graham Garson
2008 SCDA one-act festival:
“Bombshells” by Joanna Murray-Smith. Directed by Graham Garson
Christmas Show:
Pantomime “Peter and The Wolf”. Directed by Jane Hunter and Fiona Matheson.
2009 SCDA one-act festival:
“Ladybirds” by Tony Layton. Directed by Phyllis Brown.
Christmas Show:
Musical “Back to The Eighties”. Directed by Phyllis Brown, Melanie Slater and Lynn Procter.
2010 SCDA one-act festival:
“Blood Brothers” by Willy Russell. Directed by Rhiannon Reilly.
Christmas Show:Musical “Guys & Dolls”. Directed by Melanie Slater and Lorraine Giles
2011 SCDA one-act festival:
Hamnavoe - “Topsyturveydom” by W S Gilbert. Directed by David Fidler.
Greenvoe - “Calling” by Colin and Mary Crowther. Directed by Phyllis Brown.
Christmas Show:
Pantomime “Alice In Wonderland”. Directed by Jane Hunter
2012 SCDA one-act festival:
“The Storm Watchers” by George Mackay Brown. Directed by Graham Garson.
Placed 3rd at the Orkney Preliminary Festival, winning the A C Hunter Cup. Also won the Jean Campbell Memorial Trophy for best Play Depicting Scottish Life and Character.