Play Reading Group leader - Jo Green. Please contact me via the email link above.

Surrey County Council withdrew from funding the Performing Arts Library in 2020/21 and its running has been taken over by an independent company, NewSPAL (New Surrey Performing Arts Library). The scheme, although more expensive, is working well.

The range of works is large so our selection is limited by personal choice and availability. Recently we have read plays by Alan Ayckbourn, Chekhov, Agatha Christie, Noel Coward, Michael Frayn, David Haig (My Boy Jack, about Kipling’s son lost during WWI) and Daphne du Maurier. A search of the catalogue revealed plays by Christie and Coward which we had not heard of - a nice discovery.

Sufficient copies are ordered, the leader reads through the play beforehand and allocates parts. As our membership is small this usually entails readers having more than one part. We then read the play aloud, without the actions and following the stage directions which are sometimes very detailed indeed!

”Back in March 2024…

The Play Reading Group read Terra Nova by Ted Tally.

This followed a comment from a friend in Chichester that she had seen a play about the Antarctic at the Theatre. Following research on the internet, we discovered the play about Captain Scott’s ill fated expedition to the Antarctic in 1912. We very much enjoyed it so when it was on at the local Am Dram Archway Theatre in November 2024 we decide on a Group Outing.

We thought the production very well done, especially their depiction of the Antarctic - not easy on such a small stage and with their resources. Their use of costumes was very imaginative too, with only Captain Scott keeping his Antarctic clothing throughout whilst the rest of the cast changed into dinner jackets etc as appropriate. It was good to relate the play we had read to our local theatre.”

Article by JO GREEN on 8 January 2025.

Meetings are held in two venues. Contact Group Leader for details.

We are a friendly group and new members would receive a very warm welcome.