October 25th & 26th November 1st, 8th & 9th 2024
‘The Actor’s Nightmare by Christopher Durang & ‘Easy Stages’ by N. J. Warburton.
Our Autumn Production was a fantastic success! Audiences joined the TANES amateur drama group in preparation for their upcoming production of ‘Hamlet’ and saw their newest member experience the universal nightmare that all actors have experienced; being on stage but having no clue who you are supposed to be and no idea what your lines are! Things got no better in Act 2 as we saw the backstage goings on, in this fast-moving comedy, a hilarious spoof with surprising twists and turns!
Photo Gallery
(Please click on the pictures to see the full photographs)
6th & 7th September 2024
In celebration of our society’s 75th anniversary, CADS Youth Theatre presented their show, ‘A Script in Time’. When a mysterious stranger showed up the night before Prim-Raf Theatre’s 75th anniversary, the Youth Theatre group are thrown into a dramatic journey through history to save the day and get to their show on time!
4th September 2024
‘The Piskey Path’ A Case of Cornish Stories with Hunt and Bottrell, tale collectors
CADS were proud to stage the premier of this puppet show. Hunt and Bottrell joined us as they unpacked their suitcase of stories with a bit of help from Mazed storytellers. We heard tales of generous giants, shimmering mermaids, mischievous piskies, hissing spriggans and flying sheep. We were aMazed!
Robert Hunt was a dispensing chemist, pioneer photographer, keeper of mining records for the Geological Museum and folklorist. He published his tale collection Popular Romances of the West of England in 1865. William Bottrell, Old Celt, son of St Levan, farmer, adventurer and world traveller, spent his later years as a hermit at Hawkes Point in Lelant. His three books of the Hearthside Tales of West Cornwall, 1870-80, tell the stories he heard in his childhood and tales he heard from Lelant miners. His work influenced the founders of the Old Cornwall Society.
1st September 2024
‘The Silver Ball’ by Anna Chorlton
The Gorsedh took place in Callington (Kelliwik) for the first time in 40 years and was a celebration of Cornish cultural events, including music, poetry, art, dance and drama.
CADS was proud to host ‘The Silver Ball’, a play by local playwright Anna Chorlton, who also attended the event. This was one of 2 shows to take place at Prim-Raf Theatre to celebrate the week long festivities.
‘The Silver Ball’ is the story of a young woman, Holly, who comes to Cornwall to see her family and to escape lockdown. While out walking on Bodmin Moor, she hears tales from local folklore and becomes unwittingly involved in the story of the Hurlers stone circle at Minions. The drama had been serialised on radio; however, this is the first time the play was performed on stage.
It was great timing that the Gorsedh’s return to Callington after 40 years, as this coincides with the 75th anniversary of Callington Amateur Drama Society (CADS).
2024
by John Chapman
Directed by: David McCarroll
Producers: Julie Baldwin & Terri Wilcox
Sarah and Rupert’s marriage is on the rocks, so they asked their lawyer friends, Charles and Madge, to help with the divorce. All goes well, until real life intervenes and chaos ensued! This brilliant comedy, by the author of ‘Not Now, Darling’ and ‘Are You Being Served?’ was a great success!
An extract from the CDA Adjudication Report:
“An ambitious play to produce, with successful teamwork behind the scenes, and some very funny moments on stage. The audience loved it all and showed their appreciation volubly and energetically. The cast and crew alike deserve the approbation of the theatregoers for their dedication to producing a most entertaining show. Thank you for inviting us to see it.”
Jo Nicolle (Moderating Adjudicator)
Oriel Bennett (Adjudicator)
2024
‘Snowenna and the Seven Piskies’
by Rose Bradley and Janice Smith
“Well done Prim-Raf, you were wonderful. You did us proud and we loved the show. Thank you for using our script and making it hilarious!” Janice and Rose.
In this Cornish take on the classic fairy tale, Snowenna was saved from the evil witches, with the help of the Piskies and she finally agreed to marry Prince Gregory. Tamara found true love with Woody. We found out why Shoeless and Clueless were scattering pasty crumbs and discovered who kept turning the Signpost around! The Emmet’s found their way out of the woods at last! Mirror, throughout, just wasn’t “bovvered!”
This show, over 8 performances, was a truimph!
Please read our amazing CDA Adjudication here
Adapted and Directed by: Allana Hansell
Producer: Julie Baldwin
WITH GRATEFUL THANKS TO DAWN FRENCH FOR COMING TO SEE THE SHOW AND GIVING UP HER TIME TO HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS WITH OUR CAST AND SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS.
2023
‘A Bunch of Amateurs’ by Nick Newman and Ian Hislop
From an original story by Jonathan Gershfield and John Ross. This production was by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd., on behalf of Samuel French Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk
Keen to boost his flagging career, fading Hollywood action hero Jefferson Steele arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford – only to find that this is not the birthplace of the Bard, but a sleepy Suffolk village. As acting worlds collide and Jefferson’s career implodes, he discovers some truths about himself – along with his inner Lear!
Director: David McCarroll
Producer: Lynda Dawe.
Cornwall Drama Association nomination: BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY (Laurie Jones as Jefferson Steele).
2022
‘Happy Campers’ by Richard James’
This production was by arrangement with Lazy Bee Scripts.
A comedy drama with a bite to it! This tells the story of a family gathering in the Yorkshire countryside to scatter the ashes of a man with a dark history.
Director: Julie Schemanoff Assistant Director: Lester Gregory
Producer: Lynda Dawe
Cornwall Drama Association nominations:
- BEST SET IN A PLAY
- BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (Dave McCarroll)
WINNER! Dave McCarroll as Spencer!