The action takes place in the Common Room of a Mission Station in an un-named eastern country in the year 1950.  A group of Irish nuns are stranded in the middle of a revolution, forbidden from carrying on their work with orphaned children and on the point of being forcibly evacuated from the country.  Led by the resolute Reverend Mother, the sisters risk their lives giving refuge to the British Consul and his wife, and hiding the Mission's German doctor and priest, Father Schiller, who is being hunted by the sadistic Captain Lee.  Will Lee succeed or will the sisters help Schiller to escape?  All appears lost when a letter from the General, new Governor of the Province and Godson of one of the nuns, seems to offer a way out - but at what cost?

This is a dramatic story of revolution and its innocent victims, when old wartime differences are re-kindled and the characters' personal, marital and vocational values are tested to breaking point.

"A Letter from the General" will keep you bound to your seats until the final curtain.

Tickets, are available from CADS Box Office, telephone 01603 505934, and at Cringleford Post Office, and are priced at £7.00 each.

At each performance there will be a raffle in aid of the Supersports Kidz Club which is a local charity that helps children with physical disabilities have access to sports sessions.

For a full printable poster click here

CADS is a friendly and sociable amateur dramatic society. If you are interested in joining us in an onstage or backstage role (or any other capacity) please contact us. We are always looking for enthusiastic new members

The box office is currently closed but for future reference the CADS Box Office
address is:

Mrs P Poole,
9 Branksome Road, Norwich, NR4 6SN
or telephone (01603) 505934
Tickets may also be purchased from Cringleford Post Office

Further information is available from Steve Oldfield : s.oldfield@uea.ac.uk

This is the story of three uncomfortably-married couples during three successive Christmas Eve get-togethers in each of their respective homes.  All of the action we see takes place in the couples’ kitchens.  We meet Sidney Hopcroft, a cheerful and confident businessman who, with his duster-wielding, slightly dippy wife, Jane, is aiming for better things.  Then there is disastrous architect neighbour, Geoffrey Jackson, and his apparently sane (but be prepared) wife Eva, who are heading for trouble along with their monstrous dog.  Finally we have calm and conservative bank manager Ronald Brewster-Wright whose wife, Marion, is no stranger to the bottle.

As the curtain rises we find Sidney and Jane waiting nervously for their guests to arrive, hoping that all their careful arrangements will pay off.  Sidney needs a loan from the banker and thinks that the architect can help him realise his dream of becoming a successful property developer.  With such a motley crew gathering together at Christmas time things cannot be expected to run too smoothly, and what follows is an engaging, funny and bumpy journey through the two-year time-span of the play.

In May 2007 CADS presented Mike Hardings poignant and funny 1993 play, “Last Tango in Whitby”.

Slightly irreverent, at times very funny and occasionally quite moving, this play tells the story of a bunch of far from ‘past it’, plain-speaking, Yorkshire pensioners on their annual off-season “tango and touch-up” week in Whitby.

Although they may be in their dotage, the spark of romance is not dead, as recently widowed Pat discovers.  However, interfering busybody Kathleen does not approve of entertainer Phil who is the object of Pat’s affections, and his wife, bitter and lonely Edna, is not too pleased either!

When first time director Laura MacKinnon chose this play, CADS members discovered they’d have to learn not only how to tango, but also to waltz, foxtrot and cha cha cha, not to mention spoon-playing, tap-dancing and a recreation of Wilson, Kepple and Betty’s famous sand dance routine (for those who can remember that far back).

The props list was also rather unusual, requiring items ranging from a wind up gramophone to a dead seagull and even fake dog’s dirt!

For a full printable programme click here

For CADS' 40th production in May 2006, we had fun presenting a bright comedy/mystery play called "Caught Red Handed" or (No Trouble At All). Written by local playwright, Roy Smith, it was first performed in 1993 at Taverham Village Hall.

This is an entertaining story about a perfectly normal family and their friends in some almost perfectly normal situations. It all begins when Harry Haynes unexpectedly brings home his new boss to stay for the night, only to find that his wife, Jo, has taken it upon herself to decorate the lounge. The Haynes' daughters also bring home more guests, and with the appearance of the local Weightlosers Club, and the disappearance of a large sum of money, confusion ensues. To top it all, Jo's mother has left her husband and turns up wanting a place to stay! This delightful comedy was directed by Keith Moore who played the part of Harry in the original Taverham production 13 years earlier. For full printable programe click here

 

 

 

In Spring 1999, CADS presented "Midsummer Mink", an amusing play by Peter Coke with shades of the Ealing Comedy about it. Set in the early 1960s, it tells the story of a group of genteel mature folk who find themselves caught up in a slightly dodgy scheme of dealing in furs. The action takes place in the living room of of Dame Beatrice's flat which is close to the Royal Albert Hall.

The main problem we had with this production was acquiring a convincing array of fur coats, capes and stoles! There was also a last-minute change in casting when it was found that the person chosen to play crook, Michael Hogan, couldn't produce the required Irish accent! Chris Price eventually took the role, wearing a very questionable crumpled suit found in a local charity shop. The play was directed by CADS regular Sue Bailey and had a cast of eleven. The production photos shown here were actually taken in The Red Lion in Cringleford which has some wonderfully atmospheric wood panelled walls and an amazing fireplace - many thanks to the landlord. We also loaned their coal scuttle for the set.

Members of CADS deep into rehearsals