Tiverton Dramatic Society

 

Past Productions

The Diary of Anne Frank - April 2010
A Drama by Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett

Soon after Hitler came to power, Otto Frank, a German Jew, moved his business to Amsterdam where he thought that his family would be safe. After the start of the war it became evident that this would not be the case and so he started to make preparations to go into hiding. Eventually in 1942 his family moved into an unknown attic above his factory warehouse which he shared with his friends, Mr and Mrs Van Dann and their son Peter. This play is adapted from the diary of Anne Frank his youngest daughter and describes their lives over a period of two years leading up to the time just before the end of the war. Regrettably, just before the war finally ended, the families were discovered and taken to concentration camps where they all died with the exception of Otto Frank himself. Otto Frank himself was consulted over the contents of this play and so it is considered to be an accurate, albeit much condensed, portrayal of what really happened.

Caught in the Net - October 2009
A Comedy by Ray Cooney

The sequel to Run For Your Wife finds our bigamist taxi-driver, John Smith, still keeping both his families (one in Wimbledon and one in Streatham) happy and blissfully unaware of each other. However, his teenage children – one girl and one boy by each wife – have met on the internet and are determined to see each other in person, especially as it transpires that they have so much in common – same surname, taxi-driver dad of the same age, etc! When it dawns on John that they are about to meet, he plunges into a hell-hole of his own making in order to keep them apart. His saviour could be Stanley, his lodger. Stanley is about to go on holiday with his decrepit old father, who turns up thinking he is already at the guest house. The ever-spiralling situation gets increasingly out-of-hand as John busts a gut to juggle with the truth.

'Allo 'Allo - April 2009
A Comedy by Jeremy Lloyd & David Croft

This is a production which still features many of those much loved characters, antics, innuendos and humour that made the television series such a success. 'Allo 'Allo is a seasoned favourite that brings in audiences from far and wide. Now listen very carefully. I shall say this only once!

The action takes place in war-torn France during the German occupation of the Second World War. We follow the adventures of Rene, the hapless cafe owner as he and his wife Edith struggle to keep for themselves a priceless portrait stolen by the Nazis and which is kep in a sausage in their cellar.

Rene is hiding two British airmen and is endeavouring, with the help of the resistance, to repatriate them. However, the communications with London through a wireless disguised as a cockatoo add to the many embarrassments he endures in the company of his patrons.

Matters come to a head with the news that the Fuhrer is to visit the town and the cafe becomes filled with tricksters intending to impersonate Hitler before the event. Rene will need all the wit that he can muster to save his cafe - and his life...!

Prescription for Murder - October 2008
A drama by Norman Robbins

This production was a world premiere.
This thriller is set in the picturesque village of Bere Knighton in Devon. As the curtain rises, a ruthless serial killer has selected a local resident as their new victim and a foolproof plan is set in motion.
The Doctor's new wife battles a mysterious and debilitating illness and village life continues as normal. Then, the arrival of a stranger sets of a relentless cat and mouse game where no-one is safe if they happen to get in the killer's way.

3 for 1 - April 2008
Three One-Act Plays

I Never Knew It Would Be like This - a comedy by
Evelyn Hood.
Doreen finds herself shipwrecked on a tropical desert island with dithering Arthur.  As Doreen tries to concentrate on her knitting knowing that rescue is looming, Arthur is trying to be practical and thinks that he should build a shelter for one ... no two ... no one!!!

Mother Figure - A comedy by Alan Ayckbourn.
Lucy is a full-time mum of three small children. Her husband, Harry, is a businessman who works a lot away from home. The neighbours visit to check that Lucy is all right and end up being treated like children by Lucy. They respond to this treatment by behaving like children themselves.

Still Life - a drama by Noel Coward
The film Brief Encounter was based on the 1930's play. Set in a railway station waiting room, the doomed affair between upper class Laura and Alex becomes apparent. The lower class order of waitresses, station staff and soldiers provides a light relief from the otherwise tragic story.