Production Values - The art of Amdram

In this episode we have a review of the recent production of the Vicar of Dibley performed by the Bury St Edmunds Operatic and Dramatic Society (BSODS) at the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds.

This is the first review by our new guest reviewer Kath Hallam and I hope will be the first of many by Kath.

For more information on this podcast please visit https://stuarthannah.com/my-podcasts/

EXCLUSIVE:  In this episode I get the opportunity to talk to singer songwriter Carys about her brand new stage musical Night:City.  Described as “a musical like never before, Night:City is where urban legends live inviting you to escape the everyday, one song at a time”.

The episode includes music from the upcoming soundtrack album.

I was loafing on holiday in Turkey when this opportunity came up and as the show opens soon on the 25th of July, I owe a big thanks to David Wright, Grammy nominated composer and producer of the soundtrack album, for interviewing Carys on my behalf to avoid delaying the episode release.

Tickets are selling fast for the one night only premier of Night:City taking place at the Fisher Theatre in Bungay Suffolk on July 25th and can be purchased here: https://fishertheatre.org/FisherTheatre.dll/Booking?Booking=TSelectItems.waSelectItemsPrompt.TcsWebMenuItem_0.TcsWebTab_0.TcsPerformance_1149139.TcsSection_1730 

More information about Carys and her other work can be found here: 

https://carysmusic.com/

As well as on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caryssongs

Or Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Carysmusic. And Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/52hvpv1X4gg5uDSg8crkuP/discography

Further information on the Album producer David Wright can be found here:

Website: https://www.davidwrightmusic.com/

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wright_(British_musician)

If you would like your production featured on the show please contact me on [email protected]

Thanks for listening.

Stu x

In this episode our roving reporter Seb Ranson interviews Julia Frazier, an American Shakespeare Superfan and theatre professional; about how she is realising a lifelong ambition to not only direct what is probably Shakespeare's funniest comedy but to do so in the country of his birth.

She talks about her love of the works of the Bard of Stratford and how she hopes to inject as much British humour as possible into the play which is the latest production by the Bury Theatre Workshop and is this years summer Shakespeare in the Park production, performed outdoors in the beautiful Abbey Gardens Bury St Edmunds. The show will be on from Tuesday July 28th through to Saturday August 1st (including a 2pm matinee). For tickets visit https://www.burytheatreworkshop.org.uk/new-productions

If you are involved in an amateur theatre production and would like it to be featured on the podcast please get in touch by emailing [email protected]

In this episode I look at what it's like working backstage in Amdram productions. It can seem to be an unglamorous existence lurking in the dark backstage but when you contribute to a successful show it is very satisfying. I also share some stories about some near disasters that I have witnessed during my time working as a stage hand in Amdram. It's great fun but not without some risk in the theatre environment.

If you would like to share your backstage stories or like me to feature your upcoming amatuer production on the show, please email me at [email protected]

In this re-recorded episode I look at life backstage. It can be an unglamorous existence lurking in the dark back stage but when you contribute to a successful show it is very satisfying. I also share some stories about some near disasters that I have witnessed during my time working as a stage hand in Amdram. It's great fun but not without some risk in the theatre environment.

If you would like to share your backstage stories or like me to feature your upcoming amatuer production on the show, please email me at [email protected]

This is a special review episode. I recently saw the Sudbury Dramatic Society's production of Breaking the code by Hugh Whitemore. The play tells the rise and fall of the genius that was Alan Turing, father of modern computing.

The play was cleverly staged and filled with terrific performances, so much so that I felt compelled to record a review.

If you would like me to feature your amateur production or group on the show, please message me at [email protected]

In this episode I share part 2 of my interview with Pelham Elliott. In part one we discussed his professional acting work, in this second part of the interview we discuss his love of Amdram and how he came to adapt the novel Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day for the stage.

I recently got the chance to interview Pelham Elliot, one of our regular cast members and directors at the Bury Theatre Workshop and other east Anglia amdram groups.  

As well as a very active member of groups in the Bury St Edmunds area, Pelham is also a professional actor.  I thought it would be interesting to discuss his professional work and why he also enjoys being involved in local amateur productions.

The interview is split into two parts, starting with our discussion about his recent TV work including Ted Lasso & The Ashley Maddison Scandal for Netflix, Music video work (featuring in Mick Jaggers 'England Lost') and his time as a regular on the Murder Mystery circuit.

In the following episode I will include part two of the interview,  where we discuss his love of Amdram.

I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did recording it.

In this episode we talk to a lady called Georgette Vale who has been developing an Audio Description Service for her local Amateur Dramatic group, The Wymondham Players in Norfolk.

This service is often provided for professional stage shows but is not common within Amateur Productions. Georgette would like to see more groups across the UK provide this service for potential audience members who are either blind or visually impaired so that they can enjoy live theatre local to them.

Georgette is featured in an issue of the NODA magazine, the link is here if you would like to read the article https://issuu.com/nodapress/docs/noda_today_-_summer_25/51?ff

If you would like to talk to Georgette about how you might offer this service to your audiences you can call her on: 01953 605434

In this episode Seb Ranson interviews David Pollard, writer and director of The Ripple Effect, a new original play being performed in Ipswich in September 2025.

This podcast series follows new amateur productions from conception to show week.

If you are involved in an amateur production and would like us to feature it on the show please email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠and we can discuss how best to feature your production.

If you would like to get involved in a production and live in the Bury St Edmunds area, why not get in touch with the Bury Theatre Workshop ⁠⁠https://www.burytheatreworkshop.org.uk/about-us⁠