Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society helps Richmond theatre celebrate 50 years since being fully restored in 1963 (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society helps Richmond theatre celebrate 50 years since being fully restored in 1963

11:30am Monday 4th March 2013 in News

AN AMETEUR dramatic society will play its part in celebrating the Richmond Georgian Theatre Royal’s 50th anniversary with a little-known Alan Ayckbourn production.

Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society (RADS) has worked with the Georgian theatre throughout its 50 year history, and will be performing three plays on its stage this year.

RADS chairman Jim Brown said the society is planning an “Ayckbourn sandwich” with a traditional Georgian play in the middle of two Ayckbourn (correct) performances.

“We are getting ready for our production This Is Where We Came In, starting on Thursday, March 21 and finishing on Saturday, March 23, and for the first time we will also be doing a matinee performance on the Saturday,” he said.

“It is a little-known play but it is ideal for families about the unreliability of story-tellers and the resilience of character over plot.”

He added: “It looks like a fairy tale but it has a darker side.”

The show director Amanda Heitler (correct) also works with the Georgian Theatre Royal Youth Theatre, and she was drawn to the play because it works so well for both an adult and younger audience.

Mr Brown said: “We are very lucky to be able to work in this gem of a theatre – it’s an ideal size for an amateur company.

“We are experimenting with a matinee performance this year, we have not done that before but because it is such a great family show we thought it would work well.”

Tickets start at £6.50 and are available from the Georgian Theatre Royal box office on 01748-825252.