Bolsover Drama Group

Dale Shaw, Michelle Simpson, Stewart Wood, Pam Mosley and Steve Sowerby read 'A Gem of a Place' at the re-opening of Bolsover Library In May 2008 Bolsover Drama Group members Pam Mosley, Dale Shaw, Michelle Simpson, Steve Sowerby and founder member Stewart Wood were invited to take part in the re-opening of Bolsover Library following a £180,000 redevelopment by reading a poem specially commissioned for the event by Derbyshire County Council Cultural and Community Services and written by then-Derbyshire poet laureate River Wolton. The poem, ‘A Gem of a Place’, charts the rich history of Bolsover from prehistoric times to the present day and has been performed on several occasions by members of Bolsover Drama Group. The full text of the poem is available in the book ‘You Are Here: Travels of a Derbyshire Poet Laureate’ available from Bolsover Library or by emailing alison.betteridge@derbyshire.gov.uk . You can also read the poem on the Derbyshire County Council website .  More in

Over the recent months we have been keeping you updated with the progress of our current project – the restoration of the Banister Chapel in Shuttlewood.  The chapel is the group’s largest asset and is the location used for the storage of scenery, costumes and props, as well as being an area where the scenery for shows can be designed, built and painted. Following ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ new clothes rails were constructed allowing members an opportunity to start to clear out the costume room.  Now that we are able to gain better access to the costumes we own we will be able to catalogue and sort the costumes which may be of use in forthcoming shows, and recycle old costumes which are no longer of use. Sorting the costume room is one activity which members and friends of the group can volunteer their time towards, as a small step towards the on-going restoration of the chapel.  As we look to progress this project we will be looking to maintain the structural areas of the chapel, such

On Monday 7 th December a number of the cast of Bolsover Drama Group’s two pantomimes helped entertain local school children and their parents at a charity talent show organised by Palterton Primary School which took place at the Moorfield Hall Theatre. The evening was organised by Palterton Primary School teacher and Bolsover Drama Group member Leanne Whitehouse, and featured Palterton Primary School pupils performing songs, dances and sketches in aid of the Arthritis Research Campaign’s arc Noddy appeal. While the judges – Bolsover Drama Group chairman Mick Whitehouse, Palterton Primary School headteacher Lynsey Hunter and Lyndsey Whitehouse who represented Arthritis Research Campaign – decided who had won the contest the audience were entertained by James Sheppard performing an excerpt from his roll of Dame Dolly in ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’, followed by Dale Shaw (Simple Simon), Ray Hall (Rancid the Ratman) and Chris Peck (Snatchet) inviting the audience to join in with a