LEVELS AMATEUR SHOW COMPANY PRESENT RAPUNZEL ROCKS     A new year, a new venue and a new pantomime group. Welcome to the ‘Levels Amateur Show Company’ who are performing their debut at the Kingsbury Community Centre. Rapunzel Rocks, written by Ben Crocker, was the company's choice and Director Jodie Parks was in the driving seat. Forming a new company can be a daunting experience with many trials and tribulations along the way. This company needed to find their feet. Did it p

Strode Theatre Presents – The Wizard of Oz   The Somerset Fellowship of Drama  has kindly given me Christmas and New Year off! So on the last venture before my Christmas break I follow the yellow brick road from Taunton to Street. It is here Strode Theatre are presenting The Wizard of Oz. A friendly welcome greeted me on arrival along with a comprehensive programme and a goodie bag that could only be described as a mini Christmas hamper! Thank you. Directed and choreographed

B-Scene Productions present Cinderella    I had heard a lot about B-Scene Productions on my travels so was very much looking forward to visiting Leweston Theatre, Sherborne. What a great venue to put on a panto. This was their debut, it was opening night and I was judging too. No pressure then! A friendly welcome awaited me by Director and writer Rosie Horsey who had written the script last year when she was just sixteen, yes, sixteen! A professional programme was given to me

Timsbury Theatre Group presents ‘Frosted’   On a wet and chilly night I head over the Mendips to the outskirts of Bath where Timsbury Theatre Group  are   presenting ‘Frosted’. I certainly didn’t receive a frosty reception on my arrival though! What a great choice of script. Written by Warren McWilliams by arrangement with Stagescripts Ltd and directed by Jon and Jo Hicks this was very funny, very topical and very seasonal all rolled into one. It is evident you have a dedica

Minehead Panto People Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood   My never ending journey now takes me to the coast where  Minehead Panto People are   presenting Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood. Although one of the fewer pantomimes performed these days it still includes most of the main characters in keeping with panto tradition and, as its title suggests, will always have a rustic and autumnal feel about it. Jon Pattison was in the hot seat as director and you were in safe

Wells Little Theatre Present Sleeping Beauty    I always enjoy my journey across the levels to Wells Little Theatre. I know they always come up with a trump card and this year was no exception. Directed by Ken Edmonds and written and produced by Vicky Orman this was a pantomime that had everything and possibly a little bit more! Casting was ‘spot on’ and each character and chorus was extremely well rehearsed. The cue bite was sound and no prompts required. Freda certainly had

MOORLIGHT THEATRE PRODUCTIONS PRESENT SNOW WHITE   While browsing through your comprehensive programme it appears that I have watched almost twenty of your fine performances and I have to say you still gave me the same ‘friendly welcome’ as you did all those years ago. It’s hardly surprising you pride yourself with ‘Just Friendship’ Snow White  was the society’s choice this season. Written by Vicky Orman and directed by Rowena Collins this pantomime had something for everyone

MUCH A’MUSE’MENT AT GIANT PANTO I had heard so much about Muses Theatrical Productions and was very much looking forward to watching their debut pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, in Weston Super Mare. A great decision in choosing a Tom Whalley script. He is one of my all time favourites. It’s never too lengthy and he brings so much to the table that can also be adapted. A debut too for Director Conner Vickery. With a cast of eleven including the chorus, a small stage and jus

On a dark and dismal night I head off to The Trull Players. They are performing Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ written by Vicky Orman and directed by Sam Allen. A warm welcome awaits me as I enter a packed hall with festive music softly playing in the background and the aroma of freshly heated mince pies. Snow White was extremely popular in our competition last season and I can now understand why. This is a nostalgic story that both adults and children love and are familiar

SOMETHING IS VERY FISHY AT ROADWATER   My second pantomime takes me to the quaint village of Roadwater. It is here that their Players are presenting Robinson Crusoe. Written by Tom Whalley and directed by Nige McBrayne this script included all the traditional panto paraphernalia expected plus much, much more. From beginning to end the story moved along swiftly with many comical moments. Each character was well defined and provided crystal clear diction. The chorus was well re

AN EAST COKERS PLAYERS PRODUCTION   The start of this season’s pantomime competition takes me to East Coker where their players are presenting ‘ Cinderella and the Other Fella’ With the village hall festively decorated and many audience members wearing Christmas jumpers this was certainly going to be the season to be panto jolly! Written and directed by Jon Margetts this was a take on the traditional Cinderella  that we all are familiar with. For example, the glass slipper wa

For many societies scripts are now down, the stage is getting set and all those costume alterations have been completed especially for that final walk down.   The Cinderella Trophy Awards Competition  kicks off this weekend and will be in full swing leading up to Christmas. And what a blockbuster of a competition this is going to be! With almost 30 entrants to date (the largest in many years) our coordinator, Pam Price, has certainly had her work cut out over the past few wee

Phoebe Rees Awards Evening 24 October 2025 After a 2-year break, the annual Phoebe Rees Awards Dinner returned on Friday 24 th  October with a glittering ceremony at the Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster. The cream of Somerset drama groups donned their finery and turned out en masse to celebrate excellence in amateur theatre over the past year across the county. Following speeches and a delicious dinner, the presentation was led by moderator Robert Graydon, ably assisted by his team

A vacancy has become available which we are anxious to fill as soon as possible for a coordinator for the Youth Competition. The Somerset Fellowship of Drama is looking for someone with a keen interest in all things drama related who would be interested in handling all the entries to the Youth Competition which come in from groups all over Somerset. You would be the sole contact with each group up until the time their production has taken place. Every entry is different which

This Bursary Offer is open to County Drama Festival Entrants only.

Catherine Grice (left) receiving the Pat Hudson Trophy from Irene Glynn This year's winner of the Pat Hudson Trophy is Catherine Grice...

SFD Secretary Pam Price, Chairman Dendy Harris with winner Lynn Brown Lynn Brown has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement at this years...