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The Chandeliers is an amateur dramatic society participating in a wide range of music and dramatic activities, aiming for the highest professional standard only not getting paid for it. We produce three main productions each year which follow on consecutively from one another, not leaving any gap, for those who desire an active role in each. |
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| Productions |
| Our May production, which begins rehearsing in February, is entered into the Kent Drama Association Full-length play festival and as such is usually of a more weighty nature. This contrasts with the September touring production, which is traditionally a more fluffy comedy or farce. The February production is our musical, rehearsing over the winter period and requiring a much larger cast and backstage team. |
| Aside from the three main productions we always enter at least one production into the Duncan Rand One Act play festival and sometimes two, a junior and an adult entry. This is rehearsed from March through to its performance on one day in the last week of July. Over the summer we have taken to experimenting in making our own films. Christmas sees a one act play evening just for fun, where anyone can perform what they like. Then the variety show is performed in June, this may be one performance only, or be more at varying venues. |
| The Candle Drippings |
| All these dates along with social events are advertised in the groups bi-monthly newsletter ‘Candle Drippings’, which has been the means of circulating such information since the 1970s, though now many members receive it electronically. |
| The Committee |
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| As with all groups of this kind the everyday running of the Chandeliers and all things associated with the same is overseen by a committee made up of elected people from the group’s membership. Any adult member can stand for the committee, though to be an officer you need to have served on the committee at least a year. The officers are; Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Secretary. There are 7 other members. |
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One of the Candle Drippings regular cartoons |
| The committee holds monthly meetings to discuss the general running of the group with extra dates to accommodate readings of any plays proposed for our productions. The committee is appointed at the AGM held in June where, if there have been any nominations greater than the prescribed total members of the committee, a vote takes place among the membership. |
| The AGM and Awards evening |
| Following the Annual General Meeting, where the events of the previous year are discussed along with the election of the committee and voting upon any other items needing group decisions, we have our version of the Oscars ceremony where various trophies which have been donated over the years and have a history in themselves, are presented to those who have received the highest number of votes by their peers. The Trophies currently awarded are: |
Kids Cups (Male & Female)
Julian Fullman Memorial Trophy - Young Achiever
The “Henry” (Chapman) Cup - Young Achiever
View from the Box
Chairman’s Award
The Quarman Cup
The Elizabeth Award
Clarke Family Trophy for Best Newcomer
Smith Family Salver - Best Supporting Rôle
Dot Saunders Memorial Shield - Backstage Merit
The Fred Paul “Bloomer” Award (Most Glorious Mishap)
The Cheeseman Cups for ‘Best Actor’ and ‘Best Actress
The Aubrey Weeks Rosebowl (Chandelier of the Year)
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