KADDS — KINGSWOOD AMATEUR DRAMA AND DANCE SOCIETY
Drama in Kingswood has an outstanding reputation and a faithful following. At its inception in 1980, it functioned under the banner of the KVCA. This proved so successful that after ten years, a separate drama committee was formed, known as KADDS (Kingswood Amateur Drama and Dance Society) to continue the wide variety of productions, which included classical and modern drama, comedies, thrillers, pantomimes, revues and Christmas shows.
100% of all profits are given to the KVCA for the upkeep of the hall, and this benefits Kingswood Village generally, by keeping the charges to other hall users as low as possible. In order to continue the high standard and variety of productions at KADDS, we welcome interest from the local community, not only on stage and backstage, but through our audiences. Attending our events is a most enjoyable way of supporting your village. It is an extremely friendly group which welcomes adults and children alike, so do take a minute to look at our forthcoming events.
We also advertise on the Amateur Dramatics Worldwide site.
For more information please contact Judy Parnall, Chairman, KADDS.
Why not join KADDS?
KADDS is a wonderful local drama group putting on shows to an excellent standard, and having fun in doing so. But we find ourselves relying on a smaller group of people to participate in the production of plays and shows, particularly behind the scenes, and we are keen to recruit more!
Each year we aim to put on two plays – one during either the February or the May/June half-term break and the other in the October half-term break. Each production is a separate entity and you can be involved in one, or as many as you wish. For each we hold auditions approximately three months prior to the performance, led by the Director, when the actors are chosen, and we decide on the Back Stage roles. Each production requires a Producer, Set Building and Stage Setting, Stage Manager, Prompt, Lighting, Costumes, Props and even someone to help with tea-making at rehearsals. You do not need to have had previous experience.
We are a very friendly group, and during the rehearsals and production it is a great deal of fun, culminating in the satisfaction and thrill of the Play itself. And always followed by a party!
If you have ever felt you would like to join in, be part of it and the camaraderie, then PLEASE CONTACT Judy Parnall.
Review of Plaza Suite, our Spring Play 2025, Kingswood Village Hall on May 29th-31th, 2025
Once again KADDS welcomed the talent of William McKee, who excellently directed two plays from Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite.
In ‘Visitor from Mamaroneck’, Karen Nash (Elayne Teague) attempts to revisit honeymoon happiness in the original suite, hoping to regenerate her husband’s enthusiasm for intimacy. Elayne’s portrayal of Karen as a middle-aged wife facing competition from her husband’s younger lover was touching. Whereas Karen determinedly hangs on to her mistaken belief that she is an ideal wife for her husband Sam (Lars Sawyer), Sam is obsessed with regaining his younger self, enjoying late nights “at work” with his amiably available secretary Miss McCormack (a lack of morals acted charmingly by Judy Parnall). Lars gave a nuanced portrayal of selfishness and put-downs, tempered by occasional glimpses of a torn conscience.
The quick-witted bickering in the second play ‘Visitor from Forest Hills’ was hilarious. Georgie Lucas always gives a wonderful performance and both she and Malcolm Buckoke were on top form as Norma and Roy Hubley, determined to extract their daughter Mimsey from the suite’s bathroom to attend her wedding downstairs. Roy’s furious attempts to break down the door, and Norma’s reaction as Roy crawled along the outer window ledge were moments never to be forgotten.
The exaggerated hysteria shown by both parents was in delightful contrast to the ultimate arrival of the calm bridegroom Bordon Eisler, (Vihann Shah), clearly astonished at their incompetence. It took two sensible words “Cool it” to tempt Mimsey (Oriana Regan-Fisher) from the bathroom, and she finally appeared as a beautiful and unapologetic bride.
Production was by the ever-efficient and omnipresent Judy Parnall. The stage manager Vihaan Shah stepped up to play two parts, including taking on the role of a waiter in the last week of production, when KADDS’s much loved veteran of the stage Dick Palmer was sadly indisposed. We all wish him well. Maggie Kippen created bespoke costumes, and a clever set was built by Steve Kippen allowing the audience to imagine views of New York over a deliberately worrying ledge. KADDS is grateful to David Ames for lighting and sound, to Suzanne Fridaye-McKee for hair and make-up, to Jill Gunn as prompt and to Kingswood Post Office for help with ticket sales.
For those who have not yet enjoyed any visits to Kingswood’s local drama productions, they are definitely worth the experience. As one of the audience said, this was a ‘tour de force’.
Angie Mathers
Forthcoming Events & Productions
Please see details of our forthcoming production of Kindly Leave the Stage by John Chapman being performed on
Thursday 30th, Friday 31st October and Saturday 1st November 2025
All tickets available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/kadds and from Kingswood Village Store, Waterhouse Lane.
