Shropshire Drama Company: Latest production marks two milestones – 20 years since SDC first performed Henry V and the company’s 60th birthday
The forthcoming production of William Shakespeare’s Henry V by Shropshire Drama Company (SDC) will mark two milestones in the organisation’s history.
It will not only be 20 years since SDC first performed the play at Much Wenlock Festival, but also 60 years since Shropshire County Drama Group (SCDG); which was the original name before changing to SDC in 2005; was established in 1958 by the then county drama adviser, Bert Amies, OBE.
SDC spokesperson Neville Street, said: “Bert maintained, up until he passed away in 1992, that SCDG should aim to offer ‘challenging, worthwhile and innovative drama’ to the people of Shropshire. Well, we have carried that ethos through to the present day and on occasions delivered our productions to people outside of Shropshire, in particular when we took Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well to the RSC’s Complete Works fringe festival at Stratford in 2006. We performed two shows to capacity crowds in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church, adjacent to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. I think Bert would be proud of the work we have produced, in particular at Much Wenlock Festival from 1984 to 2014, as well as touring shows such as 2013’s rehearsed reading in Shropshire churches of TS Eliot’s Murder In The Cathedral, and in the last nine years, regular performances at Theatre Severn.”
Commenting on Henry V, he continued: “In addition to the group of talented new people on board, some of the actors from 1998 are in the forthcoming production and Peter Beechey, who played Chorus 20 years ago, is the director. We hope that the generous audiences we have received since 1958 will continue to attend our productions for many more years to come.”
Performances of Henry V start at 7.30pm in the Walker Theatre at Theatre Severn and tickets cost £17.50 and £15 for students (Wednesday and Thursday only). A discount of £1 per ticket is available for block bookings of ten or more people. To book tickets contact the box office at Theatre Severn – telephone 01743 281281 – or alternatively book online at www.theatresevern.co.uk/shows/drama/henry-v/.
Picture: Alex Beechey as Henry V.
