Take a look below to see some of the amazing productions we've put on over the years. From comedies to dramas, musicals to pantomimes, we are passionate about bringing the arts to life. Contact us to learn more about our upcoming productions, auditions, and how to get involved in the UpStagers Amateur Dramatics Society.
The Hopeful Diamond Caper
15th - 17th February 2024
Directed by Jane Rogers and Ann Pearson
Step back in time with The Hopeful Diamond Caper, a comedic play, set aboard an ocean going liner in the 1930s. Follow the absurd antics of a pair of bumbling thieves as they try to steal a priceless diamond. With clever writing and delightful characters, this play is sure to keep you entertained from start to finish.
Dying For A Leek
10th - 12th August 2023
Directed by Carol Vye and Martin Atkins
Del Fyniam is chair of his local gardening club, and a multiple winner of the annual prize for the biggest leeks. But not everything in the garden is rosy.
Del has called an emergency committee meeting to discuss a few urgent matters, and possibly conduct a leek enquiry.
Club members pay a sizeable annual fee and monthly subscriptions, much of which is paid out by way of prize money awarded to the growers of the biggest vegetables, especially carrots, onions and leeks.
Cold Front
2nd - 4th March 2023
Directed by Davyd Hunt and Sam Perkins
When Mike whisks Karen away to a remote cottage in the Scottish Highlands, he thinks he’s planned the perfect birthday surprise.
But things soon sour when the cottage turns out to be nothing more than a rusty tin shack, and the friends Mike has invited are people Karen can’t stand.
As tensions rise and temperatures plummet, they find themselves entombed in a blizzard, leading to frosty exchanges and those of a more amorous nature.
This is an amateur production.
Curtain Up On Murder
27th - 29th October 2022
Directed by Ann Pearson
An amateur drama company is rehearsing in the theatre at the end of the pier. Storms rage overhead and the doors are locked - they are trapped! Then a mysterious ghostly presence passes across the stage, and when the ASM falls to certain death through a trap door, the remaining actors are thrown into disarray.
Dick Whittington
24th - 26th February 2022
Directed by Carol Vye
King Rat is threatening to take over London. Only the penniless but brave Dick Whittington and his trusty feline sidekick, Tiddles, can stop the rodent’s quest for domination!
Cold Blooded Murder
24th - 26th October 2019
Pearl Barley is a devious, scheming woman, who has tricked her husband Charlie into marriage, and is about to take him to the financial cleaners. She also plans to blackmail two ‘old friends.' So is she playing a dangerous game by inviting them to join her and Charlie for a weekend at their country home...?
Special Features
6th - 8th June 2019
As the applause dies down, Marjorie Hopwood, the leading lady, introduces Robin Curzon, the play’s Director, who (after berating modern audiences for behaving at the theatre as though they were lounging at home in front of a DVD) explains that this audience is about to witness a theatrical first – the opportunity to scroll through the ‘Special Features’ of the play, as though it were a DVD.
The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of 'A Christmas Carol'
29th - 30th November and 1st December 2018
Directed by first time director Roz.
The Women of the Farndale are at it again and this time their chosen production is the Christmas classic. However before they even have time to start half the cast have yet to arrive and Mrs Reece is frantically trying to find a replacement to play Scrooge.
Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders
12th - 14th July 2018
Directed by first time director Keith.
It's just another normal day in Chortleby when crime writer Agatha arrives in the village to spend time with her sister-in-law. Soon after her arrival at the village hall it is discovered that Barry has been found dead head down in a water butt and the local PC has requested assistance from Dunmore who is sending Detective Inspector Twigg who Agatha has unfortunately crossed paths with before.
Over the course of the next few weeks a number of villagers who are all on the village hall committee are murdered and its up to the incompetence of Twigg to solve this case - Fortunately Agatha is there to lend a hand and reassure the remaining members of the committee that there is hope to discover not only the motives for the murders but also the identity of the murderer.
Aladdin
15th - 17th February 2018
Written and Directed by Carol.
A twist on the well know pantomime where Aladdin falls with love with the beautiful princess Jasmine. The wicked Abanazar convinces both Aladdin and his poor widowed mother Titania Twanky in believing that he is a long lost relative. But once Aladdin refuses to hand over the magic lamp he traps Aladdin in the cave the lamp was resting.
While trapped Aladdin cleans the lamp and unknowingly releases the Genie and the two escape the cave.
Aladdin with the power of the Genie by his side becomes a wealthy prince and wants to marry princess Jasmine. Learning of Aladdin's return Abanazar comes up with a devious plan to acquire the lamp and rob Aladdin of all that Aladdin has including the princess.
Now Aladdin without the power of the Genie must get back the lamp, save the princess and stop Abanazar's evil plan.
Alternative Accommodation
31st August and 1st - 2nd September 2017
Directed by Anne.
Anna who has recently become a widow is visited by her three middle-aged children who between them have discussed and decided that the family house is far too much of a burden both physically and financially and because of that must be sold.
They have also decided that Anna should move into either a residential home, sheltered housing or similar so long as it's not with any of them.
However, their sudden concern doesn't fool Anna who has other ideas.
Anna has in fact already begun organising her own future which will be a very big shock to the children.
Murder On Air
23rd - 25th March 2017
Directed by Jackie
It is September 1957 and the cast of long-running radio play, Major Siddlington Rides Out, are preparing to record the final episode. A select audience has been invited to witness this historic event and meet the cast and crew. However, tensions are running high and the cast and crew prove to be not quite the happy family that the public have been led to believe…
A Fete Worse Than Death
November 2016
Actor Ray Martin also know to many as TV's Detective Inspector Brady has been invited to open the annual village fete. However during his opening speech murder is afoot when one of the parishioners meets their end.
Now with the power of deduction by one of Ray's biggest fans he is leading a murder investigation and has no idea where to begin as he is only an actor.
Everyone has a motive and everyone is a suspect but Ray's biggest act to date is going to have to be entirely without a script!
Snow White
18th - 20th February 2016
The beautiful but evil queen Maleficent learns through the magic of her mirror that she is no longer the most beautiful person in the land - In fact that honor now belongs to Snow White her step daughter. Maleficent orders one of her servants to take Snow White into the forest where he is to kill her and return with her heart as proof. But he has a kind heart and when the moment arrives he warns her and allows her to escape deep into the forest hopefully never to be found by Maleficent. Venturing deeper into the forest Snow White stumbles upon a cottage and soon learns it is home to seven cleaners who agree to allow Snow White to live with them. However Maleficent isn't fooled for long and takes matters into her own hands.
Prepare to Meet Thy Tomb
23rd - 25th April 2015
Directed by Ann
Novelist Philippa and her assistant Daphne are seeking refuge from a mysterious follower they fear may be the notorious "Norfolk Strangler". Hot on their heels come TV historian Quentin Danesworth and vacuous honeymooners Robert and Miranda. The uninvited guests are soon snooping around the secret passages of the creepy old mansion and asking too many questions for comfort. Sure enough, one by one they fall victim to violent deaths by devious techniques - no secret panel is unoccupied, no cup of tea untouched, and nobody is who they appear to be.
The UpStagers Variety Show
October 2014
Directed by Duncan
Our talented cast had been rehearsing for months to create an unforgettable night of entertainment. From musical numbers to stand-up comedy, there was something for everyone in our show.
Board To Death
30th - 31st May 2014
Directed by Carol
An immersive and captivating world of a Murder Mystery.
A weekly board meeting where things take an unexpected and tragic turn as Ricky drops down dead during a round of coffee.
Puss in Boots
20th - 22nd February 2014
Directed by first time Director Debbie
A classic tail of one man and his cat.
Will Peter find his fame and fortune?
The Hound of the Baskervilles
24th - 26th October 2013
Directed by Carol
Sir Henry is heir to the vast Baskerville fortune, a legacy that comes with a family curse: death at the fangs of a horror that prowls the moor.
Can Holmes can stop the beast?
Blithe Spirit
Blithe Spirit is set at the house of writer, Charles Condomine, and his wife, Ruth. One evening, Charles invites localeccentric medium, Madame Arcati, to hold a seance at his house. He asks along his friends, Dr. and Mrs. Bradman, intending to gather character inspiration from Madame Arcati for his latest book.
Frankenstein's Guests
This finely tuned parody of Frankenstein movies, a short version of The House of Frankenstein!, is fun for actors and audiences. The Baron tries to counsel and cure a motley crew of monsters he has invited to his castle. The Baroness hits the bottle, his guests reveal their true colors and chaos erupts.
The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery
???
Directed by Lisa
Every drama group has experienced the horrors of what can go wrong on opening night, and the ladies of the F.A.H.E.T.G. Dramatic Society are no different, with the possible exception that almost everything that could happen does! The scenery collapses, cues are missed, lines forgotten, and the sound effects take on a strange note at times, as the ladies present their ambitious evening's entertainment with the cunning whodunit, "Murder At Checkmate Manor."
Cinderella
16th - 18th February 2012
Directed by Carol
A story about a young girl who dreams of being a princess but her wicked step mother and evil sisters stand in her way of true love.
My Friend Miss Flint
When Tom Lambert, botanist and TV gardening personality, receives a call from Inland Revenue enquiring about his public relations consultant Joanna Flint, he can honestly say he has never heard of her. By lunchtime, he knows all about Miss Flint: his accountant and ex wife confesses that she invented Miss Flint as a tax dodge. This tricky situation sets the stage for sparkling comedy.
At The Sign of The Crippled Harlequin
17th - 19th March 2011
A case of mistaken identity leads to tragedy in this engaging thriller. In a snowbound guest house in the Peak District, Marjory Pike is wrongly identified by another guest as the author of a book declaiming certain mediums, one of whom had committed suicide as a result. The son of the deceased medium is staying at the guest house, so when he arrives in the lounge bloodied and bruised, and Marjory is found dead, the finger of suspicion naturally points at him. But the guest house may be haunted, other guests have their own secrets, and even the proprietors are not above suspicion ... In true Norman Robbins fashion the deepening mystery is rich with shocks and laughs as the play moves to its unexpected close
Take a look back at all of our previous productions since 2005
A Night on The Tiles
In The Bag
Ali Baba
Blue Suede Blues
The Last Bread Pudding
Mystery at Green Fingers
Tiptoe Through The Tombstones
Knowing Constance Spy
Love Begins at 50
Sleeping Beauty
Trivial Pursuits
Tomb With A View
Beyond a Joke
Wife Required
Holiday Eve
Day of Reckoning