Dramatic society offers a maypole dance of a farce set in the 1970s

Billingshurst Dramatic Society presents Country Dances by Ann Gawthorpe and Lesley Brown this half-term.

It is a farce set in the 1970s, when Formica worktops were the height of fashion.

Emily Hetherington and her husband move to a picturesque country village, expecting to educate the locals in cultural pursuits.

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Funnily enough, the locals have their lives under control, including Thomas, who has been using the right of way through the Hetherington’s newly landscaped garden to herd his cows for decades.

Rehearsals have been great fun for the performers with the script providing a lot of laughter.

The logistics of where half the Formica kitchen ends up has been decided by director Caro Anderson, in her directorial debut for the society.

The cast is made up of old and new members alike, with a very busy backstage crew.

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The society’s first production of the year is usually in the February half term, but everybody’s schedules conspired against that happening this year.

This has meant turning up to rehearsals in the light, which has been a welcome change for members. The group says that Country Dances is almost like a maypole dance of a farce, with characters weaving in and out of the story trying desperately not to get tied in knots.

With people’s busying schedules, new members are always welcome at BDS whether their interests lie backstage or on stage. The group is planning some informal play readings during the summer, and the next production is in the October half-term.

Contact Billingshurst Dramatic Society via www.billingshurstdramaticsociety.com or follow the group on Twitter or Facebook to find out more.

Country Dances plays at The Women’s Hall, Billingshurst, from Thursday, May 28, to Saturday, May 30 (7.45pm). Tickets cost £8 and are available from Mansell McTaggart’s on the High Street.