Historic Hadleigh drama group forced to move out of town

By Derek Davis

5th Jul 2021 | Local News

A lack of fund raising opportunities has forced a 100-year-old amateur dramatic group to leave its Hadleigh home.

Hadleigh Amateur Dramatic Society (HADS) will be putting on its next production in the neighbouring village of Elmsett as it does not have enough funds to provide a stage within the town.

Jo Sheldrake, performer and committee member, spoke of the group's sadness at having the leave Hadleigh, months after a muted celebration to marks its centenary.

"Las year would have been our 100th anniversary but unfortunately we could not do anything and we rely on donations, which of course we could not raise,: explained Jo. "Hadleigh does not have a stage, unlike Elmsett and Bildeston and so we have to hire that stage in.

"

"It costs 3,000 to hire stage for a week and we just don't have the funds, therefore we have had to go elsewhere, which none of us wanted to do.

"We have decided to go to Elmsett, because really we do not have choice. Elmsett does not have dramatic society anymore, and we don't have stage, so it makes sense."

Plans are already in progress for HADS to put on a show this year and will be holding auditions on September 5 and 12, at United Reform Church, contact a HADS committee member to join in.

Jo said: "The committee has already started to organise things. We have all missed doing the shows so we can't wait to get going again."

Despite the move to Elmsett there are no plans to change the historic name to HEADS and Jo added: "We have been HADS for 101 years so we will staying with that for now. We are looking to do a party and invite everyone who has been involved in HADS over the years to come along."

     

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