Each year, we try to stage two full-length plays – in the spring (May/June) and late autumn (October). These run for three nights, from Thursday to Saturday inclusive. We rehearse twice a week for about eight weeks. Rehearsal nights are ususally Tuesday and Thursday, with extra nights added if needed. Rehearsals and performances are in the Gosforth Public Hall.

Our January pantomime involves both adults and children and there is usually a part of some kind for anyone showing an interest. Rehearsals begin in early November, immediately after the autumn play, although we try to reduce the burden for the younger children until after Christmas. The pantomime is very popular, playing for four or five nights (with recent matinees) to packed houses.

In most years since 2006, we have held a week long theatre school in August for our younger members aged 8 and upwards.  This is a series of workshop activities which usually leads to some kind of show on the Saturday night at the end of the week.  It is always amazing how eager and capable young minds can be – if only our adult members could get from zero to a decent show in 6 days.

In June 2022 we attempted our most ambitious project yet – our first ever musical –Lionel Bart’s “Oliver!”  And it was so well received that we will be doing more –perhaps in alternate years, to give our many sponsors a break.

In May 2024 we staged our second full length musical – The Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum. This was another huge success and we are already planning our next one for spring 2025. This one will be a little more modern – “Shrek – the musical”

Our Youth Theatre Group was initiated by former member Tom Morath in early 2016. Weekly sessions for 8 to 18 year olds develop all aspects of theatre production. Tom moved away in 2017 and the group continues under new Director Tosh McGregor. The sessions run from 7pm on Thursday evenings during term time. There is a small charge, although the first taster session is free. The sessions involve scene creation, improvisation, stage combat, make up and there are occasional showcase performances for parents and friends.

None of this can go on without a massive army of support, so even if you don’t fancy acting or singing, you can still be very helpful to us, just by doing whatever you do best. We need set designers, scenery builders, property makers, scene painters, lighting enthusiasts, dressmakers, hair stylists, make up artists, programme designers, publicity people and, last but not least, front of house personnel to set out seats, sell tickets, run raffles, organise refreshments or just show people to their seats.

GADS also attend local events like Seascale Fun Day and Gosforth Show – watch out for our gazebo.  And between shows the adults keep in touch with monthly Play Reading evenings (Plays for Pleasure), and the youngsters with the Youth Theatre Group.

We modernised our sound equipment 2022 with the help of a generous grant from the GDF Community Fund. We have a 22 channel Mackie mixer, a set of 12 wireless microphones and Yamaha speakers to pump out the sound.

We are also modernising our stage lights and slowly moving to LED fixtures as we can afford them. We have 3 moving head lights and numerous others making the system complex enough for computer control using QLab software and dmx control.

So we have plenty of opportunities for creativity in the sound and lighting department. We also have UV lighting and a UV scene has been a regular spectacle in recent pantomimes.

Until recently, we have entered a one-act play in the Cumbria Drama Festival, a preliminary round of the All-England Theatre Festival (AETF). Since we began competing in this festival in 1981 we have reached the next round (the North West Divisional Final) four times but no further. Nevertheless, we have won several awards along the way.

We have also performed occasionally at other locations, including “A Seat in the Park” at Egremont Castle, “The Monkey’s Paw” at Dalegarth Ratty Station and “A Little Box of Oblivion” on the lawn at Muncaster Castle.