Wham Bam Am Dram

There is some pretty high quality stuff in London because many of the am-drammers are either professionals in between jobs, former professionals, or very-good-but-went-into-banking types. Sedos, Centre Stage and GEOIDS are all very good and often get access to the first amateur rights of various shows, or rarely granted rights. One of them recently did Sunset Boulevard before the big current one, Centre Stage is doing Evita and 9 to 5 shortly, which I think haven't been done before other than professionally.

There are also great 'straight' plays done by companies like Tower Theatre. I think there's also a big company in Wimbledon.

I think when people say 'am dram' many think of a church hall somewhere with shows full of pensioners, but it's quite a lively, young scene.

It might be Hamlet but it's got to be Fun Fun Fun!

I've seen a few good amdrams, but also quite a few squirm worthy ones in my youth to have put me off for ever.

Unfortunately, there have been a couple of times when a particularly bad performance (usually from somebody who gives the confident impression they think they are very, very good) has tickled me and started the "giggle loop" (if you watched Coupling you will know what I mean). And however awful something is I really don't want to be that bad mannered person with tears of laughter running down my face.....

Being near London though I take the point that if I was a bit more open minded I could probably see some quality shows with no worries about this.

I see a lot of am-dram shows all over London, mainly because they're a great chance to see rarely-performed shows by playwrights and composers I like: I've seen By Jeeves, The Likes of Us, and several of the more obscure Noel Cowards this way. I'm generally very impressed by the standard - in five years of theatregoing I've only seen one show that was out-and-out dreadful; a few of them were variable but most were very good. The lead actors at least are usually excellent.

This is definitely something I now go to a lot more since I moved into London in 2014.

Two of my favorite companies are 'Sedos' and 'Centre Stage' that often perform at Brideswell - I have enjoyed 'I love you, you're perfect now change', 'Sunset Boulevard' and have got 'Evita' coming up and plan to book for '9-5 the musical' this summer. I've seen others at Bridewell such as 'Sunshine on Leith' and have travelled to all zones to see many a show in theater pub etc. I adore the recent production of 'Legally Blonde' at 'Upstairs at the Gatehouse' and saw it twice!

It really is great to see some shows that you wither missed in the West-End, you love or is rarely performed. I've also discovered 'Performing school of Arts' in Chiswick and was spellbinded by their version of 'Disney's Beauty and the Beast' so am keeping my eye out for what musical they do next!

Upcoming I am off to Wolverhampton to see 'Made in Dagenham' which I am big fan of and we just discovered that 'Big the musical' is on in Romford at the end of May so going to head to Essex to see it!

Not to sound all 'Aladdin' but discovering hight quality am-dram and the fringe has opened me up to a 'whole new world'

Oh I do feel so sorry for all those that phone in. I have a sneaky feeling that they are all coerced by the producers into making their message sound as awfully cheesy as possible (and I also have a sneaky feeling that some of them may enjoy it anyway! )

There's some great stuff going on these days in amateur theatre. And there's a lot of talent too, either just setting out on a career in the performing arts or more often, like myself, more than happy in their chosen career but giving loads to great theatre in their spare time? (What's the difference between amateur and professional actors? Amateurs are paid more. )

The familiar amateur drama associations with freezing church halls and creaky whodunnits and sets is really outdated, especially in London where we can go along to The Play That Went Wrong to get our fun packed fill of brilliantly bad acting and rather more than wobbly scenery.

Amateur Theatre these days is surprising, challenging and contemporary. In the past few years, as AD at Putney Arts Theatre, I've directed Howard Brenton's Anne Boleyn, Clybourne Park, The London premiere of Glenn Waldron's beautiful small play Forever House, Jumpers for Goalposts and Cock. I've also seen terrific productions of The Effect, Sex With A Stranger, How To Disappear Completely and Never Be Found and Collaborators. But we're also good at more traditional work. I've just started rehearsing Lady Windermere's Fan, and what a great play that is. I've seen and enjoyed truly stylish and hugely enjoyable amateur productions of Private Lives, Pride and Prejudice, Equus, Henry V and A Chorus of Disapproval among many others. And all for a fraction of the price you'd pay in the West End! Because of my job I see over 100 professional productions a year on top of all this, so hope I know quality work when I see it.

It's funny how in any other profession, be it sports, music, art etc, amateurs are admired. It's only theatre that seems to have managed to turn the word into a disparaging term. Maybe that shows just how difficult it is to do well. So, I'm going to say it... I'm proud to work in amateur theatre. And it's great to have a discussion like this on here, to draw attention to all the good work that's being done out there. Long may it continue.

Going tonight with a friend!!

We were there last week seeing 'Evita' (Center Stage) and it was blooming brilliant - Can't wait for '9-5'

Look forward to tonight - do not know a single song or much about it - my friend as seen the film and a production of this before!