A Brief History of Meeching Amateur Dramatics

 

Unlike other towns of its size, Newhaven was slow in forming its own local amateur theatre group. Although, from time to time they did appear in the early part of the last century. Unfortunately they did not continue for very long, the last of which are believed to of closed in the 1960/70s. 

Fast forward to 1997, where our story begins with two people whom met at a weekly flea market in an old chapel on Brighton Road.

We shall call these two people: Marion (a market stall-holder) and the other Jim (the markets caretaker).

 

Regular weekly coffee breaks followed, which resulted in a decision to form 'MAD' using Meeching as the old name for Newhaven in its title.

​As a result things started to move quickly, a local community centre 'The Hillcrest' agreed to accommodate us and a request for actors and helpers in the local Friday Ad was most encouraging - MAD was born.

Our first production was in June the following year with an evening of melodrama and comedy 'The Chinese Pendant' and 'The Gypsy Curse'

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Since then MAD have gone on to produce an average of three to four productions a year, basing itself at Meeching Hall on Fort Road with the occasional production performed at Newhaven Fort.

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Over these years as from the very beginning, we have prided ourselves as a community-based group with a principal aim to stimulate an interest in all aspects of Theatre and to provide it's members with every opportunity to get involved. Whether you would like to act, dance, sing, direct, set build, paint or make the tea! Nothing would be dismissed as too diverse (e.g. mime or puppetry) providing commitment and hard-work can be shown by those participating.

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MAD elects a small committee at its Annual General Meeting from within the membership that is responsible for the running of the society.

 

Finally, we should like to thank all the people of Newhaven, Newhaven Council and the local Councillors for all of their support over the years and we welcome their continued support for the future.

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Tony Gibbs 

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