Pratts Bottom Dramatics Valentines Newsletter
- Jack Holloway
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
Dear Members and Friends,
Welcome to the Pratts Bottom Dramatics Valentines Newsletter
As we head into another busy and exciting season at Pratts Bottom Dramatic Society, we’re delighted to share what’s coming up over the next few months. There are plenty of ways to get involved — on stage, behind the scenes, or simply by coming along and supporting.
Our pantomime Sleeping Beauty has just completed its very first two-week run, and we couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve achieved together. It’s been a fantastic experience and a real milestone for the society.
Photos are now starting to appear on our website under “Past Productions”, with more being added soon. If you download and share any images online, please remember to credit our photographer, Jon Louder.
We were also delighted to receive some wonderful reviews and reports, which you can read in the “News” section of our website.
A huge thank you to everyone involved — on stage, backstage, front of house, and in the audience — for making it such a success.
Photo by: Jon Louder
The Unfriend by Steven Mofatt
We are delighted to announce that this year PBDS will be entering a play into the Kent Theatre Festival 2026 which runs from February to May 2026. It is an amature drama competiton that most drama groups in the area get involved in to produce plays and hopefully win some awards.
This year we are entering a play called The Unfriend by Steven Mofatt and directed by Madeline Mccubbin.
Steven Moffat’s The Unfriend is a dark, fast‑paced comedy that follows a perfectly ordinary British couple, Peter and Debbie, whose lives spiral into chaos after they meet an overly friendly American widow named Elsa Jean Krakowski on a cruise. Out of sheer politeness, they give her their contact details, only to discover—far too late—that she may not be all that she seems! When Elsa suddenly arrives at their home, the couple become trapped in a hilarious but nerve‑shredding dilemma: how do you protect your family from someone who may have a shady past without being rude? The play skewers British social etiquette, middle‑class anxieties, and the absurd lengths people go to in order to avoid confrontation, all delivered with Moffat’s trademark wit and a blend of farce and satire that keeps the tension bubbling under the humour.
Show dates: 21st 22nd 23rd May 2026 (Adjudication night 22nd May 2026)
Tickets go on sale 16th February 2026
Audition Information
We will be holding a read through Sunday 22nd February 2026 at Pratts Bottom Primary School, Hookwood Road, BR67NX at 2.30pm. This is open to everyone to get a feel for the play and decide if there is a role you may want to audition for.
On the Wednesday 25th February 2026 we will be holding the auditions at Pratts Bottom Primary School at 7.30pm
Rehearsals will be held in the normal way, Mondays and Wednesdays starting from 7 - 7.30pm
Approximate playing ages of the Characters
Peter – mid to late 40s
Debbie – mid to late 40s
Elsa Jean Krakowski – mid 60s
Rosie – mid teens (around 14–16)
Alex – early teens (around 12–14)
The Neighbour – late 50s to early 60s
PC Junkin – late 20s to early 30s
More information, audition pieces, and membership information can be found on our website under "auditions".
Sleeping Beauty Film Night
We’re delighted to let you know that the recording of Sleeping Beauty will be released on 2nd March 2026.
Cast and Crew are invited to join us to watch back the magnificent video created for us by Moonshine Productions. It promises to be a really lovely evening — a wonderful opportunity to relive the magic and celebrate everything we achieved together.
Pratts Bottom Primary School 7:00pm start
We very much hope you’ll join us for what is sure to be a special night.
The video will be released to watch on youtube on the 2nd March at 7pm.
Pratts Bottom May Fete
Looking a little further ahead, Saturday 9th May brings the Pratts Bottom May Fete — always a highlight in the village calendar.
We’ll be running a stall and performing a couple of extracts from the panto, so it promises to be a fun and lively day for the society. To make it a success, we’ll need as much help as possible. A stall rota will be sent out shortly, and we really hope as many members as possible can sign up for a slot and support us on the day.
It’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase what we do and connect with the wider community — we’d love to see you there.
PBDS AGM
AGM – 22nd June, 7.30pm
Our Annual General Meeting will be taking place on Monday 22nd June at 7.30pm. This is your opportunity to hear about the past year, learn about our plans for the future, and help shape what comes next for the society.
All members are warmly encouraged to attend — we’d love to see as many of you there as possible. More information will be on our website under "News" soon.
PANTO DATES 2027
We’re pleased to confirm that next year’s pantomime will run from 23rd January to 7th February 2027.
Please pop the dates in your diaries now — it’s never too early to start planning! More details about the show itself will be announced in due course.
We’re already looking forward to another fantastic panto season together.
DIRECTOR
We are currently looking for a Director for our next pantomime.
If you think you have what it takes to lead the production and bring our next show to life, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Jack Holloway on 07910 428112 to express your interest or to find out more.
We’re excited to see who might step forward to take on this fantastic opportunity.
Don’t forget to keep up with all our latest news, photos, and announcements by following us on social media.
You can find us on:
Give us a follow and help spread the word!
Best wishes,Pratts Bottom Dramatic Society
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