The annual D.A.D.S. production has been a highlight of village life since 1916.
- 2023 – Surprise! Surprise!
The latest D.A.D.S. production – Surprise! Surprise! – is a comedy farce written by Phillipa Smith and directed by Louise Enticknap and Gemma Versteeg. There were 3 evening performances on consecutive days starting on Thursday 23rd November. Jess is turning 60 and her son Ben has arranged a surprise birthday party in a cottage with ‘friends’ and has recruited Pam the Party Planner to assist with the event. The problem is, neither Jess’ husband Frank, nor her son or daughter, have bothered to turn up themselves. Ben has invited a rather random selection of guests from his mother’s contact list,… Read more: 2023 – Surprise! Surprise! - 2022 – Dick Whittington
The latest D.A.D.S. production to grace the Winn Hall’s stage in November 2022, the show was performed over 2 days – an evening performance on Friday 25th November and a matinee and evening performance on Saturday 26th November. The show was presented over two acts with a 15 minute interval. Dick Whittington is a poor boy who travels to London with nothing but his faithful cat, Tom, and dreams of making his fortune. When he arrives, he is taken in by the kindly merchant Mr Fitzwarren, who gives him a job as a kitchen boy. One night, Dick and Tom… Read more: 2022 – Dick Whittington - 2021 – Agatha Crusty And The Pantomime Murders
The first D.A.D.S. production since the pandemic took place in the Winn Hall in November 2021. The show was performed over 3 evening performances – Thursday 25th, Friday 26th and Saturday 27th November. The show was presented over two acts with a 15 minute interval. The evening performance on the 27th started with a meal – all included in the ticket price. The action all takes place on the stage of Giglinton Village Hall, home of the Giglinton Players, an amateur dramatics group. Celebrated crime writer Agatha Crusty arrives at the village hall in Giglinton (where it always rains) but… Read more: 2021 – Agatha Crusty And The Pantomime Murders - 2019 – Mabceth
Wicked witches, Scottish power-crazy kings and evil queens – just a snapshot of everyday life in the village of Dunsfold…no, only joking! This hilarious production took place in November 2019 and the enthusiastic cast took to the stage in their rendition of the famous William Shakespeare story of a similar name. Gallery Programme - 2018 – Comedy Classics
Performed over 3 nights from 22-24 November 2018, the D.A.D.S. cast took to the stage to perform Comedy Classics – a trio of classic British hits including Dad’s Army, Round the Horne and the Vicar of Dibley. The first sketch was Dad’s Army, directed by Wendy Lockwood. Celebrating 50 years since Captain Mainwaring and his Home Guard first took on the defence of Walmington-on-Sea, D.A.D.S put on the ‘For the Love of Three Oranges’ episode which sees them helping to fundraise for “comforts for the troops”. The next sketch was Round the Horne, directed by Phil Travis. Set in the… Read more: 2018 – Comedy Classics - 2017 – Nil By Mouth
D.A.D.S. did a very funny take on the National Health Service for this November 2017 performance. Chaos erupts as patients, agency nurses, doctors and sisters battle it out at the start of another busy weekend on the under-funded and under-staffed mixed ward of St Christopher’s Hospital. A catalogue of disastrous mistaken identities leads to wrongful diagnosis, visitors becoming patients, and all manner of medical mishaps. Gallery Programme - 2016 – Oh, What a Lovely War!
This production, which graced the Winn Hall stage between 24 and 26 November 2016, was in memory of the men of the village and all who died in the Great War 1914 to 1918 and also in celebration of the 100th anniversary of D.A.D.S. The play was premiered in the early 1960s during a period of international tension. Over 50 years since the first show, its story continued to be told over these 3 performances. All members of the cast also appeared in the choruses. The play was directed by Anne Cannings and produced by Louise Enticknap, and the cast… Read more: 2016 – Oh, What a Lovely War! - 2015 – Stepping Out
Stepping Out is a warm and very funny play about the lives, laughs and loves of a group of women (and one man) attending a weekly tap-dance class in a dingy North London church hall. There is ex-professional dancer Mavis, who runs the class; cheerfully overweight Sylvia; Andy, a plain do-gooder with no confidence; snobby but well meaning Vera; timid Dorothy who works in Social Security; Maxine, attractive, sharp and very shrewd; fat, plain Lynne; Rose, just here for a good time, and Geoffrey, the lone male. As the play progresses, the class’s dancing improves to such an extent that by the climax, a grand charity show performance, they… Read more: 2015 – Stepping Out - 2014 – ‘Allo ‘Allo
A lot of fun was had in this D.A.D.S. production of the British sitcom TV series, which focussed on the life of a French cafe owner during the German occupation of France in the Second World War. Gallery Programme - 2013 – Cash on Delivery!
This fast paced British farce concerns a con artist, Eric Swan, who has duped the DSS for 2 years by claiming every type of benefit for the innumerable people he claims live at his address. Eric’s lodger, Norman, doesn’t know that Eric is claiming benefits in his name and when the DSS Inspector shows up, Norman gets sucked into Eric’s web of deceit and chaos ensues! An hilarious comedy full of lies, lies and more lies, men without their trousers, mistaken identities, cross-dressing, dead bodies, and a con that spirals out of control. Gallery Programme - 2012 – Tiptoe Through the Tombstones
Mortimer Crayle, the crusty lawyer, and his secretary have gathered the remaining members of the Tomb family at the house, ostensibly to inform them about their inheritance. In reality, Crayle has designs on the estate that necessitate eliminating all Tombs. Fog descends on the gloomy mansion and in the cobwebby corridors things – and people – are seldom what they seem. With poison in every decanter and mysterious disappearances into secret passageways, host and guests alike join the increasing number of bodies in the cellar. A glorious spoof which graced the Winn Hall stage in November 2012. Gallery Programme - 2011 – Robinson Crusoe
The D.A.D.S. cast recreate the story of Robinson Crusoe, who was shipwrecked on an island which unfortunately was inhabited by cannibals. Gallery Programme - 2010 – Off The Hook
When notorious bank robber Harold Spook is sprung from prison in order to spill the beans where in the Hook House Hotel he stashed the loot, it seems that everything is going to plan. Unfortunately, he’s the wrong Harold Spook and this Harold has no idea where the money is hidden. He’s also a bit of an idiot and liable to give the game away at any moment. Add a few wacky women – Norah, the man-eating manageress, Edna who is always interrupting, and the formidable Mrs Fletcher-Brewer – and the villagers of Dunsfold were treated to a farce and… Read more: 2010 – Off The Hook - 2009 – Outside Edge
Written by Richard Harris, this play was the second performance by the D.A.D.S. cast this year. Set in a cricket pavilion, Outside Edge deals with an eventful Saturday afternoon in the lives of 5 men and 4 women. Roger struggles to keep his team together to play against the British Railways Maintenance Division Guildford East, while the wives and girlfriends of his players help and hinder to devastating and hilarious effects. The action takes place at the cricket pavilion before and during a match, with the pitch being offstage where the audience is sitting. While the play is ostensibly about… Read more: 2009 – Outside Edge - 2009 – Neville’s Island
Written by Tim Firth, this comedy hit the Winn Hall in May 2009. Four out-of-condition businessmen sent on a team-building exercise in the Lake District succeed in being the first ever people to get shipwrecked on an island in Derwentwater. What should have been a bonding process for Gordon, Angus, Roy and Neville turns into a muddy, bloody fight for survival. Because when night sets in, strange things happen out in the wilds. And what takes place on Neville’s Island that foggy November weekend none of this particular middle management team will ever forget… With just a cast of 4,… Read more: 2009 – Neville’s Island - 2008 – Blithe Spirit
Written by Noel Coward, this 2008 D.A.D.S. production was performed over 4 nights in November 2028. The performances were dedicated to the memory of Beattie Enticknap, a lifelong supporter of D.A.D.S. Charles Condomine (played by Paul Jenkins), a successful writer, and his wife Ruth (played by Sue Packer), have invited their friends Dr and Mrs Bradman (played by David Airey and Mary Murphy) to join them for drinks and dinner with a local medium, Madame Arcati (played by Pip Ainsworth). Charles is planning a novel about a spiritualist and wants to observe the behaviour of Madame Arcati during a seance.… Read more: 2008 – Blithe Spirit - 2007 – Nasty Things, Murders
Set in the Grantley Home for Retired Gentlewomen – what could be more peaceful and pleasant than four elderly ladies enjoying an evening’s TV viewing, watching the dramatisation of a notorious murder of 20 years ago? But, when the TV breaks down before the climax of the drama, their thoughts and guesses as to the identity of the villain slowly harden into the conclusion that one of them is the real-life murderess! Increasing frustration, suspicion and fear grip the emotions of the ladies, only to be dispelled when one of them receives a most unexpected telephone call. As calm settles… Read more: 2007 – Nasty Things, Murders - 2007 – Last Panto in Little Dunsfold
Little Dunsfold Amateur Dramatic Society is in trouble. The membership has dwindled – the audiences aren’t much bigger than the cast – and if they don’t come up with some money soon, no one will be able to see the actors as the lights keep going out! “There’s only one thing that sells tickets these days” argues Gorden the Chairman. “Sex!” Thus begins the chaotic and hilarious build-up to the annual pantomime – including a script full of typing errors, a cross-eyed pantomime horse and a few broken limbs! Programme - 2006 – Aladdin
D.A.D.S. recreate the story of Aladdin in this fun pantomime which was adapted for the society by Michael Walker, Tony Cannings and Phil Travis. Mayhem ensues in China when the wicked Abanaza, seeking the magic lamp with its powerful Genie which will enable him to rule the world, is distracted by the beautiful Princess Martini, daughter of the Emperor, who he is determined to marry. To find the lamp he needs the assistance of Aladdin, younger son of Widow Twanky (a local washerwoman) but his plans are put in disarray when Aladdin himself falls for the Princess. To win her,… Read more: 2006 – Aladdin - 2005 – Murdered to Death
D.A.D.S. performed this hilarious spoof of the best of Agatha Christie traditions. Set in a country manor house in the 1920s, the cast of characters delighted the audience in November 2005. There is Bunting the butler, an English colonel, a shady French art dealer and his moll, the bumbling local inspector and his constable, and a well-meaning sleuth who seems to attract murder wherever she goes – they’re all here and all caught up in the side-splitting antics which follow a mysterious death. Who did the dreadful deed and why? It soon becomes clear that the murderer isn’t finished yet,… Read more: 2005 – Murdered to Death - 2004 – So What Do We Do About Henry?
In November 2024, D.A.D.S. put on the Play ‘So What Do We Do About Henry’, directed by Tora Bray and produced by Lane Sweatman. The action takes place in a Cornish cottage on a cliff top, in a village a few miles from Plymouth. Poor Henrietta. After 30 years spent caring for her uncle, she is left with only £500 and his grateful thanks. She has little option but to accept the charitable offer of a home from her charming but lazy nephew, Dino, and his long-suffering girl friend Elsie. Henry, as she likes to be know, reasons that life… Read more: 2004 – So What Do We Do About Henry? - 2003 – A Tomb with a View
The action takes place in the library of Monument House, the home of Septimus Tomb (recently deceased) and his family. In a sinister old library, a dusty lawyer reads a will (involving some millions of pounds) to an equally sinister family – one member of which has werewolf tendencies, another wanders around in a toga, a third is a gentle lady who plants more seeds in her flower beds. Also present are the resident nurse and an author of romantic novels. By the Third Act there are more corpses than live members left in the cast. A hilarious comedy directed… Read more: 2003 – A Tomb with a View - 2002 – Dunsfold.Org.Y – A Review
In the spirit of keeping D.A.D.S. in the village, the 2002 production ‘Dunsfold.org.y – A Review’ was written primarily by two Dunsfold residents – Geoff Sweatman and Michael Walker – and prompted the following comment on the local Dunsfold Village website – “A visitor from Mars would probably assume that there wouldn’t be much going on in the village.” Jane Sweatman directed the production and it was staged by Anne Cannings. Contributions were made by many in the village to the many skits and vignettes including (somewhat senior) Dunsfold residents portraying the local toddler group, the Commons Committee discussing the… Read more: 2002 – Dunsfold.Org.Y – A Review - 2001 – Curtain Up on Murder
An amateur drama company is rehearsing in the theatre at the end of the pier. Stormsrage overhead and the doors are locked — they are trapped! Then a mysterious, ghostly presence passes across the stage, and when the Assistant Stage Manager falls to certain death through a trapdoor, the remaining actors are thrown into disarray. Their panic increases when one of the actresses is poisoned and it becomes evident that a murderer is in their midst … Programme - 1998 – Henry Hereafter
The first show under the new order, Henry Hereafter in November 1998, was a huge success. The play, directed by Tora Bray and staged by Anne Cannings (both new-comers to D.A.D.S.) charted the post-death trials and retributions of Henry VII when faced, in the anti-room of Heaven and Hell, by his, generally speaking, somewhat disgruntled six wives. It introduced new faces both on-stage and backstage, many of whom are still active in the Society today. - 1997 – and Before
Here are just a selection of images from the archives – do you recognise anyone?