With over fifty years experience of putting on theatrical entertainment MDS has learned a trick or two in its' time but the number one lesson has been that every single person's contribution counts and that there is a great deal of satisfaction to be had behind the scenes. None of our shows could take to the stage without the Herculean, support of the backstage crew. Many of our members are as likely to be found backstage as they are "treading the boards" and there are some people who never even get near to putting themselves on stage.

Putting on a show is an enterprise, which requires an enormous amount of creative talent and sheer hard work and just like Genius it is, "ninety nine per cent perspiration", most of which comes from people who the public never see and some of whom would deny ever having a creative bone in their body.

Whether it's Set Building (everything from carpentry, painting, and upholstery, through to and including, lifting, carrying and sweeping up), Props (collecting, badgering, bartering, finding, ferreting out, borrowing, stealing (only sometimes <Grin>) or as a very last resort buying), just the right period item,picture, knick-knack, or piece of furniture, Costumes (making, sewing, altering, washing, ironing and making sure the cast remember to get changed in time for their next entrance), Lighting (climbing ladders, running cables, changing bulbs and Gels or mastering the latest computer technology of our new lighting board), there is always something for everyone to do. We especially appreciate those members who find time to come to the hall and keep us all going by "just" making a cup of tea.

Spring Working Day 2004

	Start with an empty stage, add a few ladders and some willing help and begin to build a set. (Smile boys, Do you recognise those two bums on stage??)
(from left to right) Ken Grummitt, Steve Clarke and Ray Tomasi are all determined to get to the top in backstage production
	It's not all technical or even "High Art". Sometime we need strippers (A free steam bath with every production)

Singling out any individual, or any group of individuals for that matter, is always grossly unfair. As with any team effort even the apparently smallest and most insignificant contribution can prove vital when it's missing, however to illustrate a point of what YOU could bring to MDS we have highlighted some of the roles our members undertake. In all the cases mentioned they don't however limit themselves to just one job or area and each and every one of them is just as likely to be sweeping up and/or making the tea (or anything else that needs doing) as what we describe here.

To emphasise the point about making tea being no barrier to being on stage (or vise versa) touch the picture of Cathy Bowman, "Tea Lady" (Right) and see the transformation.

Providing the Limelight for Others But Happy to Stay in the Shadows

As we said some of our members, by their own choice, never make it into the spotlight. A prime example of this is our "Lighting Director Supreme" Ken Grummitt. Ken, who recently received an MDS "Lifetime Achievement Award", (Click here to see the write up on our Jubilee Celebration Page) has supported the society with his invaluable knowledge and unfailing enthusiasm for over thirty years. One of our committee members said recently in our Newsletter- "Ken Grummitt: Who else do you know who can: solve your electricity problems, design a set, make time to welcome new members, set paint for England, take classes for aspiring lighting technicians and still look good in evening dress?"

If any of this makes you want to find out more about us then why not drop us a line and come to St. John's Hall and see what we get up to? To e-mail us click here and just fill in the form.