Welcome to Monkwearmouth Drama Group. We are a community group who have been going since 2011. We have put on regular productions and have many to our name. We are not connected to Monkwearmouth School or any other group.

This month marks our tenth anniversary.

We have put on 20 shows in that time. Pre-Covid we performed at least once each year. There have been a variety of shows, from Dickens to Shakespeare, Pantomime to Drama. 

There has been a wide range of ages in our shows, from young children to people in their late seventies. Approximately 44 people in total have appeared. We have also had many directors and assistants, approximately sixteen.

The group was formed out of All Saints Drama Group, when it moved to St Andrew’s. It had been founded by Rev. Lisa Gibbons. Sadly, there is nobody currently involved with the group from it’s All Saints days. Florence Darlaston was the last remaining member from that time but she sadly passed away last September. We remember her and also Norma Burnett, another early member and who also sadly died last year.

Our first shows were Between Mouthfuls and Clara’s on the Curtains. Rehearsals were from 7.30 to 9 pm. We rehearsed once a week but for about five months. Later we cut the rehearsal period down to nine or ten weeks and two or three rehearsals a week. This enabled us to fit in three shows a year. Rehearsal times have changed over the years too. We now rehearse from 7 pm to 8.30. If we rehearse on Sundays it tends to be for about three hours.

We have mainly performed shows that our members have written or adapted, as they are cheaper to put on. Our biggest shows have been pantomimes and they have also attracted the largest audiences. We have not had large numbers of people back stage, so most directors have also been responsible for costumes and props. We have built up a good selection of these and also some furniture.

Thank you to all who have acted with us, all who have worked behind the scenes, all at St Andrew’s who have helped us and of course all those who have come to watch us. 

In summary we hope to see many new faces in the next ten years but also some familiar ones and some old ones. All you need is commitment and a passion for drama.