Amateur Dramatics
Amateur dramatics (also sometimes referred to as AmDram) is a form of entertainment. In general terms this will involve a group of enthusiastic amateurs putting on shows for the public in their spare time rather than a professional company who do this kind of thing for a living.
Amateur dramatic groups tend to be fairly well established and can put on a variety of shows. Some will put on all kinds of different shows over the course of year, some will only do one show a year and others will solely specialise in certain types of entertainment.
The types of shows most often put on by amateur dramatic groups include:
- Musicals
- Comedy
- ‘Serious’ plays
- Revues
- Pantomimes
Most amateur dramatics companies will put on their plays or shows in a local venue. Some will, for example, be given the use of a local theatre whilst others may use a church hall, a social club venue or even a school hall. Some larger and long established amateur dramatics clubs will have even set up their own theatre. The emphasis here is on fun and putting on a good show rather than making a profit.
Joining your local amateur dramatic group may be simple. The group may simply take on anyone who is willing to join and there are various roles that can be taken up here as well as acting/singing such as backstage and front of house work. Some amateur dramatics companies, however, may only take on performers who pass an audition.