The Drax Hall has served as a Village Hall for many years. Within its walls have taken place theatrical events, sales & council meetings to name but a few of its roles.
It is available for hire for private parties or for regular meetings. Large hall & small room are both available. The latter especially suitable for children's parties. For details of hiring charges etc. Contact Hall Secretary Sally Cheeseman on 01929 471 022
Select a date from the menu below for that months Drax Hall News or look in our Archive of Drax Hall Minutes here
The Management Committee met in January to plan the events and improvments for the year. We also reviewed the past year. It was reported that financially the Hall is sound and generated a profit on the running expenses. The many improvements that have been made have been covered by Grants etc. We were fortunate to have received a grant of £5000 from the ‘Awards for All’ scheme just before Christmas and this will be used to provide a new entrance door and a new look entrance and stair coverings.
Forthcoming events include a puppet show on Monday afternoon 19th February – during half term. This is ‘Bird in the Hand’.Josh Elwell and Co present a vibrant and enchanting pieceof visual theatrefor families and childrenfrom 5 years upwards. The show combines beautiful hand carved puppets with clowning and live music. The performance starts at 2.00pm. Tickets £3.50 for adults and £3.00 for children. Book with Mr Maunder on 471342.
The followers of the Forest Forge Theatre Company will be pleased to know that the Company is returning to the Hall on Tuesday 13th March to present ‘The Gamekeeper’ a thrilling new play by Josephine Carter.Frank lives alone in a run down cottage in the depths of the forest, but his solitude is shattered when he finds a runaway hiding in his old tin bath. Comedy and strong emotion contend for supremacy in this sizzling new play. Bookings as usual on 471342. CM
The improvements to the Hall continue and as I write the new door is in place having its first test of rain. Inside the new decorations have really brightened the general appearance. Yet to come, and it will all be completed by the time that this is published, are improvements to the entrance and stairs.
On the 13th March we have the Forest Forge Theatre Company performing their own play entitled ‘The Game Keeper’. Doors open at 7.00pm. Please book your tickets on 471342. You are advised to book in advance as this Company is very popular and their followers come from far and wide to see them. CM
The Management Committee met at the beginning of March and reviewed the works that had been completed lately. It was decided to invite all Parishioners to visit the Hall on Saturday 14th April between 1030 and 1200 to see the improvements that have been carried out. It is hoped that more Village Groups will consider making use of their Hall now that these improvements have been made. Clearly this is not the end of improving our Hall as we have yet to overcome the problem of getting elderly people up into the main hall. This is in the pipeline.
The Annual General Meeting of the Committee will be held on Monday 16th April at 7.00pm in the Hall. All Parishioners are invited and if anybody wishes to become a Committee member they are more than welcome to come along. Committee Meeting only occur every couple of months but it is bright ideas from fresh blood that really would be welcomed.
We have booked our dates for the Purbeck Film Festival in October and we have an interesting entertainment on Saturday 29th September about which there will be more details nearer the date. On Tuesday 13th March we had a very good visit from the Forest Forge Theatre Co who put on ‘The Gamekeeper’. Somewhat similar in theme to ‘Mrs C’ but this was a tear jerker. We hope to be able to get the Company again in September when they put on a new play, which they are still writing and have gone out to Newfoundland, as part of the play is about that area. CM
The Annual General Meeting was held on 16th April presided over by Mrs Kath Jeeves. She outlined the years work and achievements to improve the Hall. The accounts were presented and approved. These indicate that thanks to the Hall being so busy that the outgoing expenses are covered by its income. This is how it ought to be of course but there are many Village Halls which are running on very slim finances. The meeting looked at additional improvements which will be undertaken in the coming years as and when finances permit. The Officers and Committee were re-elected to serve for a further year.
An early notice for a forthcoming event on Sunday 12 August. There is to be a Table Top Exhibition and Collectors Lot. There has already been considerable interest shown but the more the merrier and anybody who is interested to showing their off their particular interests are invited to contact Mrs Kath Jeeves. CM
The Village Hall Committee is working hard to keep the Hall up to scratch and to make appealing to more users. The comments received from visitors are very encouraging, particularly since the most recent improvements. This month we are attending the Artsreach presentation of plays etc which will be available during the coming winter. It is hoped that we will be able to bring the Forest Forge Theatre Company and also a couple of puppet shows for the children at half terms. CM
The Village Hall Committee was represented at the presentation of possible performances from Artsreach for the coming season. A few bids have been put in and we now wait to hear how successful or otherwise that we have been. One play, which is touring in March, is a comedy entitled 'To the Marrow' and concerns the world of competitive vegetable growing where size really matters! We hope to be successful in our bid for this play being presented by the Forest Forge Theatre Company. We have also requested a couple of puppet shows for the half terms.
Elsewhere in the magazine you will see an advertisement for an exhibition of creft and collectables by local residents. The Committee is hoping that anybody with items of interest will come forward and share them on Sunday 19 August between 10am and 4.00pm at the Drax Hall. Previous similar showings have produced some very interesting old photographs and works of art and craft that few people knew about. If you would like to take part then please contact Kath Jeeves on 471175. CM
The Village Hall has a number of events coming up in the next couple of months. On Sunday 19th August there is the exhibition of Craft and Collectables. There seems to be a good collection of items to be shown plus of course the teas and cakes to be taken whilst viewing, Then on the 29th September we have a Magical Showing aptly entitled Magical Moments. There have been good reports on this from other halls.
The film for the Purbeck Film Festival on Saturday 13th October is 'Miss Potter' We all hope that this will be a success on our second adventure into the world of the Purbeck Festival.
At present we have no details of any live theatre or Puppet Shows, though they have been requested. CM
It is regretted that unlike previous years, we have not been able to book a puppet show for the October half term. Also we have not been able to book a Forest Forge performance in October. These are two regular features in our programme and we were looking forward to them. On the good news front we do have a puppet show on the 21st February - this will be a Martin Bridle show entitled 'Head in the Clouds'. We have had him before and they are very successful shows. Then a short while later on Tuesday 11th March we have a Forest Forge performance entitled 'The Marrow' and It is to be hoped that it will appeal to the gardening fraternity.
On 13th October we have the Purbeck Film Festival in the Hall and they are showing Miss Potter, a very popular film. It's a Saturday night so give the telly a miss and relive 'a night at the flicks'. CM
Awaiting the Meeting
Awaiting the Meeting
Awaiting the Meeting
Awaiting the Meeting
© Bere Regis Village Website 2007 - Site by Chola Design
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