The drama group has always been small compared to the choir. At its largest we have had fifteen members. Currently, the distinction between the drama group and music group has blurred. In more recent presentations members step out of the choir to act in a sketch, then return to the choir for the next song.

It may be small, but it is a vital part of the whole. Drama turns what would otherwise be an Oratorio with a small amount of narration into an exciting and challenging presentation of the Gospel.

Who can take part in the drama group? Anyone. We are an "equal opportunities" group. Please forgive the humour, and let me explain. Our members have been of varying ages (9 to 60+), varying abilities (beginner to experienced thespian), varying genders & race, and many different denominations. The one thing we have in common is our desire to bring God's wonderful message dramatically alive for anyone who wants to hear it. That is about the only qualification one needs to join our group!

Beginners are cherished and encouraged to grow in confidence.

Members may meet for drama rehearsals on a few Saturday afternoons prior to the first presentation of each tour. This is to establish moves and characterisation. Typically we will split up into two or more groups according to how many directors we have; this way we get through a lot in a few sessions. Members with larger parts or more demanding dialogues meet as they wish for extra rehearsals. Later, a full workshop gives the drama group members a chance to try out their parts on a sympathetic audience (the choir).

When we are on tour we present our drama in whichever church invites us. Our final run-through takes place in that church on the afternoon before the presentation. This is a combined dress & technical rehearsal. This is our one chance to try out the show in this church, and we often have to make changes (especially to entrances/exits) to suit the physical layout of the church. The differing accoustics of each church sometimes mean we have to adapt our individual performances too.

Our presentations are necessarily "low tech". Being a new group, we have very little equipment yet, and often neither does the church that we visit. For me, this means that our presentations are more intimate and closer to the congregation. In fact, we are often performing less than a metre from the feet of those in the front row. Also we perform our presentation in modern dress. We feel this keeps the subject relevant to the congregation - it's not just a story, it really happened.

If you have been browsing the links on these pages, you'll notice that Revelation is constantly appealing for new members. The drama group is no exception. Please feel free to read our old newsletters, and if our experiences inspire you to join, please contact me. You will be most welcome.

In any case, I hope that you, the reader, will be able to come to one of our presentations in the near future. Seek me out afterwards and tell me what you think of our work. You'll easily recognise me - I'm the one with the greying hair and moustache.

Yours in Christ,
Douglas Brown