top of page

Meet the Committee

The activities of the group are overseen by a committee of seven people. The committee meets every month to discuss matters of immediate and longer term relevance to the group. It sends a delegate to the Theatre Users Group to ensure that Woodlands is part of the wider drama community in Harrogate and up to speed on matters relating to use of the theatre. We also have two members involved with running the annual Nidderdale festival. 

​

​Matters of major policy are always referred to the Woodlands AGM, held each July. We keep a record of plays read and ensure that each artistic season contains both a balance of genres and acting opportunities across gender and age-range. Repertoire is selected eighteen months to two years in advance.

Vicki Day

Chair, Publicity, Membership Secretary

Why I Enjoy Drama

One of my biggest loves in life is the theatre, whether being involved in a play or just watching.
I enjoy being a part of Woodlands Drama Group as it is really a group of good friends, we always seem to have fun!
Now my roles are behind the scenes- I particularly like sorting out the publicity and being membership secretary as well as Front of House manager. However, being Chairman of the group is an immense privilege.

 

My Drama Experience

I’ve acted in several full length plays and festival plays in the past.
I’ve also co- directed for the group, done props and stage managed.
I now like to get involved in the shows in other ways, like prompting- still lots of fun!

 

Away From Drama

I’m a keen reader and I love cinema, theatre and seeing friends and family.

Julie James

Secretary

Why I Enjoy Drama

I first became involved in drama by default whilst living in Brunei (my husband was an Army Officer). A friend kindly roped me into painting some scenery for a play they were putting on. I then tried my hand at this acting malarkey and was given a part in Hugh Leonard’s ‘Suburb of Babylon’. Then as they say, ‘the rest is history’!   The best bit is getting to know and work with a dedicated, enthusiastic and gifted group of people that I might not have met normally.

​

My Drama Experience

As well as acting and working backstage, I have had the pleasure of directing a number of plays for Woodlands. These include ‘A Month of Sundays’ and ‘Daisy Pulls it Off’, as well as our recent entries for the All England Drama Festival.

​

Away From Drama

I enjoy reading, sailing with friends and the occasional glass of a quality red wine or Chablis.

Anne-Marie Ledson

Treasurer

Why I Enjoy Drama

I've enjoyed watching drama since being taken along to rehearsals at an early age by my dad who appeared in amateur musical theatre. I love watching professional and amateur productions of all different genres. What I enjoy most about being involved in drama is taking a script from the page and seeing it evolve through rehearsals, adding the sound effects and lighting so that an audience can enjoy being transported to a different place.

​

My Drama Experience

I've been involved in amateur theatre since 1998 with several different drama groups and a member of Woodlands since 2005.  I've directed, stage managed, provided technical support and occasionally acted. I love the variety of material that Woodlands Drama Group produce, definitely not run of the mill.  I feel privileged to be part of the committee.

​

Away from Drama

I'm an Independent Celebrant writing and conducting Wedding and Naming Ceremonies and Funerals. I’m a member of the Patient Participation Group at my local GP surgery. I also enjoy watching new and classic films, a nice glass of something sparkly but most of all travelling.

Pat Bickerton

Founding member

Why I Enjoy Drama

I am a very long-standing member of Woodlands Drama Group and have seen the Group change and grow (all for the better) since I moved here in 1986, largely due to hard-working teams behind the scenes. I have enjoyed amateur dramatics on many levels – for the opportunity to get under the skin of a character different to my own, to be able to see things from the perspective of a different personality, and to exercise the brain through learning lines.


Should you be considering amateur dramatics as a hobby, then I urge you to try it. If you are new to the area and have previous experience or not, then a welcome is assured – nothing ventured, nothing gained.

​

My Drama Experience
Over the years I have taken part in both comedic and more serious plays from pantomime to being a child (when I wasn’t) to playing old ladies (when I wasn’t).

​

Away From Drama

I love to travel, learn other languages, garden, and where possible, keep up to date with modern technology. In addition, I have had a long-standing love-affair with Radio, a radio play beating the pictures on television hands-down (in my opinion …).

Alison Gilmour

Alison.jpg

Why I enjoy drama

I enjoy the whole spectrum of drama from play and drama games through to performance theatre. There is something transformative about watching theatre that you just don’t get from the cinema, especially in an intimate setting such as Harrogate studio

 

My Drama experience

I’ve been involved in drama since being a child, being a member of theatre companies in Wakefield, Nottingham and London.

I relocated to Harrogate in 2003, was welcomed by Woodlands and as an ‘unknown actress’ was cast in the title role of Anastasia.  Since then I have enjoyed numerous acting roles and have had the opportunity to write and direct my own work with Woodlands which recently led to an array of trophies at last year’s festival. In 2022, I took on challenge of 11 roles in Baskerville, some bearded and most of them “as tough as old leather and about as attractive”!

 

Away from Drama

I’m pretty much immersed in drama as professionally, I work as a Drama Therapist  here in Harrogate.

However, I do love to travel, anything from Youth Hostels to the Yucatan.

Pippa Bogle

Why I enjoy drama

It offers me a wonderful and diverse social group with ever changing exciting projects.  I’ve always learned a great deal at the same time being encouraged and supported with acting roles or production tasks.  

I find I laugh a lot, too!  It’s a constant motivational and fun existence!

​

My Drama Experience

Having been introduced to competitive verse speaking at school I joined Ealing Arts Drama Group in my 20s. Then when I moved north to Harrogate I was initially involved with the Deanery Players. Over the last 17 years, with Woodlands, I have acted regularly in both theatre and Nidderdale Festival plays, as well as directed and assisted with production. Recently, for the 2024 Fringe event, I wrote a short sketch which formed part of the programme.

​

Away from Drama

Although I retired several years ago from professional work, I am now a Trustee for a charity, occasionally volunteer at Harrogate Hospital with nursing communications training, do Pilates, art classes, line dancing, help with looking after my young grandson, and have recently had Reiki training.  

Howard Atkin

Tim Robinson

bottom of page