The University of the Third Age - Welwyn Hatfield
Play Reading Study Group
Click here to watch the group in action.
Leader: Hazel Bell, 01707 265201
Meetings are held in members' houses on the 3rd Tuesday mornings of the month, starting at 10am. We discuss the play when we've finished reading it.
On the third Tuesday morning of each month, the Playreading Group convenes to enjoy an armchair-excursion into the world of drama. We get to immerse ourselves in the characters of a play, sometimes well-known but often completely new to us, taking on a part and speaking the words, without having to worry about make-up, props, audience, or remembering lines. Not all of the members of the group are steeped in knowledge and experience and no one is expected to turn in an Olivier-style performance (fortunately!). We enjoy the opportunity to explore a new piece or to re-visit and learn more about a title we recognize, but don’t always remember clearly.
All kinds of plays have been enjoyed over the years, from light comedy to more thought-provoking dramas, from any era. Titles we have read include Look Back in Anger by John Osborne (intense and rather perturbing), and Yes, Prime Minister by Anthony Jay (so hysterically funny that at one point we were all incapable of speaking our lines due to spluttering and giggling). We meet in the home of one or other of our members and those who wish to can take a turn at choosing what we will read, also deciding on casting.
We are a smallish group and everyone gets to read at least one part during each play. On a couple of occasions when fewer than usual have been able to attend, this has required serious concentration (“Oh, sorry – am I Claire as well as Harold?”) but we rise to the challenge!
Jill Longman
Meetings for 2021 will be on
- Jan 18
- Feb 16
- March 16
- April 20
- May 18
- June 15
- July 20
- August 17
- September 21
- October 19
- November 16
- December 21
This Group met for the first time in September 2011, and the plays that we have read to date are:
2011 - September
- Bell, Book and Candle John Van Druten
- Dangerous Corner J. B. Priestley
- The Real Thing Tom Stoppard
- Dear Brutus J. M. Barrie
2012
- The Old Country Alan Bennett
- A Man for All Seasons Robert Bolt
- The Boy with a Cart Christopher Fry
- All My Sons Arthur Miller
- Love of Four Colonels Peter Ustinov
- Alphabetical Order Michael Frayn
- Arcadia Tom Stoppard
- The Cocktail Party T S Eliot
- Red Letter Day Kay Macaulife
- The Little Heir Kay Macaulife
- Hands across the Sea Noel Coward
- Under Milk Wood Dylan Thomas
- She stoops to Conquer Oliver Goldsmith
- A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Peter Nichols
2013
- Separate Tables Terence Rattigan
- A Doll's House Henrik Ibsen
- The Doctor's Dilemma Bernard Shaw
- Absurd Person Singular Alan Ayckbourn
- Abigail's Party Mike Leigh
- 3 short plays for women Kay Macaulife
- The Matchmaker Thornton Wilder
- The Mousetrap Agatha Christie
- The Master Builder Henrik Ibsen
- Hobson's Choice Harold Brighouse
- East Lynne Brian J. Burton (based on Mrs Henry Wood)
- The Memory of Water Shelagh Stephenson
2014
- Whose life is it anyway? Brian Clark
- The Lady's not for Burning Christopher Fry
- The Cherry Orchard Anton Checkov
- Noises Off Michael Frayn
- Man and Superman Bernard Shaw
- Blithe Spirit Noel Coward
- Wind of Heaven Emlyn Williams
- Plaza Suite Neil Simon
- An Inspector Calls J B Priestley
- Lady Windermere's Fan Oscar Wilde
- Halfway Up the Tree Peter Ustinov
2015
- One-Way Pendulum N. F. Simpson
- Hay Fever Noël Coward
- School for Scandal R. B. Sheridan
- A Delicate Balance Edward Albee
- You never can tell G B Shaw
- Smash! Jack Rosenthal
- Storm in a flower vase Anton Burge
- Living together Alan Ayckbourn
- Pack of Lies Hugh Whitemore
- Blue Stockings Jessica Swale
2016
- The Merry Widower Simon Moss
- Amy’s view David Hare
- The Aspern Papers Michael Redgrave
- The Chalk Garden Enid Bagnold
- Welfarewell Cat Delaney
- On the Rocks Amy Rosenthal
- Hedda Gabler Henrik Ibsen
- The Real Thing Tom Stoppard
- Man of the Moment Alan Ayckbourn
- Candida G. B. Shaw
- Sylvia’s wedding Jimmy Crin
- Single Spies Alan Bennett
2017
- Quatermaine's Terms Simon Gray
- Three Sisters Anton Checkov
- Black Chiffon Lesley Storm
- Barefoot in the Park Neil Simon
- The Second Mrs Tanqueray Arthur Pinero
- Ladies in Lavender Shaun McKenna
- The history boys Alan Bennett
- Habeas Corpus Alan Bennett
- Six Characters in Search of an Author Pirandello
- Quartet Ronald Harwood
- After Mrs Rochester Polly Teale
2018
- Dancing at Lusagna Brian Friel
- Relative Values Noël Coward
- Way Upstream Alan Ayckbourn
- The Admirable Crichton J. M. Barrie
- Kinderstransport Diane Samuels
- Yes Prime Minister Anthony Jay
- The Shop at Sly Corner Edward Percy
- The Gingerbread Lady Neil Simon
- shorts by Kay Macaulife
- Calendar Girls Tim Firth
- Look Back in Anger John Osborne
- Out of Focus Peter Gordon
2019
- The Judge John Mortimer
- A Moderate Soprano David Hare
- The Homecoming Harold Pinter
- The Heiress R & A Goetz (Henry James)
- Day of Reckoning Pam Valentine
- Tom and Viv Michael Hastings
- Generations Apart Peter Gordon
- Getting On Alan Bennett
- The Odd Couple Neil Simon
- Top Girls Caryll Church
- The Boy with a Cart Christopher Fry
2020
- Before the Party Rod Ackland
- Red Peppers Noel Coward
(Zoom meetings)
- City of Tomorrow Glyn Maxwell
- Three of Silk Toni Neobard & Kate Broad
- The Dark Lady of the Sonnets G. B. Shaw
- The Twelve-pound Look James Barrie
- She Stoops to Conquer Oliver Goldsmith
- Swept Away by Murder Terry Adcock
- The Warden
- Pygmalion G B Shaw
- A Woman of No Importance Oscar Wilde
- All for a Quiet Life Fred Barrett
2021
- Rich Tapestry of Life Margaret Fisher
- Parrots’ Eggs Barbara Pym
- A slim Chance / The Amersham Chronicles
- The Thirty-nine Steps
- The Cat & The Canary John Willard (adapted by David Muncaster)
- A Doll’s House Henrik Ibsen
- Taking Steps Alan Ayckbourn
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