Scottish Community Drama Association
Scottish
Charity SC021397
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
History
The SCDA came into being in 1926, after Geoffrey Whitworth, founder and director of the British Drama League in London, received and invite from the New York Little Theatre Movement to send out the best of British Drama to compete in their annual festival. To select this team the British Drama League initiated a festival of amateur drama and a way had to be found to include Scotland. Mr D Glen Mackemmie of the Scottish National Players, then issued an invitation to all British Drama League members in Scotland, to attend a meeting in Glasgow. This meeting appointed an executive committee charged with the organisation of a Scottish Festival in the winter of 1926/27. The persons responsible, or Founding Fathers as they were called were, Dr C Bernard Childs, Edinburgh (first Chairman), Mr D Glen Mackemmie, Glasgow, Mr Hal D Stewart, Glasgow and Mr Walter R Cuthbert, Dundee.
In the early years the winning team from the Scottish Festival competed in London in the British Final. Excitingly in those days the winner of the Howard de Walden Cup from the British Festival was invited to go to New York to compete against the best of American amateurs. In 1928 Ardrossan & Saltcoats Players with 'The Old Lady Shows her Medals' by J M Barrie won the British Finals and went on to bring back to Britain the David Belasco Cup from their win in New York. They had performed their play to over 55,000 people in Scotland, England, America and Canada. Incidentally it was reported that it cost their club £600 to compete in all these Finals - this was a lot of money those days!
| Honorary Presidents of the Association | Honorary Members of the Association | Chairmen of the Association |
| British Finals, Howard de Walden Trophy Winners |
Honorary Presidents of the Association
| 1998 |
- |
Richard Wilson, O.B.E. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | - | 1998 | Bill Bryden, C.B.E. |
| 1978 | - | 1985 | Ian Cuthbertson |
| 1961 | - | 1977 | Dame Flora Robson |
| 1952 | - | 1961 | Sir Alastair Sim |
| 1948 | - | 1951 | Sir James Bridie |
| 1934 | - | 1948 | Dr Gordon Bottomley |
| 1931 | - | 1934 | Prof. J Allardyce Nicoll |
| 1928 | - | 1931 | Sir James M Barrie |
| 1926 | - | 1928 | The Duke of Montrose |
Honorary Members of the Association
|
Mrs Charles F Watson [neé Mollie Bennett]
|
|---|
|
Alex Roberts
|
Chairmen of the Association
| 2007 | Keith Robinson |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Colin Peter |
| 2000 | Richard Mackintosh |
| 1996 | Morna H Barron |
| 1992 | Murray Thomson |
| 1989 | James Witcomb |
| 1988 | Edward Green |
| 1985 | Peter J Stevens |
| 1982 | John Stoddart |
| 1979 | Margaret M Ross |
| 1976 | James H Alexander |
| 1972 | George McQueen |
| 1969 | John D Scott |
| 1964 | James Scotland |
| 1962 | Gordon M Ross |
| 1959 | R J Buchanan |
| 1957 | Col. George Borthwick |
| 1954 | R Pollock McKell |
| 1951 | Alexander Drummond |
| 1948 | R Gordon Laing |
| 1946 | Dr James Greig |
| 1943 | David M Baxter |
| 1938 | E J P Mace |
| 1936 | George Farquharson |
| 1935 | R Douglas Robertson |
| 1934 | Walter R Cuthbert |
| 1930 | D Glen McKemmie |
| 1926 | Dr C Bernard Childs |
List of Winning plays at Scottish Final
| 2008 |
Stewarton Drama Group
|
One Good Beating by Linda McLean
|
|---|---|---|
| 2007 |
Wick Players
|
The Pushcart Peddlers by Murray Schisgal
|
| 2006 |
Kirkintilloch Players |
Shakers Re-Stirred by John Godber & Jane Thornton |
| 2005 |
Kirkton Players
|
Plaza Suite (Act 111) by Neil Simon
|
| 2004 |
Tryst Theatre
|
'Travels with my Aunt' by Graham Greene
|
| 2003 |
Kirkton Players
|
'The Steamie' abridged version by Tony Roper
|
| 2002 |
Kirkton Players
|
'Bouncers' abridged version by John Godber
|
| 2001 |
Wick Players
|
A Bench at the Edge by Luigi Jannuzi
|
| 2000 |
Kirkton Players
|
Laundry and Bourbon by James McLure
|
| 1999 |
Kirkton Players
|
'The Dumb Waiter' by Harold Pinter
|
| 1998 |
Wick Players
|
‘Lone Star’ by James McLure
|
| 1997 |
Kirkintilloch Players
|
*The Dancing Fusilier (orignal Play)
|
| 1996 |
Stromness Drama Club
|
The Measures Taken by Brecht
|
| 1995 |
Tryst Theatre
|
September in the Rain by John Godber
|
| 1994 |
Lochcarron ADS
|
From Here to the Library by Jimmie Chinn
|
| 1993 |
Dunaverty Players
|
A Slight Ache by Harold Pinter
|
| 1992 |
George Square Players
|
The Donahue Sisters
|
| 1991 |
Tryst Theatre
|
Teechers
|
| 1990 |
Old Grammarians ADS
|
Kissed with a Loving Seal
|
| 1989 |
Crossmichael Drama Club
|
Can You Hear the Music
|
| 1988 |
Old Grammarians ADS
|
The Birthday Party
|
| 1987 |
Tryst Theatre
|
Childhood
|
| 1986 |
Lochcarron ADS
|
Once Upon a Seashore
|
| 1985 |
Falkirk Players
|
The American Dream
|
| 1984 |
Liberton Kirk Drama Group
|
Rise and Shine
|
| 1983 |
Eastwood Entertainers
|
The Mayor of Torontal
|
| 1982 |
Tryst Theatre
|
The Scheming Lieutenant
|
| 1981 |
Eastwood Entertainers
|
The Fish
|
| 1980 |
Old Grammarians ADS
|
The Brute
|
| 1979 |
Tryst Theatre
|
Equus
|
| 1978 |
George Square Players
|
The Orchestra
|
| 1977 |
Broadford Drama Group
|
A Respectable Wedding
|
| 1976 |
Thurso Players
|
The Lady Aoi
|
| 1975 |
Dunaverty Players
|
Rise and Shine
|
| 1974 |
Larbert High School F P D S
|
One Season's King
|
| 1973 |
George Square Players
|
Barnstable
|
| 1972 |
The Florians, Inverness
|
Mutatis Mutandis
|
| 1971 |
Old Grammarians ADS
|
Hey Johnnie Cope
|
| 1970 |
Greenock Players
|
A Shilling for the Beedle
|
| 1969 |
Troon Players
|
Philipp Hotz's Fury
|
| 1968 |
Old Grammarians ADS
|
The Proposal
|
| 1967 |
Stirling Amateur Dramatic Society
|
The Birthday Party
|
| 1966 |
George Square Players
|
The Long Christmas Dinner
|
| 1965 |
Edinburgh Graduate Theatre
|
Getting and Spending
|
| 1964 |
Stirling Amateur Drama Club
|
Himself When Young
|
| 1963 |
Kirkwall Arts Club
|
The Long and the Short and the Tall
|
| 1962 |
Greenock Players
|
*Tail Piece (Original Play)
|
| 1961 |
Riverside Former Pupils D C, Stirling
|
What Every Woman Knows - Act I
|
| 1960 |
George Square Players
|
The Crucible - Act III
|
| 1959 |
Nairn Drama Club
|
Idea for a Play
|
| 1958 |
Edinburgh People's Theatre
|
Who Loves Moraig - Act I
|
| 1957 |
Greenock Players
|
Ae Market Nicht
|
| 1956 |
Greenock Players
|
The Reve's Tail
|
| 1955 |
Huntly Gordon School F P D C
|
Still Waters
|
| 1954 |
Torch Theatre Club
|
A Surgeon for Lucinda
|
| 1953 |
Barrhead Players' Club
|
The Masterfu' Wife
|
| 1952 |
Glasgow Jewish Institute Players
|
Lucrezia Borgia's Little Party
|
| 1951 |
Barrhead Players' Club
|
Displaced Persons
|
| 1950 |
Paisley Old Grammarians A D S
|
The Changeling
|
| 1949 |
Paisley St John's Church Dramatic Club
|
Wind Along the Waste
|
| 1948 |
Barrhead Players' Club
|
A Bit of Land
|
| 1947 |
Torch Theatre Club
|
Possession
|
| 1946 |
Pantheon Club
|
Autumn Fires
|
| Break for duration of World War II | ||
| 1939 |
Stirling Amateur Dramatic Club
|
Shells
|
| 1938 |
Ardeer Recreation Club Drama Section
|
In The Zone
|
| 1937 |
Newbattle Burns Club Dramatic Society
|
Hewers of Coal
|
| 1936 |
Forfar Dramatic Society
|
The Dreamer
|
| 1935 |
Edinburgh Elocution Club
|
Martha
|
| 1934 |
Middle Y M C A Dramatic Society Paisley
|
The Amazed Evangelist
|
| 1933 |
Golspie Women's Rural Institute
|
Glensheugh
|
| 1932 |
Edinburgh Women's Athletic Club
|
Symphony in Illusion
|
| 1931 |
Falkirk High School F P D C
|
Ardvorlich's Wife
|
| 1930 |
Falkirk High School F P D C
|
Singing Sands
|
| 1929 |
Edinburgh Elocution Club
|
The Wooin' O't
|
| 1928 |
Ardrossan & Saltcoats Players
|
The Old Lady Shows Her Medals
|
| 1927 |
Blaigowrie & Rattray A O D S
|
Campbell of Kilmhor
|
Howard de Walden Trophy - Winners of the British Finals
|
2007
|
Stewarton Drama Group (Scotland)
|
One Good Beating by Linda McLean
|
|---|---|---|
|
2007
|
Total Arts Community Theatre (England)
|
Find Me by Olwen Wymark
|
|
2006
|
Holywood Players (Ireland)
|
The Invisible Man by Jennifer Johnston
|
|
2005
|
Another Theatre Company
|
After Liverpool
|
|
2004
|
Beaconfields Youth
|
Ball Boys
|
|
2003
|
Kirkton Players
|
'The Steamie' abridged version by Tony Roper
|
|
2002
|
Kirkton Players
|
'Bouncers' abridged version by John Godber
|
|
2001
|
Wick Players
|
A Bench at the Edge by Luigi Jannuzi
|
|
2000
|
Runnymede Drama Group
|
'Lear's Daughters'
|
|
1999
|
Kirkton Players
|
'The Dumb Waiter' by Harold Pinter
|
|
1998
|
Wick Players
|
‘Lone Star’ by James McLure
|
|
1997
|
Kirkintilloch Players
|
The Dancing Fusilier (Original Play)
|
|
1996
|
Barn Theatre Club, Welwyn Garden City
|
Plaza Suite [Act III]
|
|
1995
|
Dewsbury Arts Group
|
The Last Yankee
|
|
1994
|
Reigate Amateur Theatrical Society
|
Ball Boys
|
|
1993
|
Dunaverty Players, Southend, Kintyre
|
A Slight Ache
|
|
1992
|
Castaway, Aberystwyth
|
After Liverpool
|
|
1991
|
Bangor Drama Club
|
The Donahue Sisters
|
|
1990
|
The Headley Players, Bristol
|
Bouncers
|
|
1989
|
East Essex Players, Southend on Sea
|
Day of the Dog
|
|
1988
|
Paisley Old Grammarians A D S
|
The Birthday Party
|
|
1987
|
Heath Players, Box Hill, Surrey
|
Private Lives [Act II]
|
|
1986
|
Players Theatre, Rhondda
|
The Forced Marriage
|
|
1985
|
Riverside Players, Heswall
|
Skirmishes
|
|
1984
|
Bangor Drama Club
|
Winners
|
|
1983
|
Bournemouth Little Theatre Club
|
Little Eyolf
|
|
1982
|
Players Theatre, Rhondda
|
Sganarelle
|
|
1981
|
Harodian Theatre, London
|
Playing With Fire
|
|
1980
|
Paisley Old Grammarians A D S
|
The Brute
|
|
1979
|
Tryst Theatre, Falkirk
|
Equus [Act I]
|
|
1978
|
Extension Theatre Company
|
Lessons To Be Learned
|
|
1977
|
Players Theatre, Rhondda
|
After I'm Gone
|
|
1976
|
Slemish Players, Ballymena
|
No Why
|
|
1974
|
Maidenhead Players [Christian Council]
|
Was He Anyone
|
|
1974
|
Clarence Players, Belfast
|
Doreen
|
|
1973
|
Claverley ?
|
The Miracle Worker
|
|
1972
|
Wye Players, Hereford
|
Trevor
|
|
1971
|
Wye Players, Hereford
|
How's the World Treating You
|
|
1970
|
Greenock Players
|
A Shilling For The Beadle
|
|
1969
|
Pontllanfraith W I
|
The Nine Fathers
|
|
1968
|
Paisley Old Grammarians A D S
|
The Proposal
|
|
1967
|
Stirling Amateur Dramatic Club
|
The Birthday Party
|
|
1966
|
George Square Players, Greenock
|
The Long Christmas Dinner
|
|
1965
|
Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group
|
Getting and Spending
|
|
1964
|
Llynsafaddan Players
|
They Simply Fade Away
|
|
1963
|
Belfast Drama Circle
|
Heaven Is An Island
|
|
1962
|
Greenock Players
|
Tail-Piece
|
|
1961
|
Oxford House Players
|
God Is My Mountain
|
|
1960
|
St Dunstan's Players, Bristol
|
In the Zone
|
|
1959
|
Belfast Drama Circle
|
Liberation
|
|
1958
|
Edinburgh People's Theatre
|
Who Loves Moraig [Act I]
|
|
1957
|
Grangetown Boys' Club D G, Middlesborough
|
Sordid Story
|
|
1956
|
Greenock Players
|
The Reve's Tale
|
|
1955
|
Llynsafaddan Players
|
Davy Jones Dinner
|
|
1954
|
Octave Theatre Club, Northwood
|
The Wedding Morning
|
|
1953
|
The Barrhead Players' Club
|
The Masterfu' Wife
|
|
1952
|
Sutton Amateur Dramatic Club
|
The Heiress [Act II]
|
|
1951
|
The Barrhead Players' Club, Glasgow
|
Displaced Persons
|
|
1950
|
West Hertfordshire Players' Club
|
The Proposal
|
|
1949
|
Birmingham International Centre
|
Pullman Car Hiawatha
|
|
1948
|
Little Theatre, Aberdare
|
Birds of a Feather
|
|
1947
|
Newport Civil Defence Dramatic Society
|
Jephthah's Daughter
|
| Break of 7 years for the duration of World War II | ||
|
1939
|
Unity Theatre Club, London
|
Plant in the Sun
|
|
1938
|
Midland Bank Dramatic Society, London
|
Count Albany
|
|
1937
|
Newcastle Central Y W C A Drama Club
|
The Willing Spirit
|
|
1936
|
Guild of Abbey Players, Abingdon
|
The Spartan Girls
|
|
1935
|
Welwyn Thalians
|
Not This Man
|
|
1934
|
Barr & Stroud Dramatic Society, Glasgow
|
What Every Woman Knows [Act I]
|
|
1933
|
Birkenhead Institute Old Boys Drama Society
|
The Road of Poplars
|
|
1932
|
The Players' Club, Beaconsfield
|
On the High Road
|
|
1931
|
Falkirk High School Former Pupil's Drama Club
|
Ardvorlich's Wife
|
|
1930
|
Hampstead Play & Pageant Union
|
The Man Who Wouldn't Go To Heaven
|
|
1929
|
Liverpool Playgoers
|
The Devil Among the Skins
|
|
1928
|
Ardrossan & Saltcoats Players
|
The Old Lady Shows her Medals
|
|
1927
|
Welwyn Garden City Society
|
Mr Sampson
|
 |
|
|
 |