DADS Logo

This she did with her usual efficiency, with judging by the Chair Anne Cannings and local artists Marilyn Bailey and Christopher Cole, timed to announce the winner in early 2006. Three categories were held - 12 years and under, 13-18 years, and 'over 18'. We asked for no more than two colours, plus black and white, and something that was bold and easy to reproduce in lots of different media.
Entries to the competition were of a very high standard and the judges found it extremely hard to select winners in each of the three categories. Nonetheless, after long and careful deliberation over many cups of coffee, they were pleased to announce the following results...

In 2005, with the Society going from strength to strength and thinking about our 90th birthday in 2006, (and reflecting on this age of 'branding' we all live in), the Committee decided we should find ourselves a logo. Various ideas were batted around until committee member Joanna Gardiner suggested we make it a village event, and hold a competition. In true democratic style, the Committee agreed, as long as Joanna organised it!

Joanna and Anne had a lovely time meeting each of the winners and presenting them with their prizes.
The winning logo now appears on all (or nearly all!) our publicity material and the Secretary even puts it on the minutes. The distinctive design has been warmly welcomed, and we are pleased that it became something that involved the village.

Well the loose translation means 'Keep the Ball in the Air'.
'Wot's that got to do with acting?' I can hear 'outraged' of Dunsfold crying. Well, if you're sitting comfortably, I'll explain.

In April 2005 a poster appeared in the village inviting all (including sundry) to a Drama Workshop, organised by DADS and to be run for us by Lawrence Mullin. Lawrence has had vast experience of 'The Craft' and is a founding director of The Talking Trade, a company set up to train those destined to give a public performance of any sort.
During the workshop we learned about expressing emotions, breathing, characterisation and 'wearing the part', learning the whole play not just your bit, improvisation and various other techniques designed to elevate one's performance to a more professional level.

Part of the process involved us all standing in a circle and passing a football sized soft ball from person to person. The ball however had to be passed in a particular way as directed by Lawrence and without the use of words. We passed angrily, sadly, reluctantly and so on, we imagined the ball to be heavy, light, hot, cold etc. but the overriding object was to pass the ball without dropping it.
Lawrence likened this exercise to how actors in a play should conduct themselves. The ball in this instance is the plot, the words, the performance itself. Sometimes an actor stumbles, forgets his lines, loses where he is in the plot. It's at times like this that the others need to take the ball and pass it on, to help their fellow actor and move things along so that the audience is unaware there has been a problem. The cast needs to work as a team and 'Keep the Ball in the Air'.

Eventually the idea of keeping the ball in the air was crafted into a pithy phrase for us by John Jeffrey and has been unofficially adopted as a fitting DADS motto.

From the Dunsfold Poster

Lawrence was trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and has appeared extensively on the stage. He made his television debut in Crime Monthly, was in Coronation Street from 1976-1979 and was in the cast of Brookside for six months in 1993. He has also appeared in The Bill, Juliet Bravo, Between the Lines and Heartbeat. He played a travel agent in the Pauline Collins hit film Shirley Valentine and played a Sergeant in The Endless Games.

Lawrence Mullin

Lawrence Mullin, a star of stage and television, and founding Director of Talking Trades is running a Performance Workshop for anyone interested in acting (whether experienced or not). He will be demonstrating how to get the mind, body and voice in tune to perform.