Finishing touches are being made as the Dart Drama Festival prepares to lift the curtain for a fourth year. Behind the scenes, the eight participating groups from throughout the South Hams are beavering away to bring the very best of amateur theatre to the Flavel stage, at Dartmouth.

This community festival, run by volunteers, aims to promote and encourage amateur drama throughout the area, and to celebrate and showcase the talent around us in a non competitive environment. The festival is pleased to welcome back groups which have faithfully supported the event over the years, from as far as Salcombe, Kingsbridge and Torbay as well as those from Dartmouth and its environs. This year’s festival is welcoming newcomer, Whatif & Whynot from Dartington, which is making its debut under the leadership of Peter Reeves, with Scene One from George Bernard Shaw’s “Saint Joan”.

Comedy is interspersed with two very strong drama pieces, with challenges ranging from learning Yiddish and Gaelic, in Dit’sum Players presentation of Wolf Mankowitz play, “The Hebrew Lesson, to the absolute absurd, with an in-house piece, “Split Ends” written especially for the festival by a little known author, D A Mulle, for the Inn Theatre Company. This year, the festival was award an Arts Council grant by South Hams Council, which will be put to the general running of the festival. Avril Dowding,  festival co- organiser said: "This has given us a much needed boost. But we are also indebted to Devon County Councillor Jonathan Hawkins, and the town’s business community who have faithfully continued to give their support and sponsorship over the years. It will also help to keep ticket prices as low as  possibly to encourage more people to come and see the excellent work and talent on our doorsteps."  Mrs Dowding added “The content of the festival is always challenging for us as organisers, and this year we feel we have a good balance".

She added: “As there are eight one act plays, each performing a maximum of 30 minutes, we have decided to continue with the same format as last year and have four plays a night, with each group performing twice".
Tickets are being organised so theatregoers can either see one night’s performance of four plays, or have a combined ticket which will enable them to see all eight plays over two nights.

On Wednesday 10th and Friday 12th (Performance 1) see plays by Dartmouth Players, Salcombe Players, Whatif & Whynot and Kingsbridge Amateur Theatrical Society. On Thursday 11th and Saturday 13th November (Performance 2) see plays by Stoke Fleming Operatic and Dramatic Society, Dit’sum Players, Shiphay Amateur Dramatic Society and the Inn Theatre Company. Tickets are: single adult ticket £8, single child £4 (one night only, four plays); combo adult ticket £14, combo child ticket £6 (for Performances 1 and 2, all eight plays).

For further information and synopsis, please go to the Dart Drama Festival website by clicking here or book online at clicking here or telephone on 01803 839530

2.  Wildfire's new Winter menu

Wildfire Bar & Bistro in Dartmouth is launching a new winter warming menu this month, created by head chef Tom Woods, and inspired by seasonal ingredients from Devon pastures, Devon coastal waters and Devon dairies. Tried and tested, and tested again, each plate has outstanding ingredients, the light touch of an exceptional chef and superb flavours.

Head chef Tom Wood explains: “Working as a chef in Devon is incredible – I have some of the most sought after ingredients right on my doorstep, and when gathered at just the right time, they deliver the most intense flavours. Since becoming head chef at Dart Marina in June, I have been building my list of the very best local suppliers, some of whom I’ve known personally for many years. We have created a menu which could be described as winter warmers and comfort food – but still with the unmistakable Wildfire twist and influences from around the world. I think of this winter’s new menu as soul food!”

From hearty bowls of pumpkin risotto and macaroni cheese – Wildfire style, to matured beef, exceptional oysters and freshly hand-made pies, and puddings worthy of a straying spoon – each plate has been carefully and expertly created. Wildfire’s signature triple cooked chips are there on the menu with seared sirloin steak on griddled home-baked bread and the essential Wildfire Burger - not to be missed! Also, not to be missed is Wildfire’s Bread – warm, hand-baked, soft, aromatic and made for mopping up fabulously fruity olive oil before the main event arrives.

Guests can order as many dishes as they want to, then graze and share, and feel the atmosphere as the food takes centre stage and the River Dart glides by, literally a few steps away. Whet your appetite at Wildfire’s new website by clicking here or call 01803 837180

3.   Christmas with Trish

Trish reports:  Just to mention the dreaded 'Christmas' word.....I have a 'wish list' in the shop, so local ladies can pop in and tell me the jewellery they like. I make a note of this. Then, when their partners come in to buy their Christmas gifts, I can point them in the right direction! It should take away some of the stress of that (usually last-minute) gift buying! At least you know that you are buying something she will like.  Click here to see Trish's website.

Happy Christmas shopping!

4.   World Indoor Rally Championship

John Darby  (IFIT Race Marshall and Dogs Body) reports: We are holding the World Indoor Rally Championship for the third year running. It's in aid of The Greyhound Sanctuary Exeter. There will be four large SCX rally tracks with timers. The cars will be supplied and each track has a different car. Each competitor will be given a race card and they will have three attempts to complete one lap of each track as fast as they can. The times will be totalled up and the winner will be the racer with the overall fastest total time. Prizes for each track and the top three finishers and the fastest Lady. There is also a junior (14 and under) event run along the same lines except they will have one practice go before the three attempts.

The event will be held at Dartmouth Guild Hall, Devon TQ6 9RY on the 27th November 2010, 12.00 noon until 11.00pm the juniors will finish at 5.00pm. There will be light snacks, coffee and tea and also a licensed bar from 5.00pm. A raffle and music, a really fun day out for all ages.  Both last year's and the previous year's winners will be there to claim back their titles.

6.   Small News

• James Brown reports: We had fun at Browns with three events at the Food Festival, all fully booked. Thank-you to those who booked and enjoyed our various fish nights. In particular Mark Lobb for bringing his fish stall to Browns on the busy Thursday. We have passed to Julie and the team in the kitchen, your many lovely comments about the food.
  
  Fiona Beckett and her husband Trevor stayed with us. Fiona is food and wine writer for the Guardian. Read her comments on our food and wine, on her excellent website by clicking here.  Word is spreading about the free Tapas on Friday nights. Click here for more on what Browns are doing!
   

• Remember all of our photos of Dartmouth are taken in the week of publication.
   

Why not come and visit Dartmouth?

• Self catering accommodation click here
   
• Dartmouth B and B  click here
   
• Dartmouth Hotels click here
   
• A Tourist Guide to Dartmouth click here

Images copyright  Dave Cawley,  Andy Kyle,  & others.