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Library C o r n e r While still dealing with Aberdeen‘s, we inherited stock from Glasgow Time flies when you are having fun, or so I’m told. It has been an eventful year since the opening of the National Script Library at Summerhall Arts Centre, Edinburgh. No sooner had we sorted and (almost) catalogued the contents transferred from the Eastern Division Library, than we received 50 odd crates and boxes of scripts from the closure of the Aberdeen Library. While still dealing with them, we inherited the script stock from the Mitchell Library, Glasgow – oh joy! Thankfully Alison McCallum and I had a couple of visits to the Mitchell to inspect and prune the stock before it was packed, even so, another 50 odd crates of scripts came through to be incorporated. It has been a massive undertaking especially for Alison who has done the main “donkey work” of unpacking books and organising the shelves, but it’s such a satisfying result. We are very proud of it. I have been promoting the library as having “well over 20,000 titles” but that really is a very conservative estimate, so I should now be quoting 40,000. Honest! To explain - we have over 13,500 records of play titles but this is by no means the whole picture because, although many plays are in a number of volumes, there are also many shelves-worth of volumes which are each only listed as one record but which contain 4, 8, 12, 20, 35, nay even 50 titles! As the kids say “do the math”. The catalogue is available to download from both the national website and Edinburgh District website. There’s a filterable Excel spreadsheet and a pdf which is easier to use if you are not familiar with spreadsheets. Both types are fully searchable. Please don’t attempt to print them, the spreadsheet covers around 850 pages and the pdf around 757. We receive new scripts regularly and they are entered into the database straight away. Of course our main borrowers are SCDA members but the Friends Scheme is gaining popularity too, with our most recent member being from Wylam, Northumberland – yes, England, the start of our international section. Heaven help anyone messing Alison’s shelves! A Year in the Life of the National Script Library Others include researchers, students and U3A groups (University Of The Third Age). Is your area on this map showing the geographical spread over the past year? For the statistics-geeks amongst you: Over the past year a total of 67 Clubs/Ind. Members/Friends have made use of the facilities, representing 15% of those eligible (including Individual members). 33 borrowers were clubs (27% of all clubs). 422 titles were borrowed in 540 transactions (some titles being popular). Douglas Currie, the Senior Librarian, wrote for the National Trustees Report “When age finally catches up (!) I am delighted to report that the Library for the future is in excellent hands.” However, we cannot rest on our laurels. It is vital that more of our membership make full use of this facility. The opening hours are Tues 2pm to 7pm, Weds 3pm to 5pm or, if you really cannot make those hours (or even days) we are willing to be flexible. Get in touch and we will see what we can arrange. During the summer “break” we had visitors every week and on a couple of occasions opened specially for them. We MEAN it when we say “also by arrangement”. The terms have been amended to provide a longer loan period (9 weeks instead of 6). There is a limit on the number of titles out to a member at any one time, and we will be charging for overdue scripts. Members/Friends are eligible to borrow 9 single titles; 1 set+6 singles; 2 sets+3 singles, or 3 sets. We are not limiting the number of copies in a set providing that one copy is left in the library. There is an admin charge for the postal service of £2 for the first script and 50p per script thereafter, plus we reclaim the postage. Just email us library@scda.org.uk or phone us 07799408608. Susan Wales, Assistant Librarian 8 The corridor’s ready for SCDA posters. [Hint!] The International Script Library
SCDA’s Annual Get -together Around 20 of the ‘usual suspects’ turned up at the Stirling Court Hotel (the renamed management centre) on Friday 31st October for a social get together and dinner prior to the association’s Saturday AGM. Good food, good wine and good company heralded hopefully a good weekend. Saturday dawned bright and sunny, however only around 35 people decided to attend the AGM and Forum. The business matters were skilfully conducted by our Chairman Gordon Hibbert, the books were balanced – and Dr Paul Dougall gave us an interesting report on the progress of the research project he is conducting on our behalf. There was a short break for a snack lunch then a question and answer session. Main topic was of course festivals and the new expenses recommendations (see elsewhere in magazine) were discussed. Tony Flisch showed us how to use the new electronic forms – (please district secretaries use them this year and let the festival committee know how you feel about them) It was suggested that the Library should be promoted more and not just at festival time. A suggestion came from the floor that we should be maybe thinking about encouraging clubs to enter a national full length festival since there are so many great productions going on throughout the year. This could include the adjudicator giving a workshop on the play perhaps the following day. in the 1930’s. Full of laughter and sadness this was a true tour de force. Brilliantly directed by Ann McIntyre ably assisted by Gillian Thorburn. The Pie – a superb choice of steak or mince at the interval complete with a fun filled raffle got the audience contentedly waiting for the second half. The Pint – well there wasn’t a pint but some of us managed perfectly well on gin and wine! Once again the question of the timings of the one act festival plays was discussed, reason being some felt the British Final Festival was not a level playing field as England and Wales allow 55 minutes and the thought was that all four countries should perhaps have the same timing rules. Again it was good to hear comments from the grass roots, pity more people hadn’t attended. When members are given an opportunity to let the national committee know their thoughts it is rather a shame they don’t take advantage of it – or do we take from that there are no complaints! After tea was ‘A Play, a Pie and a Pint. Wow - what a treat it was too. The Play – we were treated to an absolutely brilliant performance of John Godber’s ‘Happy Jack’ by our very own newly formed company from Stewartry’s 88 Theatre. Excellent performances from Madeline Reid and Scott Fingland wove us a fragmentary path through Liz and Jack’s long life together. A marriage of a Yorkshire miner Another very successful social weekend for the SCDA organised by our Vice Chairman Jackie Westerman, thanks Jackie. The business part of the weekend is short, the social part is full of fun and laughter, and it is great to meet up with old friends in such a relaxed atmosphere, no tension or worrying about adjudications and trophies. SCDA is really a big family and these annual get-togethers should not be missed. Morna Barron
Page 1 and 2: scene Winter 2014 The magazine of S
Page 3 and 4: SCENE No. 145 Scottish Charity No.
Page 5 and 6: Welcome.... Following our Autumn ed
Page 7: EGTG: 60 years young Sixty years ol
Page 11 and 12: Edinburgh District Let me say right
Page 13 and 14: Kelso Amateur Dramatic Society Form
Page 15 and 16: How was it for you? I’m sometimes
Page 17 and 18: The Five Cs of Stage Presence Why i
Page 19 and 20: JOHN MORLEY’S PANTOMIMES “THE D
Page 21 and 22: 50 years of theatre in the Church H
Page 23 and 24: Captivate Drama Captivate Drama, th

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