GOING for gold, Newtown Amateur Dramatic Society start their 50th anniversary golden jubilee year in their Powys Theatre, with the much-loved Noël Coward play ‘Blithe Spirit’ next week.

For Pam Edwards, it is also a bit of a trip down memory lane as ‘Blithe Spirit’ was the first play she ever appeared in and now she has the starring role as the eccentric medium Madame Arcati, most famously played by Margaret Rutherford in the classic 1945 film version.

Madame Arcati is called on by novelist Charles Condomine and his second wife, Ruth, to hold a séance at their home.

But Madame Arcati conjures up rather more than they had bargained for when they hear the voice of Charles’ first wife Elvira.

David Morgan plays the part of Charles and Jan Fursier is Ruth, with Brian Davis and Katherine Williams as their guests, Dr and Mrs Bradman; Karen McMurdo is the maid Edith and Heather Hughes is Elvira.

Directed by Lesley Crowther, ‘Blithe Spirit’ opens on Monday night, November 4, at the Society’s Powys Theatre on Canal Road, at 7.45pm.

There are further performances every night through to Saturday, November 9.

The season will continue next February with another comedy being considered and they will end probably with a thriller in April or May.

Rehearsal meetings are normally held at the Powys Theatre on Monday and Thursday nights, with new members always welcome.

Having previously had to operate out of an old Second World War Army hut, the company found its permanent home with its own theatre opening in 1969, with their first production of ‘The Late Christopher Bean’ by Emlyn Williams.

Since then they have staged many comedies and thrillers and in recent years set up a youth section, as well as devoting time to further enhance the building for the comfort of audiences, with the latest addition being a bar.