OUR HISTORY
DELIGHTING AUDIENCES SINCE 1938
Starting
in 1938, Claygate Dramatic Society has been delighting audiences and
providing opportunities for self-expression for almost 90 years.
After an enthusiastic beginning, there was an inevitable gap for the
duration of the Second World War. The post-war era saw a re-start and
a pattern soon emerged of three productions a year one of which, in
January, was often a traditional pantomime with enthusiastic audience
participation.
The rest were a mix of light comedies, thrillers and more serious
pieces. Originally performing at the King George’s Hall in Esher,
the Society later began putting on shows at the then new Claygate
Village Hall, built in 1959. With a large stage, dressing rooms and
with a seating capacity of over 200, as well as its location in the
village, this proved a most welcome amenity.
Until about 25 years ago, a couple of the original members of the
Society were alive, though neither of them lived in Claygate. One of
them sent in a set of minutes of an early committee meeting of the
Society. They were revealing if not surprising, with concerns over
casting, finance and ticket sales occupying the attention of
committee members in much the same way as they do today. However,
un-minuted accounts of proceedings in the middle years, relayed by
word of mouth, tell of one member in the 1970s whose sole
contribution was to deliver his impression of Elvis Presley at each
meeting! (Today’s committee members each have defined
responsibilities, so that any dramatic impulses can be channelled to
where they belong – on the stage.)
The Society has twice presented the works of Shakespeare with The
Merry Wives of Windsor in 1979 and then The Tempest in 2012.The
latter rather reversed the practice of the bard’s time by having
several of the male parts played by women as opposed to the
Elizabethan convention of female roles being taken by men and boys.
However, the reversal was not quite complete as, rather than the
women cross-dressing, the male characters in question were re-named,
with the magician “Prospero” becoming “Prospera”.
In programmes often featuring the comic muse, work by Oscar Wilde,
Noel Coward, Alan Ayckbourn and J.B. Priestley have all been put on,
while thrillers have been represented by the likes of Daphne du
Maurier. Dramatizations of Jane Austen have also been presented and
serious topics addressed as in “Whose life is it anyway” about a
paraplegic and “Inherit the Wind” concerning the Tennessee
anti-Darwinian “Monkey Trial” of 1925.
Over the years the Society has adapted and developed. In the
1980’s it began to run a licensed bar to accompany its shows, which
has proved a popular addition to the drama. Table seating with light
meals, such as fish and chip suppers, have also been used for some
productions. Recent years have seen the introduction of new format
shows , such as a First World War commemoration of readings, songs
and a dramatic extract from famous local playwright the late
R.C.Sherriff.
The very latest production broke the mould again, taking the form
of a 1950s radio thriller drama performed as if in a recording studio
before a live audience and including on-stage sound effects. (Some of
those had visual impact, too, such as the ingenious manipulation of a
log in a dustbin of water to simulate a boat nudging a river bank.)
With enthusiastic audiences, players and supporting crew, we are
looking forward to many more anniversaries.
