From
1928 there existed a drama group called The Bridlington Dickensian
Amateur Dramatic Society which, from its programme cast lists,
does not appear to have had any connection with the Operatic
Society.
Even
when, as we read in the programme for the 1934 production,
"Milestones", it decided to change its name, it
remained a separate organisation, becoming known as the Bridlington
Amateur Dramatic Society.
"The
name has been changed to permit a larger scope and the production
of modern plays. It is proposed to continue to produce a Dickens
play each December "
As
can be seen from the play list this proposal did not appear
to bear fruit as Dickens disappeared from the scene after
the production of Great Expectations in the December of 1934.
Interestingly,
from 1946 to 1956, play programmes carry the motto , "Nor
Do Difficulties Deter " Was this because of post war
problems ?
Having been called the Bridlington Amateur Operatic Society
since its foundation, the name was changed to that shown on
the cover of the 1957 programme of "The Land of Smiles",
with the following explanation inside:-
"A
Dramatic Section to the Bridlington Amateur Operatic and Dramatic
Society has recently been formed with the object of encouraging
members to study and train in all aspects of stage technique"
The
first production was "The Happiest Days of Your Life"
and at least one full-length play a year was promised. During
the winter Play Readings were to be arranged and members were
also encouraged to join a class at the Bridlington Technical
Institute on the "Art of the Theatre".
In
1958 we learn from "The Arcadians" programme that
while the comedy "As Long As They're Happy" was
well received, other types of drama were also being explored.
"The
Dramatic Section does not restrict itself to the more popular
audience-producing plays, as its entry of Euripedes' "The
Trojan Women" in this year's Yorkshire Drama Festival
at Scarborough has shown, and a number of our members recently
took part in an interesting Studio presentation to an invited
audience of the first act of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible",
under the direction of Mr Edward Stanley, late of the Bristol
Old Vic School of Drama.
Arrangements
have been made for the Scarborough Theatre Guild to give an
evening of "Theatre in the Round" early in the New
Year."
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