Performances paused, but centenary marked
THIS time last year we were taking to the stage to polish our performances for the season opener; One Man, Two Guvnors.
The set was built and the actors had all but learned their lines – especially impressive as the leading man had stepped into the breach with just two weeks until opening night.
It was a delightfully challenging time, and one we would happily repeat for the chance to be on stage and perform for you all again.
Alas, times are still uncertain, even though some aspects of ‘normality’ are creeping back into most of our days.
Here at the SDC we have missed our usual sparkling youth production that would have taken place at the start of the month.
We are very lucky that this talented bunch miss performing too as they used their ingenuity to devise and record a socially distant variety show that was available for members to enjoy in the Summer.
We ought to have been launching our exciting centenary season, celebrating 100 years of the Southport Dramatic Club.
Whilst our performance plans are paused, we have many other ways to celebrate and share our wonderful history with you.
Our hard working marketing team reached out to members and invited them to share precious photographs and memories.
Naturally, the members did not disappoint and our Instagram and Facebook pages have featured clippings, promotional pictures and backstage snaps from a range of productions over the decades.
The images show the joy our members have in their craft and it has been most enjoyable to recall productions gone past, and learn more about one another.
One in particular recalls a production of Boeing Boeing from 1968.
The wonderful Margaret Mann recalls that in that production, there was also an incident where the leading man was incapacitated and had to be substituted at the eleventh hour.
Margaret recalls how she and her fellow actors sought permission to visit their fallen fellow in his hospital bed, attired in their hostess uniforms and this attracted media attention and offers of modelling!
Head over to our pages to read this marvellous memory (posted in July 2020) in full.
If you have meandered down Hoghton Street of late, you will note the fine array of posters on display.
They contain pictures and information about the origins of the club in 1920, the opening of the theatre itself in 1937, the two fires that we have suffered and a look to the future.
They are well worth a peruse if you find yourself in town.
Finally, we will be launching virtual theatre tours, to keep you up to speed with the interior of the theatre and talk to you a little more about how this largely volunteer run pursuit operates.
These will be on our social media too and promise to be a real treat.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more memories and the latest updates at facebook.com/SouthportLittleTheatre and instagram.com/little_ theatre_southport
You can also visit our website (littletheatresouthport.co.uk) to read more about our history and see show photographs from recent seasons.