Times were hard back in 1944 with five years of war behind the nation and battles continuing as Nazi Germany although in retreat, were still fighting hard. Having endured the past few years initially with the Covid Pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis, we understand what it is like to live through challenging times.
So, eighty years ago, in an attempt to bring some light relief to the people of Abingdon who were not serving abroad, a band of men and women from the Abingdon area came together to form the Abingdon Drama Club. It was unlikely at the time they did so, they would have thought their endeavours would have created a Club that would survive eight decades. The Abingdon Drama Club has witnessed three Monarchs, 19 Prime Ministers (including Winston Churchill and Harold Wilson twice), the Birth of the NHS, the Four Minute Mile record being set, Men walking on the Moon and the launch of The Mousetrap in 1952, which is still the world’s longest running play.
Over all these years, members of the Abingdon Drama Club continue to ensure that they bring the very best productions to the stage. Since their first performance ‘London Wall’ by John Van Druten, performed at the Corn Exchange in Abingdon’s Market Place in September 1945 they have continued to bring together a wide range of over three hundred productions to entertain their audiences to high quality productions.
When the Club was first formed, one of the original members was Joan Brewer, who wrote an article in 1986 entitled ‘ROOTS – A contribution to the History of the Drama Club.’
“Today, it must be impossible to imagine the extent to which war-time shortages so drastically affected all amateur theatricals. But - we had determination and the capacity for endless hard work. Imagine then, the problems of launching a new club from nothing - nothing at all - no belongings, no members. Most people said the idea was crazy; but at least the four original members had experiences and each in our own way had something special to offer. Bear in mind too that in addition to full-time jobs we had ARP (Air Raid Precautions), Home Guard, etc duties, which meant that every hour of the day was filled.”
“To say that there was opposition to the project is an understatement. Not surprisingly, there was downright hostility. Agnes Baker and Joan Brewer had the job of campaigning for members. After all, you cannot have a club without members and their subscriptions, but how do you get members until there is a Club for them to join? A.K. Boyd was appointed Acting Chairman, but he soon realised that too much work was falling on the Secretary/Treasurer (J.B.) and wished to reverse the positions. However, his seniority and expertise as a producer made him the obvious choice, and he was persuaded to remain. There was also the small point that, because he was a Radley don, the college did expect to have first claim on his abilities and time. Thus, with toil and tribulation the new Drama Club burst upon a rather astonished town, and the writer can vouch for the fact that each member of the team made some personal and not inconsiderable sacrifice in the struggle to get the thing going. The very first production, “London Wall” in 1945, was truly a hair-raising affair, with few experienced people in the cast and mostly untried back-stage workers. But somehow it went on and was the first of many productions over the following years.”
Over the years, ADC have rehearsed and performed at various venues around Abingdon. However, in 1960 they purchased their Clubhouse in Marcham Road for the sum of £1,274.3s (equivalent to £127,000 in today’s value). Their Clubhouse provides rehearsal spaces, green room, a set workshop as well as costume and props stores. The building is also the home of the fantastic Juniors Drama Classes which have been teaching young people and putting on their own productions for over 40 years.
When the wonderfully atmospheric and intimate Unicorn Theatre was created in the Medieval Abbey Buildings back in 1953, ADC was asked to stage the very first production and they chose ‘The Two Angry Women of Abingdon’ by Henry Porter. They have continued to perform most of their productions at the Unicorn Theatre ever since. Performances have included tragedy to high farce, from plays by the great names to those by more home grown and local talent. Over the years, the Club has received much praise and appreciation from audiences and critics alike. Reviews received during 2023 include:
Abandonment – “The actors are all so professional… fabulous costumes, brilliant set design. Such an amazing show”
The Kassandra Files - “Tony Green delivers the essence of a whodunit by holding tightly to the who, what and how. This was an extremely pleasurable way to spend an evening,” Craig Rance
ADC’s last production of their 79th year, Richard III, directed and produced by Mike Ward, was a triumph with an amazing cast headed by Laura King playing the lead. “This was amazing – best theatre I’ve seen in ages! Just so good. Superb acting and fab effects!”
As you would expect their 80th birthday year will have a full production schedule, having started with a post-Christmas pantomime performance of ‘Peter Pan’. In April, from 17-20 they are performing ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead’ an absurdist, existential tragicomedy written by Tom Stoppard, with Calendar Girls on stage from 10-13 July and the year concluding with ‘A Christmas Carol’ from the 11-14 December 2024.
If you would like to be part of the Abingdon Drama Club, whatever your age, contact them via abingdon-drama-club.com or email enquiries@abingdon-drama-club.com. For the Juniors, email abingdondramaclubjuniors@gmail.com
