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The Portsmouth Music Scene
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 from The Stage & dated 24th March 1927 27-4-1933 Evening News Floradora 27-6-1933 Evening News 16-4-1936 Evening News  Tom Jones 1st July 1935 South Parade Pier, The Desert Song. John Pearce, Portsmouth players 1962
Portsmouth Players Shows
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1927 The Gondoliers 7th March, South Parade Pier performed at Easter
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------------The Student Prince South Parade Pier Sept. 18th to 23rd Sept. 1961
1962 The Boyfriend Kings Theatre w/c Feb. 12th 1962
------------The Desert Song South Parade Pier May 21st to 26th 1962
------------The Mikado South Parade Pier Sept. 24th to 29th 1962
1963 The King and I Kings Theatre Feb. 11th to 16th 1963
------------The Merry Widow Kings Theatre June 3rd to 8th 1963
------------Call Me Madam South Parade Pier Sept. 23rd to 28th 1963
1964 Carousel Kings Theatre May 18th to 23rd 1964
------------Song of Norway South Parade Pier Sept. 30th to Oct. 10th 1964
1965 South Pacific Kings Theatre March 1st to 6th 1965
------------Pirates of Penzance South Parade Pier May 26th to 5th June 1965
------------New Moon Kings Theatre Oct. 25th to 30th 1965
1966 Gay’s the Word Kings Theatre March 14th to 19th 1966
------------The Yeomen of the Guard South Parade Pier May 30th to 4th June 1966
------------Brigadoon Kings Theatre Oct. 17th to 22nd 1966
1967 Show Boat Kings Theatre May 15th to 20th 1967
------------Kiss Me Kate Kings Theatre Oct. 16th to 21st 1967
1968 Iolanthe Kings Theatre Feb. 26th to 2nd Mar. 1968
------------Flower Drum Song Kings Theatre May 20th to 25th 1968
------------The Vagabond King Kings Theatre Oct. 21st to 26th 1968
1969 King’s Rhapsody Kings Theatre March 3rd to 8th 1969
------------Merrie England Kings Theatre May 26th to 31st 1969
------------Oklahoma! Kings Theatre Friday Oct. 10th to Sat. Oct. 18th 1969
1970 Orpheus in the Underworld Kings Theatre May 18th to 23rd May 1970
------------The Pajama Game Kings Theatre Oct. 19th to 24th 1970
1971 Count of Luxembourg Kings Theatre May 10th to 15th 1971
------------White Horse Inn Kings Theatre Oct. 11th to 16th 1971
1972 Camelot Kings Theatre Feb. 14th to 19th 1972
------------The Gondoliers Kings Theatre June 5th to 10th 1972
------------My Fair Lady Kings Theatre Oct. 6th to 14th 1972
1973 Land of Smiles Kings Theatre May 21st to 26th 1973
------------Fiddler on the Roof Kings Theatre Oct.8th to 13th 1973
1974 Bitter Sweet Kings Theatre Feb. 18th to 23rd 1974
------------Robert and Elizabeth Kings Theatre June 10th to 15th 1974
------------Charlie Girl Kings Theatre Oct. 14th to 19th 1974
1975 Carousel Kings Theatre Feb. 24th to March 1st 1975
------------Sound of Music Kings Theatre w/c 9th June 1975
------------Hello Dolly! Kings Theatre w/c 13th Oct. 1975
1976 The Merry Widow - February 23rd to 28th 1976
------------- Guys & Dolls 1976 June 14th - 19th
------------ The King and I Kings Theatre Nine performances, commencing 1st Oct - 9th 1976
1977 Brigadoon Kings Theatre May 9th to 14th 1977
------------The Great Waltz Kings Theatre w/c 10th Oct. 1977
1978 Chu Chin Chow Kings Theatre w/c May 8th 1978
------------The Music Man Kings Theatre w/c Oct.9th 1978
1979 Perchance to Dream Kings Theatre w/c Feb. 5th 1979
------------The Mikado Kings Theatre w/c June 4th 1979
------------Gigi Kings Theatre w/c Oct. 8th 1979
1980 Irene Kings Theatre w/c Feb. 11th 1980
------------Maid of the Mountains Kings Theatre w/c June 2nd 1980
------------Annie Get Your Gun Kings Theatre w/c Oct. 6th 1980
1981 Glamorous Night Kings Theatre w/c Feb. 9th 1981
------------The Boyfriend Kings Theatre w/c June 1st 1981
------------Orpheus in the Underworld Kings Theatre w/c Oct. 12th 1981
1982 Half a Sixpence Kings Theatre w/c Mar. 29th 1982
------------SUMMER SERANADE (Songs from the shows) Kings Theatre Fri/Sat 25/26 June 1982
------------The New Moon Kings Theatre w/c Oct. 11th 1982
1983 South Pacific Kings Theatre w/c Feb. 14th 1983
------------Love from Judy Kings Theatre w/c May 30th 1983
------------The Dancing Years Kings Theatre w/c Oct. 10th 1983
1984 Oklahoma! Kings Theatre w/c Feb. 13th 1984
------------No, No Nanette! Kings Theatre w/c May 14th 1984
------------Fiddler on the Roof Kings Theatre w/c Oct. 8th 1984
1985 Jesus Christ Superstar Kings Theatre w/c Feb. 11th 1985
------------Oliver! Kings Theatre w/c May 20th 1985
------------The Lisbon Story Kings Theatre w/c Oct. 7th 1985
1986 Hans Andersen Kings Theatre w/c Feb. 17th 1986
------------Mame Kings Theatre w/c May 19th 1986
------------White Horse Inn Kings Theatre w/c Oct. 13th 1986
1987 Calamity Jane Kings Theatre w/c Feb. 9th 1987
------------The Gondoliers Kings Theatre w/c June 8th 1987
------------Carousel Kings Theatre w/c Oct. 12th 1987
1988 My Fair Lady Kings Theatre w/c Feb. 8th 1988
------------Mr Cinders Kings Theatre w/c June 6th 1988
------------Kiss Me Kate Kings Theatre w/c Oct. 10th 1988
1989 Paint Your Wagon Kings Theatre Feb. 13th 1989
------------Cavalcade Kings Theatre w/c June 5th 1989
------------Gigi Kings Theatre w/c Oct. 9th 1989
1990 The Merry Widow Kings Theatre w/c Feb. 12th 1990
------------Funny Girl Kings Theatre w/c June 4th 1990
------------Phil the Fluter Kings Theatre w/c Oct. 8th 1990
1991 Bless the Bride Kings Theatre w/c Feb. 11th 1991
------------Sweet Charity Kings Theatre w/c June 3rd 1991
------------Brigadoon Kings Theatre w/c Oct. 14th 1991
1992 Cabaret Kings Theatre w/c Feb. 10th 1992
------------Sound of Music Kings Theatre w/c June 8th 1992
------------Girl Crazy Kings Theatre w/c Oct. 12th 1992
1993 The Pirates of Penzance - KT - w/c 15.2.93
------------Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - KT - w/c 7.6.93 (This show commenced on the Monday)
------------Sweeney Todd - KT - w/c 11.10.93 (also opened on a Monday.)
1994 Hello Dolly Kings Theatre w/c Feb. 7th 1994
------------The Music Man Kings Theatre w/c June 13th 1994
------------42nd Street Kings Theatre w/c 3rd Oct. 1994
1995 The King and I Kings Theatre Feb. 6th 1995
------------Irene Kings Theatre w/c 12th June 1995
------------Charlie Girl Kings Theatre w/c 9th Oct. 1995
1996 Chess Kings Theatre w/c 12th Feb. 1996
------------La Cage Aux Folles Kings Theatre w/c 10th June 1996
------------Anything Goes Kings Theatre w/c 7th Oct. 1996
------------Tun on the music, November 12th Ferneham Hall Fareham 1997 January 9th to 11th 1997 CINDERELLA St John’s College, Southsea This was to raise funds for the re-building of the Portsmouth Players Headquarters.
------------Follies Kings Theatre w/c 10th Feb. 1997
------------Me and My Girl Kings Theatre w/c 9th June 1997
------------Fiddler on the Roof Kings Theatre w/c 6th Oct. 1997
1998 Aladdin A magical pntomime, 7th to 11th January 1998, St John's College Southsea ------------Pickwick PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL w/c 17th Feb. 1998
(The King’s Theatre’s future was in doubt at this time)
------------Guys ‘n’ Dolls Kings Theatre w/c 9th June 1998
------------The Boy Friend PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL w/c 3rd November 1998
On Saturday 28th November 1998 Spotlight on Players A gala celebration of musical theatre to celebrate the completion of the work to the Players’ Headquarters 2 performances
1999 Kiss Me Kate Kings Theatre w/c 22nd Feb. 1999
------------Some Like It Hot Kings Theatre w/c 14th June 1999
------------A Funny thing happened on the way to the Forum Kings Theatre w/c 11th Oct. 1999
2000 The Will Rogers Follies Kings Theatre w/c 14th Feb. 2000
------------Tues. 28th March to April 1st 2000 MISS COURTNEY’S BLOOMERS was performed at the New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth this was a premiere.
------------Hot Mikado - Kings Theatre w/c 12th June 2000
------------Mack & Mabel Kings Theatre w/c 9th Oct. 2000
2001 Oliver! Kings Theatre w/c 12th Feb. 2001
------------Oklahoma! - PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL Wed. to Sat. 13th to 16th June 2001, The was due to another troubled time for the Kings Theatre.
------------My Fair Lady Kings Theatre w/c 1st Oct. 2001
2002 42nd Street Kings Theatre w/c 11th Feb. 2002
------------West Side Story Kings Theatre w/c 10th June 2002
------------Evita Kings Theatre w/c 21st Oct. 2002
2003 Underneath The Arches Kings Theatre w/c 10th Feb. 2003
------------Into The Woods Kings Theatre w/c 9th June 2003
------------Gigi Kings Theatre w/c 20th Oct. 2003
2004 Jesus Christ Superstar Kings Theatre w/c 23rd Feb. 2004
------------Sweet Charity Kings Theatre w/c 14th June 2004
------------Mame Kings Theatre w/c 11th Oct. 2004
2005 Annie Get Your Gun Kings Theatre w/c 21st Feb. 2005
------------Half A Sixpence Kings Theatre w/c 13th June 2005
------------Pirates of Penzance Kings Theatre w/c 10th Oct. 2005
2006 Me and My Girl Kings Theatre w/c 24th April 2006
------------Titanic, The Musical - Kings Theatre w/c 16th Oct. 2006
2007 The King and I Kings Theatre w/c 12th Feb. 2007
------------Thoroughly Modern Millie Kings Theatre w/c Tues. 12th June 2007, From this show - the playing week commenced on Tuesdays
------------HMS Pinafore Kings Theatre w/c 16th Oct. 2007
2008 Carousel - Kings Theatre w/c 12th Feb. 2008
------------Hello Dolly Kings Theatre w/c 10th June 2008
------------Crazy For You Kings Theatre w/c 14th Oct. 2008
2009 The Full Monty Kings Theatre w/c 10th Feb. 2009
------------The Producers Kings Theatre w/c 9th June 2009
------------Anything Goes Kings Theatre w/c 20th Oct. 2009
2010 Oliver! Kings Theatre w/c 9th Feb. 2010
------------The Hot Mikado Kings Theatre w/c 12th Oct. 2010
2011 The Music Man Kings Theatre w/c 15th March 2011
------------Nunsense The Barn Milton Park 15th to 18th June 2011
------------The Sound of Music Kings Theatre w/c Monday 10th Oct. 2011, This show had an additional performance, on the Monday
2012 Annie Kings Theatre w/c 14th Feb. 2012
------------Forever Broadway A concert at The Barn 24th to 26th May 2012
------------Jubilation Celebration A concert at The Barn 10th June 2012
------------Beauty and the Beast Kings Theatre w/c 30th Oct. 2012
2013 Copacabana Kings Theatre w/c 12th Feb. 2013
------------Little Shop of Horrors City of Portsmouth Boys’School w/c 28th May 2013
------------Sweet Charity Kings Theatre w/c 8th Oct. 2013
2014 Grease Kings Theatre w/c 11th Feb. 2014
------------Stepping Out Players Studio Theatre (The Barn) 21st to 24th May 2014
------------Little Night Music Players Studio Theatre (The Barn) 18th to 21st June 2014
------------Sister Act Kings Theatre w/c 14th Oct. 2014
2015 Hairspray Kings Theatre w/c 24th Feb. 2015
------------The Vicar of Dibley Players Studio Theatre 20th to 23rd May 2015
------------West End 2 Broadway Studio Theatre 17th to 20th June 2015
------------Players In The Barn With Sondheim Studio Theatre 1st to 4th July 2015
------------Sunset Boulevard Kings Theatre w/c 13th Oct. 2015
2016 Spamalot Kings Theatre w/c 9th Feb. 2016
------------Showtune Studio Theatre 18th to 21st May 2016
------------Hi - De Hi Studio Theatre 15th to 18th June 2016
------------Oliver Kings Theatre w/c 1st Nov. 2016
With thanks to Christine Woodall for this information
1976 Golden Jubilee Players;- Ladies, Gents and Non Playing Members
LADIES PLAYING MEMBERS Betty Syrnonds, ]osephine Craston, Iean Hankins, Eileen Hodges, Beryl Bryant, Gladys Daw, Ioan Odds, Patricia Wood, Alison Hill, Kaye Loosmore, ]essie ]ones. Caroline Ansell, ]ulie Holland, Mary Page, Eileen Hibberd, Denise Hammond, Sue Wright, Glenda Hayles, Frances Wakely, Eve Fry, Irene Butcher, Janet Boswell, ]une McKenna. Sheila Farrar, Beryl Drury, Carrole Coles, Betty Jordan, Deidrie Wayman, Kathryn Irwin, ]oan Lindsey, Peggy Thomas, Valerie Bacon, Pamela French, Adrienne Wilson. Wynn Bradey, Iane Wheeler, Sandra Gardiner, Marjorie Marshall, Patricia Roberts, Eileen Dobson, Iris Harris, Sheilah Fraser, Audrey Brown, Coleen Buswell, Elaine Chapman, Sharon Courtney, Ruth Cattanach, Sheila Ellis, Suzunnc Gold, Dorothy Metcalfe, Kitty Pratt, Sheila Russell, Sarah Symonds, Dorothy Winfield, ]oyce Winfield.GENTLEMEN PLAYING MEMBERS Christopher Grist, Colin Dowding, Ray Farrar, Keith Loosrnore, Clare Jolli?e, Freddie Odds, Iohn Lindsey, Michael Pitt, Geoffrey Marsh Victor Mingay, George Smith, Walter Gillians, Ewen Stephenson, John Pearce, Tag Caisley, ]ohn Down Roy Brown Keith Woodall Richard Hankey, Dennis French, Bert Hibberd, Richard Lillywhite, Richard Carter, Steven Pilcher, Ronald Wickham, Trevor Roman, Harry Morris, Tony Goer, Alan Trout, George Bradey, David Bryant, Charles Burgess, Jack Olding, Kenneth Hill, Eric Greenwood, Stephen Bennett, John Hadley, Graham Duncan, Alan Golding, ]ohn Hammond, Harry Leather, Quentin Lang, Pat Nelson, Norman Price, Philip Parham, Peter Shepherd, Irwin Smith, Ron Sayers, Peter Toseland, Lionel Taylor, David Wakely, Ian Win?eld, Alan Walker, Graham Duncan, Alan Golding, ]ohn Hammond, Harry Leather, Quentin Lang, Pat Nelson, Norman Price, Philip Parham, Peter Shepherd, Irwin Smith, Ron Sayers, Peter Toseland, Lionel Taylor, David Wakely, Ian Winfield, Alan Walker.
NON-PLAYING MEMBERS
Janet Baker, Valerie Simpson, |Meytle Watson, Dorothy Windebank, Sheila Loosmore, Mollie Tuggey, Michael Drury, Beryl Carter, Marjorie
John, Brenda Hadley, Betty Robinson, Christine Woodall, Irene Gillians
Fiona Robinson, Bertie Symonds, Hazel Crowther, John Kennedy, Dorothy Plumb, Roger Foxell, June Breeze, William Jones, Mavis Vallance.
Mabs Hill, Graham Wilson Pauline Longyear, Colin Justice, Freda Beale, Douglas Beale, Lynn Greenwood, Harold Norris, Enid Caisley,
Leslie Bartlett, Mrs. A. Blake, Iohn Coles, Madeline Cooke, Pam Doyle, J. L. Everett, Francis Hammond, Doris Locke, Olive Lee, Jill Lewis, Beryl Morris, Paul Newell, Marjorie Northway, Graham Osborn—Smith, Joe Price,
Eileen Price, ]oy Price, Colin Price, Ben Riches, Brenda Smith, Daphne Staniforth, Eric Stevens, Margaret Smith,
Alison Stewart, Molly Seager, Elizabeth Trout, Eve Wolf.
“FEFTY YEARS OF PORTSMOUTH PLAYERS SONG AND DANCE”
In 1926, a small group of musically-minded theatre enthusiasts decided it was time for Portsmouth — then about to become a City — to possess a good,
independent operatic society.
An advertisement was inserted in the local press, and a meeting held in an old building in Queen Street, Portsea, was attended by some twenty people. The
society was formed, a committee elected, auditions held, and as a pilot venture a variety concert was given in order to raise funds. The Portsmouth Players were
in being.
With profits from the concert the Players launched their first full-scale production “The Gondoliers” at the old South Parade Pier Theatre at Easter, 1927.
From the start, a professional producer was engaged. The late Harry Drury brought the touch of the expert to that earliest performance and remained at the
helm of the Players’ successes for forty-two years. Up to the last his word was law; he could reduce a leading lady to tears with his sarcasm, or convulse the
company with laughter by demonstrating the “wrong” way to make a gesture or deliver a line.
After the initial success of “The Gondoliers” came “The Mikado”, but in those days the margin between profit and loss was small. Ticket prices ranged from
seven pence to half-a-crown, and members had to plead with their friends: “Do buy just a couple of 7d tickets even if you can’t come”. (Today, the King’s
Theatre does not hold enough seats, even at £1.20 each, to satisfy all those who request them). Sadly, “The Mikado” failed to break even, and in their third
season the Players faced financial collapse.
In order to keep the society from dissolving, members pledged themselves either to subscribe a lump sum of £3 or pay a five-fold increase in their monthly
subscription. Remembering that in 1929 three pounds was probably two weeks’ income for many of the members, it is no small mark of faith and determination
of those early Players that such a sacrifice was willingly made.
Their faith was justified by the profits from the next show, which encouraged the ambitious step in 1930 of presenting two operas in one year and of performing one of them, “Ruddigore”, at the King’s Theatre instead of the Pier. At this time Harry Drury was joined by Vera Garbutt, who remained our choreographer until her death in 1964.
1931 marked another turning-point. After “H.M.S. Pinafore” in the spring at the pier, the autumn venue was again the King’s Theatre —— and for the first
time, instead of Gilbert & Sullivan, a musical comedy “The Quaker Girl” was presented. This was so much enjoyed by Players and public alike, that from then
on two musical comedies a year became the rule — and there was no return to “G. & S.” for 26 years.
It was also a long time before the Players again felt secure enough to present another show at the King’s. Money was tight in the 193O’s and there was plenty
of professional competition —- for this City then possessed three Theatres, two music-halls, two pier pavilions and more than thirty cinemas.
Dress rehearsals are always arduous and in those days were doubly so. In order to open on a Monday, the first complete run-through on the actual stage,
with scenery, costumes and properties, takes place on Sunday. Nowadays this happens in the afternoon and early evening. But before the war a celebrity concert
was held at the South Parade Pier on Sunday afternoons, and the Players had to be clear of the building by lunch-time. This often meant curtain-up at 5.00 a.m.
—— and it was not easy to perform slick chorus routines with sparkling smiles, when eyes were heavy with sleep after arriving at the Pier on foot, by bicycle or in
shared taxi — for few indeed were the members who owned cars then, and there was no public transport at that hour.
The most dramatic dress-rehearsal was one which never took place: it was scheduled for September 3rd 1939. All that summer, at the headquarters in Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth, preparations had proceeded for “Sunny”; but the production was cancelled with the outbreak of war.
During the early part of the war the Pembroke Road rehearsal rooms were used as a canteen for the Forces. But in the blitz of January 10th 1941, the building
was destroyed, and with it all membership records and fifteen years’ accumulation of costumes and properties.
The immediate post-war years saw an uphill struggle similar to that of the 192O’s. We had no headquarters of our own and rehearsals had to be held in their
hired halls and schoolrooms. Nevertheless, two shows a year were presented at the Pier and in 1951 we celebrated our Silver Jubilee with a spectacular production of “The Vagabond King”.
1953 was our next landmark. In that year we returned to the King’s Theatre for our Coronation production of “The New Moon”. At the same time we
acquired a headquarters of our own once more: the ancient thatched Barn in Milton Park, which is still our “home”.
In 1962 yet another milestone was reached. Three shows instead of only two were presented. Again we returned to the King’s, this time for an outstanding
production of “The Boy Friend”. By 1966 the King’s had become our regular venue for shows, for the South Parade Pier was no longer used as a theatre. And
in 1974 the Pier itself went up inflames.
In 50 years much has changed, including styles in shows. We no longer work under the same producer each time, members come and go — some to make professional stage careers. But much remains the same: many pre-war members are still with us, some have brought up their children to follow them; the months of hard work, the disasters, the friendships, the jealousies, the audience response that spurs us on to greater efforts —— these are unlikely to have changed when we celebrate our Diamond Jubilee in 1986!
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