'How It All Began' - as remembered by Panny Tyrrell

When Wadhurst and the rest of the world was war-worn, weary and bored, when every conversation was about black-out, rationing, old clothes and no petrol whatsoever, a band of stalwarts (mostly spinsters but a sprinkling of men just being de-mobbed) thought up a Drama Club. It was mainly the brainchild of PEGGY LUCK and the very first breath of it all was between Peggy and myself in Malpass the Butcher's.

In less than a week, a meeting at Peggy's house was arranged and took place in thick snow. Meetings thereafter were at different places: we went there by bike. Coal and gas were at a premium so it was very usual for certain members to turn up with bags of logs or two lumps of coal and a good old army blanket!

Our total assets were something in the region of £20. To hire the Commemoration Hall for a week was £10 all inclusive, but that was a rich man's sum in those days. I gave a coffee morning and the result was a stupendous £20. As long as we broke even henceforth, all we would need to do was hold a coffee morning - it would be our solution for ever. Little did we know!

The audiences wore full evening dress and Miss Mitchell always wore her tiara. After the years of war, Gala was to be had by all at last.

And Now?

The very first production of the WADHURST DRAMATIC CLUB took place in December 1946: 'Fresh Fields', a comedy by Ivor Novello, proved to be a great success and the Club has continued without interruption from strength to strength to this very day. We still present three productions a year - comedy, farce, drama and tragedy, pantomime, musical shows, Old Time Music Hall - and we have tried never to repeat a play.

Our productions still take place in the Commemoration Hall in which we have been able to provide a sophisticated lighting and sound system, velvet stage curtains, good stage equipment and even cushions for the audience's chairs. We have received some very good press criticism, and on the technical side we also have a justifiably high reputation for our stage sets which are painted and stored under the floor of the Hall, along with the props.

Though our seats no longer cost 5/- to 1/9 as they did in 1946, we are still able to put on a very entertaining show for £8. Newingtons Newsagents on the High Street is our very efficient and loyal Box Office. Tickets are available after 10am Monday - Saturday.