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Madhatters Theatre Club |
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About Us
| We are a small multi-cultural drama group based in
the London Borough of Brent. We are open to all and encourage members to
take an active part in our productions whether performing, backstage or
front of house. We usually mount two productions each year as well as
performing at Borough festivals and community events. We were formed nearly sixty years ago and started out as part of a youth club. Shortly after the second world war in September 1945 Mrs. Nora Kent, the wife of the then editor of the Willesden Chronicle, approached the Reverend Jones of St Paul's Oxgate to see if any members of the youth club would be interested in a Drama section. Our President, Peter Fidler, who was at the youth club was one of those interested. The first production of the group, for one night only, was a selection of sketches, musical items and a one act play. This was followed in March 1946 with a production of 3 one act plays. Admission was free and after an impassioned speech at the end of the show by a member of the audience a silver collection, for the group, was taken. This raised £12 8s, over £300 by current values, which was promptly kept by the Vicar. This did not go down too well. It was suggested by one of the Church members that the Group should set out on its own and in March 1946 the Madhatters was formed under the leadership of Mrs. Kent. The first production was a three act play, Call It a Day, by Dodi Smith, picked mainly because it had 16 characters and everyone in the Group could be used. We have never been a particularly large group usually sustaining between 10 and 20 members. From time to time the Group has regenerated when new faces have appeared to revitalise our talents. The past few years have seen a change in our fortunes as membership has increased and we have secured better venues for performance. From needing to meet in members' houses, we now meet regularly at the Stables Arts Centre on the edge of Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill Lane, NW2 6HT. We are also performing our plays in 2008 at theStables Arts Centre. We were succesful in applying for a Lottery grant to improve our perfomances and equipment and we also received a Millenium grant to produce a video history. A further Awards for All grant was received in 2006 for our work with the community. In As well as our play productions we also perform at the Borough shows and community events and we have a social programme of visits to the theatre. We were granted Charity status on the basis of the strong community content of our work. If you should wish to join us or wish further information please contact, Cathy, our Secretary, telephone 020 8452 5235 or Martin, our Chair, telephone 020 8450 8505 or email us: |
To see a copy of our constitution and to see our member's news.
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