Dramatic Society of East London

Dramatic Society of East London (DRAMSOC East London) **** Founded in 1952, the society focusses mainly on the production of popular comedies and dramas with their amateur members, though it did on occasion participate in partnership with professional Organisations such as CAPAB. In 1989 it also collaborated with the East London Museum in a production of the educational play The Selfish Shellfish. They were among the societies supporting the Guild Theatre Association’s attempts to build a civic theatre for the city in 1954, and once it had been built, became one of the most eager users of the facility. Their production of The School for Scandal opened the theatre in October 1962, and their members provided the voluntary workers to staff the theatre. The advent of television in 1976 greatly diminished their activity, as it did with most such Organisations, but they remain active. *** [TH]

The Society built their own venue in 1963. It was used for rehearsals and performances. Initially called The Playhouse, it was re-named The Alexander Playhouse after founding member, Lynette Alexander.

Productions (1953-1996)

1953: The Flaw, The Last Plot, Cream of Tartar, Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary?, Pink String and Sealing Wax, Love from a Stranger, The Man Who Came to Dinner.

1954: Intent to Murder, Home at Seven, Young Wives' Tale, The Shop at Sly Corner, The Happiest Days of Your Life.

1955: Two Dozen Red Roses, Don't Listen Ladies, Peace Offensive, The Yeomen of the Guard, His Excellency, Heaven on Earth, Strange Parallel, Behind the Lace Curtain, Playgoers, The Strong Go On, Scattered Showers, Charity Begins....

1956: Ten Little Niggers, The Barretts of Wimpole Street, The Late Christopher Bean, Ladies in Retirement, The Bespoke Overcoat (Festival Play).

1957: Here We Come Gathering, The Gondoliers, Gaslight, Lithuania (Festival Play), My Sister Eileen.

1958: To Dorothy a Son, Merrie England, The Reluctant Debutante.

1959: Bonaventure, Waltz Time, The Whole Truth, The Diary of Anne Frank, Noah.

1960: Simon and Laura, The Wooden Dish, The Women, Death of a Salesman.

1961: Birthday Honours, A Touch of Fear, Seperate Tables, The Water Babies.

1962: Pygmalion, Casse Noisette, Noddy, Our Town.

1963: The Gazebo, Patience, The Waltz of the Toreadors, A Night to Remember, Orpheus, Ondine.

1964: The Innocents, You Can't Take it With You, The Shifting Heart, The Amorous Prawn.

1965: The Miracle Worker, Will Any Gentleman? Red Riding Hood.

1966: Sailor Beware!, Pools Paradise.

1967: Busybody, The Fourposter, The Christmas That Was.

1968: Five Finger Exercise, Beauty and the Beast, Say Who You Are.

1969: Woman in a Dressing Gown, The Queen of Hearts.

1970: Boeing-Boeing, Pirates of Penzance.

1971: The Women, Mother Goose.

1972: Winter Journey, Something to Hide.

1973: Breath of Spring, Rattle Of A Simple Man, Happiest Days Of Your Life, Water Babies.

1974: Plaza Suite, The Poker Session.

1975: Not Now Darling, Oliver!

1976: All In Good Time, Two And Two Make Sex.

1977: Cinderella.

1978: The Goes The Bride.

1979: Bedroom Farce, Bar and Ger, Lovers.

1980: Black Comedy, Joggers.

1981: Before the Party, Fringe Benefits, Something's Afoot.

1982: Key to Murder, The Owl and the Pussycat Went to See....

1983: Will Any Gentleman?, See How They Run, A Christmas Carol.

1984: Deathtrap, The Plotters of Cabbage Patch Corner.

1985: Fiddler on the Roof, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

1986: Nutcracker Sweet, Dark of the Moon.

1987: Hijack Over Hygenia.

1988: Hello, Dolly!

1989: The Selfish Shellfish, South Pacific, The Boy Friend.

1990: Night of January 16th.

1991: Flibberty and the Penguin, Mame.

1992: Hans Christian Andersen.

1993: Annie Get Your Gun, Oklahoma!.

1994: Save the Human, Gingerbread Man.

1995: Camelot, Showstoppers II, Annie Warbucks.

1996: Showstoppers III, Partners in Time.

Sources

DRAMSOC East London theatre programme November 1972.

Daily Dispatch, 13 December 1996

Partners in Time programme, 1996

'A history of East London’s theatres', ShowMe (online), 1 August 2019 (https://showme.co.za/east-london/events-entertainment/east-londons-theatres-and-their-history/)

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