Shanklin Theatre 10th Anniversary Celebration Programme

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – June 2012.

Introduction from Vic Farrow: Doubtless to say, some are present tonight not fully aware of the reality behind this Celebration.

10 years ago, Shanklin Theatre was very close to demolition, plans having been submitted for its redevelopment.

No one could be blamed for thinking it was a lost cause.

Due to the tireless efforts of a band of people, either lovers of this historic building or theatre-goers, the Theatre was eventually saved. The turning point came when Tony Wood, now Company Secretary of both the Theatre and the Trust, enlisted the help of the Theatres’ Trust Organisation. Shanklin Theatre had been on their ‘seriously at risk’ list. With their help it resulted in the Theatre being able to obtain a Grade II listed building status. From that moment on, redevelopment was no longer on the agenda.

Tonight, I’m delighted that several of those involved from the outset are here to help us celebrate our first 10 years. Also present are members of the first and subsequent Committees, Board Members, plus past and present members of Shanklin Town Council, all of whom have helped us to be where we are today.

So, thank you all for coming along tonight, and for your wonderful ongoing support. We certainly could not have done it without you.

Vic Farrow - Chairman - Shanklin Theatre.

As a memorial to all the tradesmen that constructed the then ‘Shanklin Institute’ back in 1878, it was decided that a pictorial dedication plaque would be located on that particular part of the original building. Commissioned by graphic designers Indigo ESP Ltd, under the direction of the Theatre MD & FOST VC, the dedication plaque was affixed by the theatre’s maintenance team in a newly formed walkway linking the Balcony stairway to an external exit safety route.

Our story so far - Building the Institute: In the 17th century, on the site of Shanklin Theatre, stood a windmill. In later years the site was used as a gravel pit, owned by the Lord of the Manor, Mr Francis White-Popham.

A literary Institute existed in Grange Road at that time, but had become too small, and so a new Institute was built on the land of the gravel pit.

The site for the new Institute was gifted to the people of Shanklin by Mr White-Popham. The newly constructed “Shanklin Literary Institute� was partly funded by public subscription.

The MP for the Isle of Wight, Mr Alexander Baillie-Cochrane laid the foundation stone.

The original foundation stone can still be seen to the front right hand side of the Theatre.

The Institute was designed by E G Cooper, in classical style with a pedimented Corinthian portico.

And so, the Institute was born, and officially opened by Mrs White-Popham in 1879.

The original Institute contained an entertainments hall and meeting rooms. Additional new rooms, such as a reading room and amusement room were opened in 1884.

Introducing our 10th Anniversary Celebration acts Footsteps Dance Studio

Footsteps Dance Studio has been fulfilling the dancing dreams of hundreds of children since opening in 1986.

Many of the students have gone on to have a career in dance and have worked in areas such as professional ballet, Disneyland Paris, cruise ships and teaching dance in schools and colleges.

During their time with Footsteps, most pupils will also get the chance to dance on a West End stage (e.g. Her Majesty’s, Sadlers Wells and the Royal Albert Hall) as well as performing in a bi-annual show at Shanklin Theatre.

Linda and Anna who lead Footsteps always try to promote fun alongside fancy footwork and pride themselves on having a very happy troupe of dancers whose ages range from 3 to 80-ish.

As always, we value the huge support, dedication and hard work of the staff at Shanklin Theatre as they have enabled our students to continue doing what they love most‌performing!

For further information and details of classes, please contact Anna or Linda on 01983 865264.

From Institute to Town Hall Theatre: Following the success of the Institute, and after an edict from the Town Council in 1913, the entire building was used as the Town Hall, and became known as Shanklin Town Hall rather than Shanklin Institute.

The existing Institute did not have enough space, and so a first floor extension was built above the Amusement Room.

This became the Town Council Chambers incorporating a grand fireplace.

Sadly, fire was to feature in the Town Hall’s future, as a great blaze engulfed the building in November 1925.

The old Institute was almost totally destroyed; the estimated rebuilding costs were £2000.

Damage to the Town Hall was less severe and the Town Hall could still function. In 1929 the Town Hall was in rather poor condition and judged a ‘Health Hazard’. The Ministry of Health provided a loan of £16300 for its rebuild.

The damaged part of the building was rebuilt to a design by architects Cooper & Corbett.

The original Institute foundation stone was cut in two; Captain Peter MacDonald MP laid this newly formed foundation stone of the rebuilt Town Hall in early 1933.

The newly rebuilt Town Hall was renamed Town Hall Theatre.

Town Hall Theatre leading up to WW2:

The New Town Hall Theatre re-opened in 1934 to the tune of ‘March Militaire’. On Sunday July 8th 1934, the show included Troise and his Mandoliers – a well known musical act.

Also appearing was Zilla Bateman in the play ‘Her First Affaire’, an actress to star in many films.

The Town Hall Theatre continued to delight audiences throughout the 1930s with its variety of shows.

These included Dances, Balls, Plays, Talent Shows, Drama, Operettas and Talks.

The Town Hall Theatre even hosted a gas and cooking exhibition sponsored by the East Wight Gas Company.

A play called ‘Banana Ridge’ is a farce written by Ben Travers.

It opened at the Strand Theatre on 27th April 1938 and ran for 291 performances. Banana Ridge’ was advertised to start performances at the Town Hall Theatre Shanklin on September 4th 1939.

The play was cancelled a day before it was due to start, following the declaration of WW2 with Germany on the 3rd September 1939.

Introducing our 10th Anniversary Celebration acts First Act 2011

First Act was originally established in 1994 as a part of the day services provided by the NHS and Social Services for people with learning disabilities. Early in 2011 the group was reformed as a charitable social enterprise (First Act 2011) based at Shanklin Theatre. Members participate in drama workshops, rehearsals and performances run by local tutors and guest professionals. The group offers a safe and inspiring environment where people who would find it impossible to undertake similar activities in the wider community can meet on a weekly basis. The large audiences who support the bi-annual performances are inspired by the confidence that the cast displays and amazed by latent talents brought to the fore. Actor Melvyn Hayes was moved to become a patron of the group after chatting to the cast before watching one of their shows. The skills explored at the workshops and the personal sense of achievement experienced when performing on stage often has a direct impact on improving the lives of the people who attend.

For further information about First Act activities, contact Carol Laidler on 408184 or 07769646086.

The Second World War: During WW2 the Theatre hosted various fundraising activities including some for the Royal British Legion. A very unusual Theatre ‘act’ was in the form of an animatronics body called ‘Radiana the Electric Robot’. A £1000 payment was offered to anyone who could explain this electrical phenomenon!

Needless to say, no one from the Isle of Wight became rich……

As Radiana was not electric at all – there was a small person inside!

Darker days arrived in 1943, four German Focke Wulf 190 fighter bombers flew over Shanklin, and the enemy bombs hit a number of targets, including the Sacred Heart’s church in Atherley Road. The dead were taken to the Town Hall and Theatre mortuary. Propaganda films were frequently shown at the Theatre such as one called ‘Target for Tonight’.

The Theatre had its own Command and Control Centre – ‘The Map Room’. The Head Warden Co-ordinated Civil Defence activities from the Map Room. The room has recently been restored and re-decorated in a similar way as used during WW2. Its ceiling and walls were strengthened with massive steel beams made by Dorman Long & Co of Middlesbrough.

In August 1945, the Isle of Wight County Press reported on the celebrations at the end of WW2.

At the Theatre, a Victory Celebration Ball marked the start of happier times for Europe and Great Britain.

Introducing our 10th Anniversary Celebration acts The Pepperpot Players

The Pepperpot Players started life in 1972 when a small band of enthusiasts performed a one act play at Niton Village Hall. In Spring 1974 Niton Drama Group was born, the group performing two plays each year in spring and autumn, a pattern which continues to this day. In 1982, Whitwell Village Hall was opened and the group began to produce plays there too, initially without a stage. In 1988 it was decided to re-name the group as it was no longer based solely in Niton and, after some discussion, the Pepperpot Players was agreed upon due to the proximity of the Pepperpot tower on top of Niton Down. In 2013, we were winners of Best Village Production for Black Widow at the Isle of Wight Theatre Awards and in 2016 we performed You’re Only Young Twice and When the Cat’s Away winning NODA’s award for Best Village Hall Drama for the latter play. In 2017 we reprised both plays at Shanklin Theatre for larger audiences which were fantastic experiences for the whole company. We would like to congratulate all of those involved in the resurgence of Shanklin Theatre over the last ten years and wish them even greater success in the future. For further details about joining the Pepperpot Players, contact us at: larkrise7@gmail.com

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10 Anniversary Celebration Variety Show Programme nd

Tuesday 2 October 2018 – 7.30pm Audio/Visual: The Building of the Institute Footsteps Dance Studio present: 'Putting on the Glitz' Audio/Visual: From Institute to Town Hall Theatre First Act 2011 present: ‘Ruff Guide to Macbeth’ Audio/Visual: The Second World War Pepperpot Players present: ‘If I was not Upon the Stage’ INTERVAL

RESUME

Audio/Visual: The Boom Years - 1950s to 1970s Island Savoyards present: ‘Favourite Musical Moments’ Audio/Visual: Threat of Closure and Revival

Vic Farrow Spotlight IOW present: ‘Songs from the Shows’ Audio/Visual: Special Celebrity Messages The High Sheriff: Looking to the Future Shanklin’s Sound and Light Show

END

The Boom Years – 1950s to 1970s Following the end of WW2, productions at the Theatre resumed with plays alternating with variety shows. Christmas 1945 the famous Bernard Delfont produced the show ‘Magic In the Air’.

The high season format of plays and music/variety shows continued for a number of years. In the low season, local drama groups would stage productions. As both Sandown Pavilion and Shanklin Theatre were owned by the Council, the same show would be staged at both on the same night.

Artistes travelled by taxi between the shows, stopping to exchange views about the audience. Well known stars appearing at the Theatre included Charlie Chester, Anne Shelton and Tollefsen.

Theatre programmes advertised flights to or from the IOW, operated by Derby Aviation (later British Midland) with flights to London, Cardiff and Bristol. In 1958 a Theatre programme showed a new type of star. Television had arrived!

Throughout the 1960s many stars appeared at the Theatre including many more actors, entertainers, comics and singers.

In 1970, programmes were decimalised, adverts inside the programme included Osborn-Smith’s Wax Museum, Barney’s Emporium, entertainment at nearby cinemas and visiting beautiful White City! In 1973 the Theatre itself became a star with its part in the film ‘That’ll Be The Day’. David Essex is the young, upcoming film and singing star.

Introducing our 10th Anniversary Celebration acts The Island Savoyards

The company was formed in 1971 primarily to perform a one-off production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado to fill a void on the Island at that time in the field of operetta. This first production was such a success it was decided to continue and since then the company has gone from strength to strength.

Nowadays, shows of all types are performed. Our repertoire includes not only the Savoy Operas and composers such as Lehar, Strauss and Rogers and Hammerstein but also includes Lionel Bart, Dolly Parton and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Over recent years, Disney’s epic Beauty and the Beast has joined the company’s success story together with productions of Titanic, The Sound of Music and Sister Act to name but a few.

Shanklin Theatre has been the company’s home since its inception - it’s a great little theatre which suits the company’s needs so well. We offer our congratulations to all the Friends of Shanklin Theatre on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the theatre being saved from closure.

For more details e-mail sheelahstephens@yahoo.co.uk or telephone 402327.

Threat of Closure and Revival: Many stars appeared at the Theatre throughout the 1970s, these included Tommy Trinder, Vince Hill, the Kay Sisters, Leslie Crowther, Jack Douglas, Bobby Crush, Roy Hudd, Freddie ‘Parrot Face’ Davies, Kenny Ball, Ray Allen, Kenneth McKellar. During the 1980s, stars performed mainly at the larger Sandown Pavilion. Local productions and amateur groups stepped in to fill the programme at Shanklin Theatre such as the Island Savoyards and Island Theatre Productions.

Shanklin Business Association sponsored pantomimes. After a serious fire at Sandown Pavilion in 1989, the Sandown’s ‘Summer Magic’ show was transferred to Shanklin Theatre.

Following a change of management in the 1990s, this saw an increase to the number of shows at the theatre. This led to the formation of the Shanklin Theatre Company & Shanklin Theatregoers’ most attended show – ‘The Best of the West End’.

However, bad news struck when the Theatre was threatened with closure and possible demolition. In 2007 the Isle of Wight Council decided that the Theatre was no longer financially viable and gave notice it would close. In 2008 a dedicated group of enthusiasts formed The Friends of Shanklin Theatre (FOST) to fight the closure; they began dialogue with Shanklin Town Council on creating a Trust to take over the Theatre. In 2010 with the assistance from the Theatre’s Trust

organisation and English Heritage, Shanklin Theatre gained Grade II Listed Building status.

The Isle of Wight Council negotiated a transfer of operation and in April 2010 the keys were handed over. The employment of both the very experienced Sound and Lighting Technician and the Stage Manager was also transferred. Finally, in 2013, Shanklin Theatre and Community Trust owned the Theatre.

In June 2012 FOST volunteers were awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) for their hard work in reestablishing Shanklin Theatre; four volunteers were elected to attend the Queen’s garden party at Buckingham Palace representing the Theatre and the Isle of Wight. Also during that year, FOST volunteers were invited to a formal presentation of the QAVS at Osborne House, Cowes.

On 27th March 2014, Shanklin Theatre was delighted to welcome a visit by TRH Earl and Countess of Wessex Edward and Sophie. The occasion was to honour the achievements of the Theatre in establishing a role in the community for the Island and tourism, and to coincide with the Theatre’s 80th Anniversary.

The Earl and Countess were accompanied by their private secretaries as well as by the Lord Lieutenant and the Vice Lieutenant. Together with Shanklin Theatre Managing Director Vic Farrow, all six enjoyed a splendid buffet lunch supplied by the Green Room volunteers.

FOST volunteers are involved in running the front of house, box office, bar, ushering, bucket collection after every show and selling confectionery, ice cream and prize draw tickets.

The Volunteers clean and maintain this grade II listed building, attend various summer and winter festivals and fĂŞtes, carnivals, regattas and island wide shows, organise an annual garden party and distribute Theatre brochures locally.

The catering team fulfils other important roles, such as providing catering for the monthly coffee, cake and chat mornings, volunteer breakfast mornings, volunteers’ Thank You evening, star hospitality and refreshments for local open gardens under the National Garden Scheme.

Other roles include social media & publicity, IT support, Theatre tour guide, historic theatre material archiving and scrap-booking, website maintenance, welfare and volunteer co-ordination.

All our volunteers receive ongoing training which is essential for providing consistent customer satisfaction and safety.

The theatre has won the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for four consecutive years, not only for the quality of its shows, but also for the services provided by its volunteers.

Introducing our 10th Anniversary Celebration acts Spotlight IOW

Spotlight IOW run a variety of educational workshops, a fantastic summer season of professional shows, an incredibly successful pantomime and five busy stage schools for children aged 4 to 18. At Spotlight’s theatre schools everyone, from the youngest children to older teenagers, receives first class lessons in singing, dancing and acting. The youngsters have an opportunity to perform in their own shows throughout the year. Mainland schools visit for mini workshops during the summer and get the opportunity to see the professionals in action. For over 15 years, Spotlight has been producing successful professional Summer Shows and traditional Pantomimes. They have just completed a successful run of their Beyond the West End shows which were very well-attended and performed to a very high standard, easily on a par with West End performances. Each Summer Season sees a brand new show where the Spotlight performers will entertain you with everything from the classic numbers from Les Miserables, Oliver! and Oklahoma to more recent shows like The Full Monty. There is something for everyone in a Spotlight Show!

Contact Jayne Derbyshire for more details spotlightiow@hotmail.com

Show Credits: Thank you to everyone who has attended this evening’s very special 10th Anniversary Celebration Show. This memorable event marks a very important milestone for the Theatre. Our special thanks also go to these groups of people, individuals and companies for making the evening a success: First Act 2011 - Footsteps Dance Studio - The Island Savoyards The Pepperpot Players - Spotlight IOW Ltd Louise Bond - Gwyn Dawson - Vic Farrow - Rebecca & Chris ‘Gaffer’ Gardner - Sharon Merrick - Jacqui Robertson - Janet Wardle The 10th Anniversary Show Steering Group: Michael Beston Roger Coleman - David Kast - Rob Robertson - Steve Watts Beardsalls Shanklin & Newport - Glory Art Glass Sandown - W J Nigh & Sons Ltd And last, but by no means least; The FOST Volunteers!

Our Sponsors: Clifton Hotel First Act Theatre Group Island Web Services Jane Oliver Educational Consultant Ron Bird & Son Snowdon House TL Design Works Wightlink PLC