Billingshurst Dramatic Society: Looking ahead to 2023

Looking Ahead: Billingshurst Dramatic Society in the Women’s Hall centenary year

Next year will be a big year for Billingshurst Dramatic Society as we celebrate our long association with the Women’s Hall in their centenary year.

The Hall opened in 1923 following the donation of land and money from local philanthropic sisters Ellen and Edith Beck, and, in 1926, the Mothers’ Garden which adjoins it was added. You might not have heard of the Beck sisters, but if you have ever visited the Women’s Hall then you will almost certainly have noticed their portraits which hang there, and evoke the era of suffrage and social reform in which they were so active.

We thought, therefore, that it would be a fitting tribute to offer two special productions next year.

The first is a new tongue-in-cheek dramatisation about the Beck sisters’ census evasion in 1911, in a village that wasn’t ready to consider giving women the vote back in 1911. when Billingshurst doesn’t seem to have been a very progressive place! This will be performed in conjunction with another one act suffragette play,

Our other production will be a sumptuous revival of Sheridan’s The Rivals, in a contemporary adaptation by BDS’s own Barry Syder. The first Billingshurst Dramatic Society performance took place back in 1942: it was a production of The Rivals directed by Edward Marshall, so this seemed to be a good way to honour our unique history with the Women’s Hall. Meanwhile, look out for our murder mystery at The Kings Head pub in November. This is an Inspector Waddington case, called Murder at Peacock Hall, featuring Colonel English-Mustard, and Clarissa Scarlett, among others. Fans of Cluedo might recognise a theme! Tickets are available directly from the pub, and there will be plenty of prizes for correctly guessing the identity of the murderer.

It’s a little way off, but a date for your diaries is our Christmas social at the Women’s Hall on Wednesday 7th December. There will be a read-through of a well-known Christmas play along with mulled wine and mince pies. All welcome! We are always looking for new members, whether fulfilling a desire to be on the stage, backstage, behind the scenes, front of house, pouring drinks at the bar, getting creative in the lighting box – there is a role for everyone. Ted Gooda

Photo: The Women’s Hall