LITTLE THEATRES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 9, 12 January 1932, Page 15

LITTLE THEATRES

WORK IN ENGLAND

HULL'S SUCCESS

The annual conference of tho British Drama League was held in Hull, says tho "Manchester Guardian." It was fitting that, the league should come to that city for their meetings, since Hull j has an ancient theatrical tradition, ami' is to-day furthering the avowed aims of the league "to develop the art of the theatre and promote right relations between drama and the life of the community." The commercial theatre has fallen on the evil days, and is represented only by a stock company and two variety halls; no touring companies come there, and London celebrities pass the city by. Hull does not mind; its dramatic life is self-contained and achievement has been along the lino of repertory. To all intents and purposes there aro

two "little" theatres in Hull, one an amateur society which gives five public performances a year of a week eacl and many more private performances and readings; the other a professional company which often recruits extra faces from the other amateur societies in the district. The first, the Hull Playgoers' Society, has been in existence for thirty years, and was largely responsible for the creation of the second, the Hull Repertory Theatre, in 1924.

The Playgoers' Society has had siuce IVS'J a house of its own, a disused cinema in tho old town which has been transformed into an attractive little playhouse.. The seal jf the society is a vi •■-.• of Holy Trinity Church, one. of the largest parish churches in the couutry, with a Noah's Ark in front of it, and this is a reminder that the

"mystery play" of Noah, the earliest leunrd of dramatic performance in Hull, used to be played almost on the spot where the Playgoers' Theatre now stands. Among the latest productions of the society has been "Dr. Knock," "Uncle - Vanya," "R.U.R.," "The Adding Machine," "Daughters Are Dutiful," by Goldoni (first production in England),

and a modern-dress version of "Much Ado." Tho society has five hundred members and an acting strength of a hundred. REPERTORY WORK. Their latest production is of a Chinese play, "The Yellow Jacket," to a guest performance of which the members of the Drama League conference are invited. Not the least important thing about, the society is that it pays its way. Its success is duo in great measure to the usually high standard of its acting, its eminently businesslike organisation, aud the efforts of a number of enthusiastic :md enegetic officials, among whom may bo mentioned the president. (Mr. T. Shepherd), who founded the society in -1901, and is also chairman of the board of the Repertory Theatre, ihe producer, Mrs. James Downs, ami the productions secretary, Mr. L. Minwoe Clark. The Repertory Theatre, starting from very humble beginnings in a lecture hall seven years :<go, and having had to contend with many reverses of fortune, including a disastrous fire in the reconstructed theatre in January, 1930, is now a well-established institution

with a faithful and growing audience. Mr. Arthur Whatmore was the first director of tho theatre, and his place has now been taken by Mr. Carl Bernard, a producer of imagination who is succeeding in maintaining the necessary equilibrium between art and the boxoffice. A number of well-known actors are or have been members of the company. Colin Clive spoke the first words m the theatre in 1924. Ellen Hare was a member for several seasons, and-the present leading lady is Natalie Moya. Notable productions recently have included " A Doll's House,'' a Grand Guignol suite, "The Sacred Flame," "Death lakes a Holiday," and "Street Scene," which is being played a: the moment. iNu seat in the house costs more than os 6d, and on Monday nights all seats are Is 2cl, none being reserved. The Drama League delegates had an opportunity of seeing the work of both theatres. The conference opened with a civic reception in the Guildhall, at. wlueii the speakers included the Lord -Mayor and Mr. Alec Ben