Aldermaston Court Drama Society

It was interesting to find and purchase from e-Bay these two programmes from plays put on in the theatre at Aldermaston Court by Aldermaston Court Drama Society in 1956 and 1957.

"The Paragon" Programme, Aldermaston Court Drama Society

“The Paragon” Programme, Aldermaston Court Drama Society

"Two Dozen Red Roses" Programme, Aldermaston Court Drama Society

“Two Dozen Red Roses” Programme, Aldermaston Court Drama Society

At this time in the 1950s the Court was being used by A.E.I. Ltd (Associated Electrical Industries) as their Research Laboratories. The Director of the AEI Research Laboratories was Thomas Allibone from 1946 to 1963 who was the Honary President of the Drama Society. So it is reasonable to assume that the Drama Society was mainly formed of employees of AEI.

The Dramatic Society built a theatre in one of the Nissan huts (now gone) that existed between the Manor house and AWE. Their ‘theatre’ was next to the water tower.

It was AEI that provided lighting equipment and assistance to the first production of the Aldermaston York Nativity Play in 1957 and subsequent years

Productions 1955-1957

Both programmes list past productions and plays performed from 1955 to 1957 has been compiled.

1955

1956

1957

The Bear

Red Sky at Night

Lucretia Borgia’s Little Party

Return of Peggy Atherton

Pig in a Poke

The Paragon (15 &16 Nov)

Two Dozen Red Roses

 

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY in 1956

HON. PRESIDENT

Dr. T. E. Allibone F. R. S.

VICE PRESIDENTS

J N Barnett
Mrs. J Camp
J L England
J H Hole

COMMITTEE

Chairman  – Mike Ridout
Treasurer  – Dennis Allenden
Stage Director – Mike Kirk
Secretary – Gail Loader  (in 1957 Mary Collet takes over as secretary)
Member – Mary Collet

Comments about this page

  • If I find any more Aldermaston Dramatic Society memorabilia, I’ll let you know. I have seen some production photos that my dad had and I think there are some tickets and programmes around. My father had an Adana printing press and printed tickets and programmes for many events and must have done some of the Dramatic Society ones

    By Catherine Wilkins (11/08/2020)
  • Hi Catherine,

    Many thanks for your note about your father Peter Holmes and his involvement with AEI Dramatic Society. Our knowledge of this Society is limited and comes from a couple of programmes found on eBay a few years ago. Would you have any more information that we could use? I would be really interested as I founded the Aldermaston Players in 1993 and the history of drama in Aldermaston is fascinating.

    Regards

    Chris Boott
    Vice Chair – Aldermaston History Group

    By Chris Boott (11/08/2020)
  • My father Peter Holmes worked at A.E.I. and directed and performed in plays by the Dramatic Society.

    By Catherine Wilkins (11/07/2020)

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