It is known that a 'theatre' of some kind existed in Bourne, the only record of its existence was from research which revealed that the building was on the site now taken up by the car park at the rear of the Burghley arms. After the first world war a traveling company came twice a year and performed in a building situated at the rear of the Six Bells Public house in North Street. One of Bourne's senior Citizens recalls attending performances of 'Uncle Toms Cabin' and 'Maria Martin & the Red Barn' - the admission price was 3d and 6d.
Bourne Amateur Operatic Society performed during the 1920's until 1936. These performances were very popular and considered the highlight of the year.
Bourne Players was formed in 1936 and the productions were the result in a collaboration between Mrs G.R. Holliday and Mr Ernest Pattison. These included 'Nothing but the truth', 'Miranda','One Wild Oat', 'Quiet Weekend' and 'Laburnham Grove'.
The group was reformed after the war with Mr Pattison as the sole producer until 1975. During this time the players were very successful in winning awards in the Kesteven Drama festival and other competitive festivals with both one act and three act plays at Scunthorpe and Skegness. These included 'The Second visit' by John Bourne, 'Home is the Hunted' by R.F Delderfield, 'The Valiant' by Holworthy Hall & Robert Middlemass and 'Mr Lucifer & the Spinster' by Philip Johnson.
Rehearsals would take place in the Town Hall, in a building known as The Institute, Bourne Laundry or in the homes or individual players. Performances were very dignified occasions with the ushers waering evening dress and tea was served in the interval by the ladies of the Womens Institute and the Red Cross.
For the plays that took place at Easter, the stage management and cast would remove the flats from their storage area in Martridge Auto Parts at the rear of the Corn Exchange and weather permitting, spread them out in the cattle market in order to clean and colour wash them before erecting them on the Sunday. Furniture for the set was kindly donated from various tradespeople in the town, e.g Tom Jones, Cliffes of West Street, Neales, Betts in Eastgate and Kinnsway.
The Stage LIghting in the early days were footlights which were made by Ray Marsh for the use of Bourne Players in the Corn Exchange. Later overhead and spot lights were hired from the County Drama Department and had to be collected from Sleaford & Grantham. Ray Marsh would be working into the early hours of the morning in order to have them in place for the dress rehearsal. Eventually we purchased our own lighting, which Ray Wiffen secured permanently in the corn exchange.
Performances started on a Tuesday with invitations to the Senior Citizens of the area. The highlight of the weeks performance was on the night when the members of the District Council were invited to attend.
With regard to the Corn Exchange itself, in the early days of productions, the main hall and the room used as the dressing room were heated by open fires, and a coke boiler provided the very inadequate central heating.
In 1962 we won the silver cup in the Kesteven Drama Festival with the farce 'One of those days' by Kent Richards and again in 1963 with 'The feminine Touch' by Wilfred Massey.
In 1975 Ernest Pattison, after 38 years of total involvement, decided that the time had come to retire. The remaining players felt that they wanted the productions to continue and even more importantly, that the high standard of performance should be maintained. An advertisement in the paper inviting any persons interested to attend a meeting to discuss the formation of a Drama Society and in February 1975 a group of 22 met in a room in the 'Nags Head' and another phase of Bourne Players was initiated. A committee was formed and a constitution drawn up. Those elected at the first meeting were.
Chairman - Raymond Wiffen
Hon. Secretary - Diana Vaughan
Hon. Treasurer - Olive Scotney
Committee - Mary Wand, Pauline Porter, Derek Bontoft, Terry Penney.
The first performance of the re-formed players was a one act play 'Wife required' by Audrey Johnson. Which was entered into the Long Sutton Drama festival, where Pauline Porter won an award for her performance. Subsequently over the years Bourne Players won many awards both for production and individual, thus maintaining the high standard already set.
In 1975 the budget for a production was £235 and the cost of tickets 50p & 40p, By 1979 there were 31 members and the annual subscription was raised to £2. We received a grant from South Kesteven District Council for £75 which defrayed the rental of the Corn Exchange which amounted to £200. The cost of mounting a production in 1989 had increased to £1000 and the tickets cost £3.
to be continued...
My thanks to Mary Wand, Beth Panter, Olive Scotney & Raymond Wiffen for compiling a History of Bourne Players 1959 - 1989. I loved reading the anecdotes for the productions and the compilation of cast lists is a wonderful piece of history.
If anyone wishes to have a copy of these cast lists or can help me compile the lists 1989 onwards, please contact me (bourneplayers@hotmail.co.uk)
Emma Oglesbee - Bourne Players member (2007 - present)