Dramatic Club

1936 has been a most successful and instructive year for the Dramatic Club, the general meeting and election of officers being held towards the end of the third term in 1935, thus enabling the incoming committee to decide upon the programme for the year, over the long vacation. An early start was made with the acquisition of a prompt box and the cutting of a new door in the side of the stage, in an attempt to equip the stage a little better for productions.

The production of "Hay Fever," by Noel Coward early in the First Term, made an encouraging start on the year's activities. The play was ably interpreted by an experienced cast, who, for young amateurs, made an exceptionally good showing, holding the interest of the large audiences, and keeping them thoroughly entertained. In some cases the character work displayed by the cast was of a particularly high level. The club was fortunate in obtaining the services of Mr. Leo Du Chateau to supervise the production, and the exceptional way the cast worked together as a team, and the detail and finish which were responsible for much of the success of the production were largely attributable to Mr. Du Chateau's instruction.

A most interesting feature on the year's programme was a lecture by Max Riske, entitled "Plays and Films I Saw in Russia." Mr. Riske, in his easy conversational style, gave very clear accounts of some unique plays and films he had the opportunity of witnessing. Three very successful readings were held during the year, "Libel," by Edward Wooll; "Canaries Sometimes Sing," by Frederick Lonsdale; "Bird in Hand," by John Drinkwater, and a circle reading at which considerable new talent was discovered among freshers, and used later in the year.

"Journey's End" was produced in the Second Term, with a cast composed almost entirely of freshers. Although the attendances were not all that could have been expected, the production was of a high standard. Credit is due to those responsible for the setting of the play. A convincing and realistic setting was constructed on a very poor stage, and helped considerably with the success of the play.

During the Third Term an evening of three One-Act Plays was given to a small but appreciative audience. "Villa for Sale," "Mr. Samson," and "Thread of Scarlet" were the plays featured, and they proved a good combination of comedy and drama. The acting was of a very high standard, especially in "Mr. Samson," in which the cast of three gave very fine characterisations and succeeded in creating an atmosphere.