Tideswell Community Players have been performing for 85 years. Wish them happy birthday!
In 1930 a group of villagers, led by Annie Scholefield, performed their first play. The group has been performing ever since, with the latest production, the fantastically funny comedy Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead to be performed 21 to 23 May (more details next month).
The group was actually formed in 1929 at a time when Derbyshire Rural Community Council was promoting local drama as a way of developing local communities. L du Garde Peach, a prolific playwright (including at least two set in Tideswell), pioneer of Derbyshire dialect plays and early radio plays for the BBC, was closely involved with the RCC.
With the rudiments of a set and props provided by local craftsmen, the first production was comedy thriller Ambrose Applejohn’s Adventure, produced by Mrs Scholefield. Performed in The Oddfellows Hall it was an instant hit. Since then the Players have put on hundreds of shows in eight and a half decades, even continuing through WW2.
Peach was closely involved with the Players in the early years, starring as Applejohn in the 1930 production, but then went on to concentrate on his own very popular theatre at Great Hucklow. He remained president of the Players until his death in 1974. The best from Tideswell were recruited to perform in his own plays.
TCP successfully performed in the Derbyshire Drama League, set up by the RCC. All plays from 1930 to the 1960s were produced by Mrs Scholefield, or ‘Mama’. She had a firm techniques at rehearsals. There was no room for argument or question. Total commitment was expected.
In early days a striking woodcut was adopted for programme covers, replaced in the 1960s by a more delicate design. The group has been based in three main venues over the years: The Oddfellows Hall, shared with film shows and concerts, the Methodist Hall and then the United Reformed Church Hall until 2010 (marked appropriately by Happy End, a comedy with songs). Over the years the Parish Church has been used many times, a tradition which continues today. The group currently also uses a variety of village venues including the School Hall, Upstairs at The George, and Fountain Square Church (for Alarms and Excursions in 2014). When renovation work has been carried out at Fountain Square the group hopes to have a new permanent home for the future.
For many years the Players were close to the social centre of the village, with a very active social committee and a very large membership, eagerly awaited dinner dances and barbecues. Many have devoted themselves to the group over many years, not least Mrs Scholefield and Eric Simpson. Well over 750 people have been involved in the productions over the years, an amazing total.
In 2002 TCP started bringing professional theatre, music and dance to the village as Tideswell Theatre, after a professionally directed production of Romeo and Juliet in 2001 in the parish church. Since then over 70 visiting shows have been very successfully brought here by the group, most recently a sell-out concert by famous guitarist Gordon Giltrap.
Those involved with the plays have changed over the years and there is now a new generation of hard working, hard acting, old hands. The group is always very pleased to see new faces and in recent years has seen a lot of renewed interest by people of all ages wanting to get involved. It also works with other local groups, including Buxton Drama League and Chapel Players. Though it has expanded and contracted over the years the group is probably as strong now as it ever was. Plays are great fun to be involved with and to watch, and the group has continued to put on a wide range of classic and modern drama and comedy, appealing to a wide variety of tastes.
Many thanks to all those who have been involved with the Players over the past 85 years. Hopefully the group has a long future. Get involved if you can and make sure you come to see the shows in 2015 and beyond: help secure TCPs future!
Join the emailing list via theatre@tideswell.net, follow Tideswell Theatre on Facebook and Twitter, and buy tickets locally or via www.ticketsource/tideswelltheatre.