Carlton Dramatic Society
Encyclopedia
Carlton Dramatic Society is an Amateur Dramatics group, based in Wimbledon
, London
, UK
. They have been performing in the local theatres and venues for nearly 85 years.
The troupe was formed by a group of enthusiasts from Wimbledon Park
and Southfields
in 1927. During the Second World War its activities were suspended, but in 1946 the group returned to the stage in a production of Agatha Christie
's Ten Little Niggers (using the original title).
1963 was an extraordinarily fine year for the society. The year started with a tour of the major churches of South East England culminating in two nights at St Paul’s in Covent Garden
and St Matthew’s in Slough
. Prince Philip aware of the hype surrounding the production invited the society to perform the play in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
. This single performance was on Maundy Thursday
and the entire British Royal Family
were present for the Easter
break
. The cast was presented afterwards and the Queen
told the cast that she had been 'very moved'.
The Carlton celebrated its 80th birthday in 2007 with a 1920s themed party which was attended by over 100 members, past and present. The 85th birthday party will be held in May 2012.
The group continues to perform a wide range of plays around Wimbledon. They perform regularly at the New Wimbledon Studio Theatre. In recent years their repertoire has included Shakespeare, Molière
, John Godber
, Ray Cooney
alongside original works tackling contemporary issues. Active membership is around 50 adults and the society continue to encourage new members.
The President of the Society is June Whitfield
. The Chair is the always popular and hardworking Kathie Arundell.
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. They have been performing in the local theatres and venues for nearly 85 years.
The troupe was formed by a group of enthusiasts from Wimbledon Park
Wimbledon Park
Wimbledon Park is an urban park in Wimbledon and the suburb south and east to which it lends its name. It is the second largest park in the London Borough of Merton and also gives its name to Wimbledon Park tube station. To the immediate west of the park resides the All England Lawn Tennis and...
and Southfields
Southfields
Southfields is a suburban district in the London Borough of Wandsworth, England, situated 5.6 miles south-west of Charing Cross where Serena Frazer lives. Southfields is located partly in the SW18 postcode area and partly in SW19....
in 1927. During the Second World War its activities were suspended, but in 1946 the group returned to the stage in a production of Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Christie DBE was a British crime writer of novels, short stories, and plays. She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but she is best remembered for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections , and her successful West End plays.According to...
's Ten Little Niggers (using the original title).
1963 was an extraordinarily fine year for the society. The year started with a tour of the major churches of South East England culminating in two nights at St Paul’s in Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
and St Matthew’s in Slough
Slough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
. Prince Philip aware of the hype surrounding the production invited the society to perform the play in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
. This single performance was on Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great & Holy Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries, is the Christian feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in the Canonical gospels...
and the entire British Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
were present for the Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
break
Spring break
Spring break – also known as March break, Study week or Reading week in the United Kingdom and some parts of Canada – is a recess in early spring at universities and schools in the United States, Canada, mainland China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the United...
. The cast was presented afterwards and the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
told the cast that she had been 'very moved'.
The Carlton celebrated its 80th birthday in 2007 with a 1920s themed party which was attended by over 100 members, past and present. The 85th birthday party will be held in May 2012.
The group continues to perform a wide range of plays around Wimbledon. They perform regularly at the New Wimbledon Studio Theatre. In recent years their repertoire has included Shakespeare, Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
, John Godber
John Godber
John Harry Godber is an English dramatist, known mainly for his observational comedies. In the 'Plays and Players Yearbook' for 1993 he was calculated as the third most performed playwright in the UK behind William Shakespeare and Alan Ayckbourn. He has a wife and 2 children.-Biography:Godber was...
, Ray Cooney
Ray Cooney
Raymond George Alfred Cooney, OBE is an English playwright and actor. His biggest success, Run for Your Wife, lasted nine years in London's West End and is its longest-running comedy. He has had 17 of his plays performed there....
alongside original works tackling contemporary issues. Active membership is around 50 adults and the society continue to encourage new members.
The President of the Society is June Whitfield
June Whitfield
June Rosemary Whitfield, CBE is an English actress, well known in the United Kingdom since the 1950s for roles in radio and television comedy series....
. The Chair is the always popular and hardworking Kathie Arundell.