Old Stagers
Encyclopedia
The Old Stagers is an amateur theatre group, founded in 1842 by Hon. Frederick Ponsonby
(later Earl of Bessborough
) and Charles Taylor. It claims to be the oldest surviving amateur dramatic company in the world, having staged its first shows in Canterbury
in 1842. It has continued to give annual performances every year since (with intermissions for the two World War
s). It now stages its plays at the Gulbenkian Theatre in Canterbury.
The Old Stagers has close links to Kent County Cricket Club
and the I Zingari
nomadic amateur cricket
club. Ponsonby was also a founder of I Zingari, and later became president of Surrey County Cricket Club
. One of the earliest Old Stagers was the Kent and England cricketer Alfred Mynn
who first appeared in 1847 and then regularly until his death in 1861. The Old Stagers was founded to perform during Kent's annual Canterbury Cricket Week
.
Frederick Ponsonby, 6th Earl of Bessborough
Frederick George Brabazon Ponsonby, 6th Earl of Bessborough was a British peer and cricketer. He was the third son of John Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough and his wife Lady Maria Fane...
(later Earl of Bessborough
Earl of Bessborough
Earl of Bessborough is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1739 for Brabazon Ponsonby, 2nd Viscount Duncannon, who had previously represented Newtownards and County Kildare in the Irish House of Commons...
) and Charles Taylor. It claims to be the oldest surviving amateur dramatic company in the world, having staged its first shows in Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
in 1842. It has continued to give annual performances every year since (with intermissions for the two World War
World war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
s). It now stages its plays at the Gulbenkian Theatre in Canterbury.
The Old Stagers has close links to Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
and the I Zingari
I Zingari
I Zingari are English and Australian amateur cricket clubs.-History:...
nomadic amateur cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
club. Ponsonby was also a founder of I Zingari, and later became president of Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
. One of the earliest Old Stagers was the Kent and England cricketer Alfred Mynn
Alfred Mynn
Alfred Mynn was an English cricketer during the game's "Roundarm Era". He was a genuine all-rounder, being both an attacking right-handed batsman and a formidable right arm fast bowler. The noted cricket writer John Woodcock ranked him as the fourth greatest cricketer of all time. Simon Wilde...
who first appeared in 1847 and then regularly until his death in 1861. The Old Stagers was founded to perform during Kent's annual Canterbury Cricket Week
Canterbury Cricket Week
Canterbury Cricket Week was founded in 1842. It is the oldest cricket festival and since 1847 has taken place at the St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury.-External links:* *...
.