Longsdon Amateur Dramatic Society Before the LADS

Before the LADS

In 1943 one of the first amateur dramatics productions was staged at the School Rooms in Longsdon by the Longsdon Air Raid Wardens.

The production was entitled Grand Entertainment and took place on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th February 1943.

The entertainment consisted of a dancing display by the Karlton School of Dancing, a Cinematograph Display by George S. Hall and a Dramatic Play "The Hiding Place".

The production was no doubt a taste of things to come with Longsdon Amateur Dramatic Society, judging by the format of the programme and the members of the play's cast, some of who also became members and performers with LADS.

Click on the images to the left to see larger copies of the programme.

The programme was kindly supplied by Peter Dodd

Dances and Scenes by the Karlton School of Dancing

Something about a Soldier	The Karlton Kiddies
We Three	Margaret Saunders, Barbara Byatt, Barbara Shenton
Tap on Tip	Brenda Newbon
"Oh Johnny"	Mavis and Christine Dale
I Know a Secret	Barbara Hall, Brenda Newbon
Pipes of Pan	Lilian Beard
The British Isles	The Karlton Kiddies
Scarf Dance	Lilian Beard
Classical	Margaret Saunders, Barbara Byatt, Barbara Shenton
Beach Balls	The Karlton Kiddies
Jack and Jill	Josephine Mathews, Norma Brough
Sailor with the Navy Blue Eyes	The Karlton Kiddies

Dramatic Play "The Hiding Place" Scene: A Cottage Sitting Room Time: A Winter's Evening

Captain Dallas, V.C., D.S.O	James Dodd
Kysh, his servant	Roy Birmingham
Granville Hughes, Bsc., Inventor	E. Brassington
Dawson	Sid Peacock
The Shepherd	Sam Peacock
Inspector James Pollock, alias "Rowley"	J. Embrey