LAKENHEATH AMATEUR DRAMATIC SOCIETY

Email c/o: vcandacook29@tiscali.co.uk

........................Origins........................

The Society was formed at a general meeting held in the village hall on 10th June 1955. In all probability, it originated from the drama side of the Lakenheath Woman's Institute and was the inspiration of a number of theatre loving friends led by Gwen & Dave Davies and Jack Mann.

L.A.D.S circa 1955

Mr Warner - Cissy Fenn - Alice Whall - Mary Turner - Mabel Leader - Irene Hensby - Joyce Cook - Alan Peachey

Tom Sumner - Mrs Heale - Vera Drew - Essie Hughs - Graeme Cook - Mavoureen Rutterford - Sarah Turrington - Edna Peachey - George Gathercole

Mrs Dent - Jack Mann - Phylis Mann - Dave Davies - Gwen Davies - Robert Dent - May Warner - Fred Leader - Malcolm Gyte.

 

At that time, Gwen was involved with the Lakenheath WI producing plays for competition within the bounds of the West Suffolk WI and it was a suggestion by her husband that resulted in the public meeting being called with the idea in mind of forming a dramatic society. At that meeting, a constitution was drawn up forming the Lakenheath Amateur Dramatic Society (the LADS).

A panel of Officers was elected consisting of a Chairman, an Honorary Secretary, an Honorary Treasurer and a Productions Director. The member's annual subscription was set at ten shillings & sixpence. This subscription level was maintained for about seventeen years until it was increased to one pound p/a only about eight years ago.

The constitution adopted at that meeting (which, incidentally, has never been amended or modified since*) contained a number of elements, some of which now seem quite outdated. One clause states that 'No person under the age of sixteen will be eligible for membership of the Society'. The main clause stated 'The objects of the Society shall be to further the interests of drama and music, and in particular give amateur performances of operas & plays, arrange lectures, discussions, play readings, debates exhibitions etc. to educate the public in the appreciation of these arts ............'. To this day and to the best of anyone's knowledge, the Society has never performed an opera.

The Society endeavours to put on at least three productions each year. These normally consist of Spring and Autumn productions of either two x 1 act or a 2/3 act play and a pantomime (usually in February). The plays are normally either a comedy/farce or a light hearted crime mystery, usually accompanied by a 2 or 3 course supper. From experience, that's what we've found our patrons like. For many more years than he cares to remember, one of our members, Horry Parsons, has written & personalised the pantomimes so as to be able to include as many members in the cast as want to be in it.

In the last few years, Horry has also turned his hand to writing murder/crime mystery plays with audience participation. These have proved very popular, and the author is having a job to keep up with demand. It has been discovered recently that some of the plays the Society has performed have also been written by Horry under the pen name of Alan Urban.

For many years the Society staged a fourth production each year in the form of a Summer Review during the village carnival week raising funds for the benefit of the village hall. Unfortunately, this show no longer happens mainly due to the logistics of putting together a show at this time of the year, and also, sadly, the ever diminishing availability of Review Show talent.

The show must go on, and so will the Society as long as there is always a few talented/devoted die-hards who want to entertain the public.

*At the AGM in June 2009, it was agreed to lower the age of membership to 12 years (subject to parents permission).

L.A.D.S. 50th Anniversary 2005

Peter Jackson - Jackie Jackson - Mandy Morrish - Fran Bool - Keith Flack - Angela Cook - Vera David - Bob David

Barney Squirell - Dorothy Taylor - Wanlass Dodds - Gwen Dodds - Peter Drew - Vic Cook - Tony Horrex - Peter Bunning - Hugh Morley

Janet Malek - Horry Parsons - Susan Parsons - Ivy Coleman - Graeme Cook - Joyce Cook - Judy Cullum - Margaret Davis

(Missing - Venetia Matthews & Maddy Adams)

 

Click here to see the LADS family tree

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