Web master F J Parker

Theatricals are nothing new in Launceston, Cornwall and when we look back there has been a variety of distinguished performers and shows who have entertained local citizens over the years…This is the story of The Launceston Amateur Dramatic Society (LADS) from its inception in 1857. 
150 YEARS OF L.A.D.S.
Written and compiled by Fred Parker for March edition of Amateur Stage
We take this as the start of the Society’s theatrical activities as it seems to fit all the available reports and notices.  To go back further we have to remind ourselves that the local paper Launceston Weekly which is now the Cornish and Devon Post was only established in 1856. Indeed, during my research, it was shown that there was evidence of local entertainment but not linked to the Society.
Bringing together these records has been a labour of love over the last two years. To make it a reality, special thanks must go to our senior members for digging out from their attics old records.  It is these careful ‘squirrels’ who have ensured we have a comprehensive record; including a fabulous range of posters, programmes and photographs from the 1920s.
Funds from The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) were the catalyst to kick-start the research, helping to cover external costs. It would have been impossible without their valuable support.
My search has taken me to various organisations and records offices, such as the Cornwall Record Centre, Redruth; Library Service as well as originals still held at the Cornish and Devon office and the comprehensive collection of originals newspapers at the British Library, London.
The story starts in 1857 when the Society was formed by old pupils from the Grammar School. Performances had already been given by them before this date in their school days. It was on the evening of December 21st that they gave their performance in Launceston’s Central Subscription Room.  This is now the ballroom of the White Hart Hotel, admittance was free and non-members paid 6p.
Although the ex-pupils of the Grammar School formed the Society, those still attending the school also gave concerts annually which included recitations, scenes from Shakespeare and Dickens, dramatic pieces and choral selections and helped towards encouraging a continuous source of talent locally.
Besides dramatic entertainment, the members formed choral groups and although known originally as Launceston Dramatic Society in the 1870’s became known as Launceston Dramatic and Choral Society there was clearly sufficient talent to have stand-alone concerts as the Launceston Choral Group and Dramatic Group.
The arrival of the railway in 1865 provided the opportunity for audiences from outlying areas to attend performances and social events and I have discovered advertisements showing that the railway company put on late trains to take people home after the shows.
During the 1860s and 70s the amateurs also performed concerts with the military band of the 6th Cornwall Rifle Volunteers and summer concerts were held on the castle green.  These summer concerts were all-day events with extra dramatic entertainment in the afternoon or early evening ending with a social dance as a part of the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association annual exhibition.
A vocal and instrumental concert in December 1869 at the Central Subscription Rooms included music given by the local Philharmonic Society. This appeared in a series of advertisements over a number of years until around the late 1870s.
On Thursday 27^th October 1887 the Town Hall was officially opened with a public luncheon and grand concert, ending the long association of providing entertainment at the Central Subscription Rooms.  The Society has continued to use the Town Hall as its main venue for the last 120 years. In 1888 a production of the D’Oyle Carte’s H.M.S. Pinafore was performed.  This appears to be the first attempt to undertake an operatic performance.  In 1890 the first pantomime appeared with “Little Red Riding Hood” and over the next 10 years, a variety of pantomimes were performed.
Entertainment came in many forms with annual social events in the Town Hall. These included a farces, instrumental and vocal concert, combined stalls for the sale of Ornamental Work, China and Art Stalls, Flower Stalls, Sweet and Toy Stalls and Men’s Stalls and Refreshments; all part of helping to raise funds for local social groups.
In the period following 1910 there were efforts to incorporate both the drama and choral groups and in 1911 the Society became known as the Launceston Dramatic and Operatic Society and undertook our first production in 1912 with
H.M.S. The following year the Society added another opera to their portfolio and performed“Pirates of Penzance” and in 1914 another ambitious programme was set out which included The Mikado with over 50 performers.
The effect of the First World War curtailed the activities, with particular loss of local men, and in 1915 the Town Hall was used to receive and attend to
casualties.   Between 1917 and 1919 there was some form of revival with members of the Operatic Society and Male Voice Choir giving entertainment in the Town Hall in association with the Red Cross.  By 1919 a concerts in the Town Hall of humorous, musical and dramatic entertainment started to re-emerge including farces and comedies.
It was not until 1927 when, at a Public Meeting held in the Guildhall chaired by the Mayor of Launceston and attended by local dignitaries, there was a call by the local amateurs for the renewal of opera.  As the reformed Launceston Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society, rehearsals for their I928 show Pirates of Penzance started in August of that year.
In the following years the Society produced a combination of plays and operatic performances including, in 1929, the original Will Evans and Valentine farce “Tons of Money”. The version produced by the Society in 2004, based on the original, and adapted for the London stage by Alan Ayckbourn.  During the next ten years the Society productions included The Mikado, Iolanthe, H.M.S. Pinafore, Dorothy, Pirates of Penzance, Mr Pym Passes By, Lord of the Manor, Double and Quits, Murder on the Second Floor, Baa Baa Blacksheep, The Barratts of Wimpole Street and The Thirteenth Chair.
1936 opened up a new opportunity for a local lad Norman Daniel with his first part as a German soldier at the age of 16 in the play Journey’s End. Currently he is one of our Vice Presidents and over the years he and his wife played a great number of parts and directed plays as well. Norman has a very interesting tale about his first role. He relates that the committee were very dubious about him taking the part “he being a farmer’s boy” but they had no option as he was the only one up for the part who spoke German!
The Society continued to produce plays until 1941 and a Grand Victory Concert held in May 1945 was in aid of the British Legion Social Centre and the Society was involved in the ‘Final Act of Thanksgiving’ in the December.
In 1945 on the 23^rd July a public meeting was called at the Wesley School Hall “To discuss incorporating all branches of Music, Opera and Drama” All the points which were raised at the open meeting were thoroughly discussed. It was decided that as The Operatic and Dramatic Society  was extending its aims and ideals beyond those envisaged in the past and was now incorporating among its activities both choral and musical work, that our title should be changed to The Launceston Dramatic and Musical Society. By the late 1950’s the name changed to Launceston Amateur Dramatic Society (LADS).
1960 proved to be another landmark year in the Society’s history with new headquarters and the formal opening ceremony of the Green Room (formally the Old Borough Fire Station) adjacent to the Town Hall.  This took place on the 20^th September with the Mayor, Mrs F. F. Hicks,
The 1960’s produced a comprehensive range of plays.  In 1962 the Society formed a new section known as Launceston Junior Dramatic Society and produced their first public performance in June 1965 in the castle grounds at Bude as part of the North Cornwall Area Youth Service where they performed The Red Velvet Goat   The 1970s provided local audiences with a variety of plays with regular performances in the spring and late autumn and the revival of a regular pantomime.  The Society also participated in summer events on the castle green and in the Town and at the November carnival.
The fortunes of the Society started to change during the 1980s largely to do with finance but like all organisations they kept going and produced a range of quality plays and musicals.
Spotlight, a regular newsletter, was first published in the early 1980s and still provides members each month with regular updates and information on future events.   In 1981 the opportunity arose to purchase a building, Tower Street Chapel, for £6,000.  If successful, this would have been converted into a theatre and have provided a permanent home for the Society. Sadly, it was an opportunity lost when it didn’t go ahead.
The start of the 1990s continued the success of the previous years with a variety of plays and the occasional pantomimes and musicals.  There was a great deal of ageing talent in the Society and looking to the future, two new youth sections were formed: Starting Starts catering for the 7 to 11 year olds and the 12 to 18 age group become know as The Youth Theatre Group.  The youth groups have received a number of awards in the Cornwall Drama Association festivals over then years with individual youngsters being highly recommended.
But there were changes afoot with a large turnover of members, some retiring, others leaving the area or just sheer pressure of work which started to govern the type of productions selected.
As the Society moves into the 21^st century, we see the start of a revival with a new chairperson, treasurer and committee and a focus on attracting new members and strengthening the Society’s finances improving the image in the locality.
Like all voluntary organisations and community groups since the turn of the century, more attention has had to be paid to regulatory requirements when undertaking productions open to the public.  Equally, more attention has to be paid to policies about working with children; health and safety and risk management. All of which have to be part of the overall structure of running our organisation today.  Records show the officers and committee have met these challenges and provide a well-structured platform for budgeting and managing the Society leading to increased membership and providing a wide range of challenging and quality plays, musicals and pantomimes.
All the Society’s productions are entered for accreditation and have received many top awards at the Cornwall Drama Association annual ceremony.  Another major achievement over the last three to four years has been the ability to attract considerable grant funding from various organisations towards capital items which has enabled the Society to invest in a comprehensive range of digital lighting and sound equipment and create fresh opportunities for members, new and old, to acquire and develop skills in the technical aspects of theatre.  (LADS provide a service to other voluntary organisations on grant funding for information contact: info@launceston-amateur-dramatic-society.co.uk
The Chairperson, Margaret Parker set out her vision for celebration the Society’s 150^th year in 2007 as early as 2004 and recording and documenting the history of the Society is part of this vision.  The 150^th year opened with the classic musical Oliver in January followed by plays for the Cornwall One Act Play Festival in early spring, in late spring, Comedy Key For Two, a Musical Gala in the summer. The year will end with a Pantomime.  A colourful publication of the 150 years is available and costs £5.00. plus pp £2.00“