In April 1947 it was decided to risk putting on a large scale production at The Royal Hall as well as playing at St.Mark’s Church Hall. The first of these productions was “The Barretts Of Wimpole Street” by Rudolph Besier which was a great success:
“By skilful casting, adroit production and careful rehearsal, the Harrogate Dramatic Society has reached a new standard of achievement.”
Lal Walker, The Harrogate Advertiser
In October 1947 The society presented “Autumn” by Gregory Ratoff and Margaret Kennedy at St Mark’s Church Hall and then entered the play for the first post-war Harrogate Drama Festival. The production was Joint Winner and was also entered for the Skipton Festival, where it was awarded The Irving Trophy (Festival Winner).
By this time the Society had raised nearly £700 towards its goal of a Little Theatre.
In 1948 the first Christmas production at The Royal Hall was “Alice In Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll opening on Boxing Day and playing for a week.
The financial success of the Royal Hall productions in 1947 and 1948 (as well as “Romance” by Edward Sheldon in 1949) enabled The Society to face its future with confidence.
The Old Swan Hotel
After successful negotiations with The Harrogate Hydro (now The Old Swan Hotel) the Society moved into its first real “home”.
The ballroom and winter garden were transformed four times a year into a palatial Little Theatre and rehearsal premises (in the old Turkish Baths) were made available. Later a rehearsal room and a committee room were made over, solely for the Society’s use, in the maids’ wing upstairs.
In 1956, the tenth anniversary of the Society was celebrated by a dinner dance at The Old Swan.
The Society was established and successful with over a hundred members and over 600 Patrons
In 1967 Directors of the Old Swan informed us reluctantly that they could no longer offer us the Little Theatre or the maids’ quarters on any regular basis therefore the society had to find a new ‘home’.
1985 Returning to The Old Swan Hotel for the 40th season, the society performed “Move Over Mrs. Markham” by Ray Cooney. In May, a light hearted review – “Forty-simmo” – looked back out our 40 years of history.