{"id":417,"date":"2024-01-09T14:18:51","date_gmt":"2024-01-09T14:18:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thds2.wpcomstaging.com\/?page_id=417"},"modified":"2025-01-15T22:53:45","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T22:53:45","slug":"1980-to-the-millenium-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hds-online.co.uk\/?page_id=417","title":{"rendered":"1980 to the Millenium (and beyond!)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 1985<\/strong> we returned to The Old Swan Hotel for the 40th season with the Ray Cooney farce, \u201cMove Over Mrs. Markham\u201d, “Forty-simmo”, a light hearted review, and Harold Pinter\u2019s play \u201cBirthday Party\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 1986<\/strong>, to conclude a year of celebrations a dinner-dance was held in the ballroom of the Old Swan Hotel, attended by the Mayor and all the Presidents of all the societies in Harrogate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1988<\/strong> we risked the Francis Durbridge thriller, \u201cDeadly Nightcap\u201d in the Theatre main-house, despite the rent being \u00a33000 a week. Luckily this production was a great success. The society was then able to continue to play one main house and three Studio productions per season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 1990’s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1995<\/strong> Our Golden Anniversary loomed. Sadly, Joan Chamley (our wonderful wardrobe mistress of 30 years) died, so we had to find storage space for our ever-increasing wardrobe department. As the top floor of 59 became available we decided to take the opportunity to move our wardrobe department there. We saved money by having a modest 50th anniversary party at Harrogate Golf Club rather than a lavish dinner dance with guests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The summer was spent re-furbishing 59. Our wardrobe and props departments were moved upstairs, which meant we could now create a Green Room with a carpet and comfortable furniture. Joan Chamley\u2019s bequest to the society of \u00a32000 paid for the work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Millenium<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We did not make a very successful entry into the new millennium\u2026in fact at our 2000 AGM the Treasurer had to report a serious loss on the season. Costs were rising, rents at the Theatre and 59 were at an all-time high. So Membership fees rose from \u00a315 to \u00a320 and ticket prices were slightly increased. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consequently, the next season, every play was a financial as well as artistic success. Members rallied round and organised fund-raising events and at the 2001 AGM it was announced that not only had we wiped out the debt, we had made a profit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

February 2008<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019ve been to a marvellous party\u201d – Our wonderful President, Joan Mallett passed away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Joan had been involved with the Society for many years and is sadly missed by all who knew her. The energy, strength and enthusiasm she threw into her time with HDS was remarkable and she remained a strong supporter until the day she died.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Stuart Kellett, Chairman HDS 2007 \u2013 2010 & 2013 \u2013 present day)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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In 1985 we returned to The Old Swan Hotel for the 40th season with the Ray […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-417","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hds-online.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hds-online.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hds-online.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hds-online.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hds-online.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=417"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.hds-online.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/417\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3467,"href":"https:\/\/www.hds-online.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/417\/revisions\/3467"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hds-online.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}