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An Introduction to The Althorne Players
 The two people who first put forward the idea of starting up The Althorne Players were husband and wife Walter (Wally) and Nora Price of Chestnut Farm, Althorne. They had moved into the area from Southend and wanted to pursue their love of amateur dramatics. Wally had previously enjoyed strong connections with people in London’s theatre world and had already appeared in pantomime, his first love, at places like Westcliff-on-Sea. Together they succeeded in persuading a number of gifted village people to join them in their project whose diverse talents were to help make such a success of the productions. Wally and Nora’s enthusiasm and charismatic personalities brought new life to the village after the war and their shows became so popular it often led to their run being extended. Apart from being heavily involved in the production of the shows they also played prominent roles in most of them. In the pantomimes Nora would often play principle boy and Wally the humorous role of pantomime dame which he clearly relished. In Wally’s case he would also step in to play the piano as and when required for live performances.  Wally and Nora were the main driving force behind the first eleven productions and when they decided to emigrate to Australia, with their son Colin in 1948, it came as something of a bombshell to the company. Although the Players continued with another nine shows over the next five years, in the view of some surviving members, it was never quite the same. Wally went out to Australia to become Musical Director for a radio station based in Sydney.
The situation was not helped by the additional loss at around the same time of regular Players like Althorne's Station Master and scriptwriter/actor Hermon Suckling, his wife Nellie, and son John who all moved away from the village.
Despite the initial pessimism this caused, having been shown how things could be done in a ‘sleepy’ little village, the remaining Players showed great tenacity in continuing for another nine productions over the following five years. This was much appreciated by local people who had come to rely on the Players productions to provide much needed light entertainment. People to especially thank for the Players continued success were those like Vero Lambert, Mary Browning, Tony and Gladys Ford, John Robinson, John and Lilian Drinkwater, Leslie Matthams and George Powl. Several of whom filled not just roles on stage but were also producers, writers and providers of the music. Three other very important local people whose work was always much admired were Mr Westbrook, Mr Norman Carr and Mr Amor. Between them they conceived, built and lit the scenery which Norman Carr painted with such skill and imagination. This resourceful team stayed together throughout all twenty productions between 1945 and 1953. They would transforming the small village hall stage into a place of wonderment and excitement each winter for the annual pantomimes which were so looked forward to by young and old alike in the local villages.
Text copyright Bryan Dunn 27 January 2009 |
