The History of the Rep
In March 1936 seventeen drama enthusiasts requested the establishment of a drama course for Doncaster College. The college responded, appointed a drama lecturer called Eunice Woodfield, and the course began.
Such was the popularity of the course that it grew substantially and quickly formed itself (by 1944) into three distinct production companies, each specialising in it’s own form of drama, and still under the direction of the College. To supplement the programme of drama for the community, a fourth group was formed to present established classic plays. By the 1950s the drama department of the College was responsible for a wealth of drama centred on the newly created Arts Centre. At this point it became apparent that some reorganisation was needed. This resulted in an integration of three of the companies under the name of The College Repertory Players, whilst the fourth, the Greyfriars, became an independent company.
Ladies Dressing Room Arts Centre
Arts Centre in the 1950s, during Childrens Theatre
The newly formed company was the responsibility of a new drama lecturer, Alan Broadhurst, who was appointed in 1955. Under his leadership the move was made to establish the course as both a teaching provision, and as a production company working to professional standards within a commercial context. As a writer and enthusiast of Theatre for Children, Alan instituted a regular Children’s Theatre Season which reached it’s highest point in 1964 when his version of Dick Whittington ran for 6 weeks. Also central to company policy was the mounting Shakespearean performances. Henry IV part 1 became the twenty fifth production of Shakespeare’s plays for the company in 1999.
ArtsCentre
Arts Centre
Arts Centre Box Office during Childrens Theatre
Arts Centre Box Office during Childrens Theatre
Cast List for the Hare and Tortoise
Cast List for the Hare and Tortoise
H-T-garden-pics
Hare and Tortoise
In 1976 on the sudden death of Alan Broadhurst, a new artistic director Stan Norris, a drama lecturer at Scawsby College was appointed. By this time the size of the company had reduced but the nature of the work was developed to allow a closer integration with educational drama courses, offering students performance opportunities to enhance their skills in production work of a professional standard, also students were moving onto successful careers in stage management, lighting, and acting. During this period the company adopted the trading name of The Rep.
The retirement of Stan Norris in 1996 from the post of artistic director coincided with the removal of the company’s work from the course structure of the college. Productions carried on under an internally managed administration with educational provision being funded by the company but still maintaining the original objectives of 1936. Many people of different backgrounds worked with the company and some of them seized the opportunities offered and moved into the professional world of theatre.
Costume Department at the College
Costume making
The company secured Charity status in 2002, and the company used premises at Finningley airport where scenery, props, and costumes were made and stored.
Today we still maintain our links with Doncaster College and students from the Performing Arts Course regularly take part in productions.
We have retained our enthusiasm for Children’s Theatre, and although we no longer have the large scenery, costume, and props departments of the past, we still aspire to work towards professional standards in all our drama productions. We have now established a link with the Ukrainian Cultural Centre where we regularly meet, rehearse, and perform our plays.