For our 60th season a milestone in the history of the Company, in 1993 we staged a pantomime classic ‘The Sleeping Beauty’. During our Diamond Jubilee the Company recruited lots of new faces. Nick Leek our Musical Director also undertook his new position asChairman.
In 1994 our production was to be The Grand Old Duke of York, which was set in the late 16th Century. Bob Woodford and Lynne Stock played their first major parts on stage as acting out The Grand Old Duke of York and Maleficent, a bad-tempered fairy. Alan Chislet decided to make this his last show and he wrote and devised one of the scenes ‘The Lost Patrol’. The Junior Section also performed the musical West Side Story during July, which was one of the best shows performed by the younger members.
Dick Whittington was staged for the fourth time in 1995 with the fortunes of Richard Whittington from Gloucester, who appears at the start of the show about to walk all the way back to his home from London, who is eventually made Lord Mayor of London. Our Principal Girl – Rachel Grey, who would probably had been our youngest ever, had to drop out mid-way through December due to her selection to ’The National Music Theatre’ in Edinburgh, followed by a trip to Hong Kong, which was on the same time as our show. The junior chorus doubled in size from thirty to well over sixty. The Production Team also attempted to utilise the wonderful young talent by showing, during Dick Whittington’s inauguration, London memories through the ages.
A couple of months after the totally sold out Pantomime Week at the A.G.M Malcolm Brinkworth decided for Personal family reasons and also friction with a couple of newer Company Members to resign his post as Producer. He had voiced his concerns about certain issues at the A.G.M and at previous Committee meetings. He remains a Life Member after 31 years service. Unfortunately, despite his asking others not to do so, very many Committee, Cast and Company Members also left. His brother Tony Brinkworth who was the President and also a Life Member with 41 years in the Company also finished. The Company had to recruit many new faces to fill the void left, which we have achieved and as Malcolm had always said, the Company’s interest and not individuals is the most important thing when decisions are made. In the summer the Junior Section performed ‘We kept a Welcome’, although this was not as well attended as previous summer shows.