Anyone who has stepped foot inside Market Harborough Theatre will know how lucky we are to have such a wonderful asset in our town centre. Each year, MHDS put on an eclectic season of plays, varying from classics to contemporary, comedy, drama and period pieces. With over 400 members (including MaHa’s own web editor and co-publisher) each production has a vast pool of talent to dive into, ensuring that every piece of acting, stage direction, costume and prop is as good as a professional performance.
However, back in 1933, the scale of production was somewhat smaller. MHDS as we know it today began as a small drama class, meeting in The Old Grammar School with a tutor from The Little Theatre in Leicester. Their very first performance, Candida by George Bernard Shaw, was an ambitious undertaking for such a small team, which included correspondence with the famous playwright himself. According to the book Stage by Stage, a history of theatre in Market Harborough, Shaw only granted permission for the performance if: ‘None of the proceeds are given to church spires or other such charities’. As the Society grew in members and experience, plays began to be staged at the Assembly Rooms, with performances such as The Importance of Being Earnest and When We are Married. However, and in 1947 that the Society moved into what would become their permanent home. The Conservative Hall (as it was known then) sat above the old Symington’s cycle shed – a building made to look like an old inn that once stood on the same site. The stage area was small, the audience were all on one level, and patrons were encouraged not to flush the toilet during performances! It was not much better backstage, with actors having to step over members of the crew to gain access to the stage – but it was theirs. Race ahead to the 1960s and MHDS became the official tenants of the former Conservative Hall, meaning they could decorate and even put a sign outside. By the late 1960s, Symington’s realised their employees were using bicycles less and less and offered MHDS the chance to buy the building outright. What followed was years of fundraising, generous donations and a national appeal that garnered support from Prince Philip. Finally, in 1970, the Society were able to purchase the building and begin turning it into a working theatre. ‘It is a real testament to the people who made the purchase of the theatre happen, some of whom are still involved with the Society today,’ says Hazel Cook, Chair of MHDS. ‘Once we had the building, we were able to attract more and more members. I think without the theatre, the Society could have fizzled out a long time ago. ‘Harborough Theatre’s shows are very popular, with most productions selling out. Because of this we are able to invest in the theatre and have a continuous program of improvement. We put in the studio six years ago in the lounge, which has allowed us more flexibility and enabled us to put on more plays, and we transformed the old costume shop into a proper box office.’ As well as creating a beautiful theatre, the choice of plays for each season is essential to keeping the Society as popular as ever. ‘If we just did comedies and thrillers, it would be boring – both on stage and in the audience. Doing high-quality historical dramas, educational pieces, things that are controversial and edgy, is critical to our success. Traditionally, am-drams have struggled to get younger people through the doors, but our choice of plays attracts new and diverse audiences and once they come in they love it! Younger members bring a buzz to the whole theatre.’ Last year, the Society was given the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for Community and Business. An accolade that honours the volunteers that keep the theatre running. ‘Quite frankly, we could not do this without all of the volunteers. From front of house to lighting to acting, wardrobe, stage management and everything in between. Each one is essential. Everybody collaborates and everybody is important,’ says Hazel. ‘The Lord Lieutenant’s accolade was down to the fact that we are a largely volunteer-led society, bucking the trend when it comes to small, regional theatres recovering from post-pandemic lockdowns.’ Throughout 2023, MHDS and Market Harborough Theatre will be showcasing their history with two rolling exhibitions at the Harborough Museum – diving into archives that stretch all the way back to the 1930s. With the presentation of the Platinum Jubilee Award, as well as a full season of plays and events to look forward to, the future looks bright for the Society, and perhaps even another 90 years of high-quality entertainment and arts is in store. |