Why are we called The Outsiders ?
In 1935 Miss Edith Eckersley was running a small drama group in Bardsea. Miss Eckersley named the society The Outsiders simply because they were located some distance from Ulverston.
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, she was an enthusiastic amateur producer and keen on expanding the horizons of what was then her private society. She decided to throw membership open to the public, so held a meeting at The Coronation Hall on May 6th 1936. This was very well attended, as there was no other drama society in Ulverston at that time.
Among the many who promised their support was Dr Cousins, headmaster of the Grammar school, H F Birkett of County Stores and Wilfrid Randall of Randall and Porter, the tanners.
The first chairman was a Mr Birkett.
Fortnightly play readings and various one act plays were performed. The first big production was in 1938 when the society presented 'Distinguished Gathering' at The Coronation Hall.
The Second World War put paid to play readings and major productions, although the group continued to meet in a cafe in Union Street, thought to be called Pughs. In 1940, two one-act plays were performed in the Drill Hall (now the Red Rose Social Club) to entertain the troops.
After the war, meetings were held on the Gill and play readings in the Co-op hall in Brogden Street. The Outsiders continued to use the premises on the Gill, which is now a house, right up until 1979. After that we became vagabonds for a while, rehearsing wherever we could until we found rehearsal space in Trinity Hall on the Gill in 1981. Once this became houses, we once again had to use a series of different venues, but were fortunate in having some generous publicans in Ulverston who offered us space to rehearse. Latterly, we have been happily using The Quaker Meeting Rooms.
The majority of our productions have taken place in The Coronation Hall, although smaller one-acts and readings were in the early years performed at the Drill and Temperance Halls. We also used the lower school hall for some productions in the 1970s. As far back as the 1940s, alternative venues to the The Coro were discussed, but over the past 75 years this has remained our main venue.
There has also been been an element of “touring”, in the late '40s/early '50s with small scale plays being taken to Conishead Priory and High Carley. In more recent years we have performed in Barrow, Gleaston, Hawkshead, Staveley, Bardsea and several other villages in the South Lakes. In 2015, we had our first large-scale outdoor venture with a production of 'Alice in Wonderland' in Lightburn Park.
In the society's long history there are only eight plays that have been performed on more than one occasion:
The Oscars & All England Festival
No, not the Hollywood version, but the annual awards that were hosted by the Evening Mail in the '70s and '80s.
The Outsiders won the Dorothy Till Trophy for best play on numerous occassions and many other awards for acting, set and backstage work. Although we are primarily a drama society, we have also presented Chicago and Cabaret and claim the distinction of also winning the trophy for Best Musical.
The All England One-Act play festival is a competition of long-standing and the Outsiders have taken part in this on numerous occassiosn over the years. We have progressed through the preliminary stages many times and have had some enjoyable successes.
In 1935 Miss Edith Eckersley was running a small drama group in Bardsea. Miss Eckersley named the society The Outsiders simply because they were located some distance from Ulverston.
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, she was an enthusiastic amateur producer and keen on expanding the horizons of what was then her private society. She decided to throw membership open to the public, so held a meeting at The Coronation Hall on May 6th 1936. This was very well attended, as there was no other drama society in Ulverston at that time.
Among the many who promised their support was Dr Cousins, headmaster of the Grammar school, H F Birkett of County Stores and Wilfrid Randall of Randall and Porter, the tanners.
The first chairman was a Mr Birkett.
Fortnightly play readings and various one act plays were performed. The first big production was in 1938 when the society presented 'Distinguished Gathering' at The Coronation Hall.
The Second World War put paid to play readings and major productions, although the group continued to meet in a cafe in Union Street, thought to be called Pughs. In 1940, two one-act plays were performed in the Drill Hall (now the Red Rose Social Club) to entertain the troops.
After the war, meetings were held on the Gill and play readings in the Co-op hall in Brogden Street. The Outsiders continued to use the premises on the Gill, which is now a house, right up until 1979. After that we became vagabonds for a while, rehearsing wherever we could until we found rehearsal space in Trinity Hall on the Gill in 1981. Once this became houses, we once again had to use a series of different venues, but were fortunate in having some generous publicans in Ulverston who offered us space to rehearse. Latterly, we have been happily using The Quaker Meeting Rooms.
The majority of our productions have taken place in The Coronation Hall, although smaller one-acts and readings were in the early years performed at the Drill and Temperance Halls. We also used the lower school hall for some productions in the 1970s. As far back as the 1940s, alternative venues to the The Coro were discussed, but over the past 75 years this has remained our main venue.
There has also been been an element of “touring”, in the late '40s/early '50s with small scale plays being taken to Conishead Priory and High Carley. In more recent years we have performed in Barrow, Gleaston, Hawkshead, Staveley, Bardsea and several other villages in the South Lakes. In 2015, we had our first large-scale outdoor venture with a production of 'Alice in Wonderland' in Lightburn Park.
In the society's long history there are only eight plays that have been performed on more than one occasion:
- Pride and Prejudice
- Loot
- Stepping Out
- Toad of Toad Hall
- Present Laughter
- Nude with Violin, and
- Blithe Spirit, have all been performed twice.
- When we are Married has been done 3 times ... and was very popular on each occasion.
The Oscars & All England Festival
No, not the Hollywood version, but the annual awards that were hosted by the Evening Mail in the '70s and '80s.
The Outsiders won the Dorothy Till Trophy for best play on numerous occassions and many other awards for acting, set and backstage work. Although we are primarily a drama society, we have also presented Chicago and Cabaret and claim the distinction of also winning the trophy for Best Musical.
The All England One-Act play festival is a competition of long-standing and the Outsiders have taken part in this on numerous occassiosn over the years. We have progressed through the preliminary stages many times and have had some enjoyable successes.
