Bebington Dramatic Society is a registered charity. Registered in England 500403
BDS began life as the Bebington Society comprised of orchestral, photographic, art and dramatic groups but broke away in 1924 to form their own Bebington Dramatic Society. The first production, in 1924 at the Gladstone Theatre, was ‘The Brixton Burglary’. Other plays they performed there included ‘ Blithe Spirit ‘, ‘ Hobson’s Choice ‘ and ‘ Miss Elizabeth Bennett’.
In addition to producing and performing plays for local audiences, members spent much time providing entertainment at hospitals and other institutions. This entailed a great deal of travel in an area stretching from Ormskirk to Market Drayton and from the outskirts of Manchester to Rhyl.
With as many as 15 performances spread over a couple of months, it was often necessary to allow changes in the cast. This led to the society establishing a system of under-studies which gave much useful training and experience to beginners. How fortunate they were to have had such a strong membership.
Before the war, home shows were given at the Gladstone Theatre and later at the YMCA Birkenhead. However, during the war years, for obvious reasons, productions were suspended. After the war in 1947 our society founded the Birkenhead and District Amateur Theatre Federation, which then had 27 flourishing member societies throughout the Wirral.
The Society’s venues read as follows :
Gladstone Theatre. 1924 – 1947
YMCA. 1947 – 1958
Little Theatre. 1958 – 2001
Gladstone Theatre 2001 – Present
In our time at the little theatre we are proud to have performed 136 plays ; a further source of pride to us is that two of our members, Jean Boht and David Boyce, graduated to the professional stage.
And so, by returning to the Gladstone Theatre we have turned full circle and hope to go on to enjoy as much success as we did with audiences at the Little Theatre.