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ABOUT HEADLEY THEATRE CLUB (HTC)
The Club was founded in 1952, building on the success of a pageant held to celebrate the Festival of Britain the previous year. It was felt that an organisation should be formed in the Village to encourage such enthusiasm and talent on a more permanent basis. And so it has remained.
Come and Join us!
As an active, friendly village drama group, we thrive only so long as we continue to attract both members and audiences. We welcome all newcomers, and help them find their potential within amateur dramatics; whatever your talent, we can probably use it. To find out more, go to here.
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Varied Drama Schedule
Typically the Club puts on a pantomime, a 3-act play and a musical event each year. Often we do far more than this. To some extent our schedule depends on the talents and availability of our members.
Youth & Juniors Section
As a village organisation, we take seriously our responsibilities for giving the youth of the village something worthwhile to do with their leisure time. As well as being involved in the annual pantomime and the summer events, the Junior (6-11) and Youth (12-18) sections also put on their own shows from time to time.
Opportunities to Try Your Hand At….
Acting, of course, but also lighting, stage management, costumes, art work, publicity – you have an idea, and we’ll consider it.
Social Events
From treasure hunts to barbecues to theatre visits, the Club organises a full social calendar for its members through the year.
History
A brief history of Headley Theatre Club . . .
The Headley Pageant of 1951
A village pageant was organised in 1951 to celebrate the Festival of Britain.
The success of this led directly to a second pageant in 1953 celebrating the Queen’s Coronation, and also to the formation of Headley Theatre Club in 1952.
Objects of the Club
The prime object of the Club, as stated in our Original Constitution, is “To unite the village in good fellowship”, and this we still strive to do.
What’s in a name?
There was much criticism voiced at the time about the choice of name for this organisation – it was thought by some that the term ‘Theatre Club’ sounded too exclusive for a village amateur dramatic society . . . but it stuck.
Our first President: Stephen King-Hall
Stephen King-Hall was a well-known journalist, political commentator and playwright (see Wikipedia entry) who lived at Hartfield House, The Hanger, Headley.
He was Headley Theatre Club’s first President, in 1952 and 1953. He was created Baron King-Hall of Headley in the County of Hampshire (Life Peer) on 15 January 1966. He died on 1 June 1966 and is buried at All Saints Headley (plot 24-40 in the long churchyard).
He wrote plays: ‘The Middle Watch’ (1930), ‘The Midshipmaid’ (1931), ‘Admirals All’ (1934) and ‘Off the Record’ (1947) – most were also made into films, the latter being adapted into ‘Carry on Admiral’ (1957). His plays were never performed in Headley – in 2024 we procured a script of ‘Off the Record’ and placed it in Headley Archives.
Read his Lectures on Britain and the Future (1943) and United Europe (1948)
Hear him on Desert Island Discs in 1961.