Memory Lane
Our history
Eastbourne in 1907 was a boom town. From early spring to late summer trainloads of visitors swelled the population of some 50,000 and joined them in seeking entertainment at one of the town’s two spacious and stylish theatres. Against this positive background, two notable – and musical – Eastbournians decided to start an operatic and dramatic society. Their first production, the light opera ‘Maritana’, replete with disguises, a rescue from prison and lovers finally united, was a sell-out for its four performances at the Devonshire Park, starting a happy association with that theatre which continues to this day.
The following year saw the Society’s first production of a straight play, plus the hugely popular Mikado, which helped to set the Society on its feet financially.
In 1917, war-weary audiences were treated to a straight play and 1920 introduced the Society’s familiar custom of producing two plays (or one play and one opera) in a week each Spring and Autumn. The years that followed saw significantly bigger audiences enjoying more lavish productions made possible by a growing membership. In 1946, buoyed by popular support, the Society introduced the present practice of staging four shows – two plays and two musicals, for a full week in each case. A monthly programme of informal play readings tempted new members, as they still do today.
The future seemed assured but difficult times lay ahead particularly for the Dramatic Section, who faced competition not just from the growing popularity of television but also from plays presented in Eastbourne’s two theatres by professional companies.. To compete, the Operatic Section had to meet a public demand for up-to-date large-scale productions and a decrease in support for the works of Gilbert & Sullivan. With the opening of the Congress Theatre in 1963 the Operatic Section moved from the Devonshire Park and the increased capacity and facilities to die for spurred producers, directors and performers to create many of the Society’s most fondly remembered productions.
In 1982 the Society acquired its own premises in Seaside as its first permanent “home” – in the former corporation slipper baths. This venue, complete with state-of-the-art technical facilities, is available for hire; details can be found here. Following a hugely successful “Oliver!” in 1970 the many children in the cast decided they would like to do more stage work – prompting the formation of a Junior Section, which quickly established its own strong reputation. This continued into the 1990s as “Young EODS” and now produces a show, normally a musical, once a year in October at the Devonshire Park Theatre. In 2001 they combined forces with the Operatic Section to produce “Annie” at the Congress Theatre, establishing a very successful run of shows which continues to the present day.
In 1982 the Society acquired its own premises in Seaside as its first permanent “home”. The Centre provides facilities for rehearsal, storage of scenery and properties and some social functions. Its improvement is a continuous process! Following the production of “Oliver!” in 1970 the children, of whom there were many in the cast, decided they would like to do more stage work and this subsequently led to the formation of a Junior Section. They earned an enviable reputation in their own right. Throughout the 1980s the section went from strength to strength moving from the library theatre (what is now the Underground) to the Winter Gardens in 1984, to the Tivoli (1985-87) and finally to the Hippodrome from 1988-1990. The junior section continued into the 1990s as “Young EODS” and now produces a show, normally a musical, once a year in October at the Devonshire Park Theatre. In 2001 they combined forces with the Operatic Section to produce the highly-successful “Annie” at the Congress Theatre. This then began a very successful run of shows up to the present day.
As you might expect, we have a huge photographic archive of past shows and even some of the eye-catching posters that attracted audiences. We’ve selected the ones that we think are the most interesting and arranged them by year. So take a trip down memory lane with us!
Click on any year to be taken to a gallery of images from the shows of that year.
Past shows
2021 – The Taming Of The Shrew
2019 – West Side Story, Romeo and Juliet, Henna Night/Swan Song
2018 – Hello Dolly, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The House Guest, Just So
2017 – My Fair Lady, The Comedy of Errors, Little Grimley Presents Strictly Sex Factor on Ice
2016 – Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, 9 to 5 the musical, As You Like It, Fiddler On The Roof Jr.
2015 A Chorus of Disapproval, High Society, Twelfth Night, The Wizard of Oz & Pure Imagination
2014 Jesus Christ Superstar, The Taming of the Shrew, Oliver
2013 Of Mice and Men, Sweeney Todd, The Tempest, The Pillowman & A Christmas Carol
2012 Bouncers, Guys & Dolls, Macbeth, Aladdin & Jungle Book.
2011
La Cage Aux Folles, Much Ado About Nothing, Seussical Jr and Two.
2010
Crazy For You, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Peter Pan, Happy As A Sandbag
2009
Table Manners, Carousel, Romeo and Juliet, Bugsy Malone, Rent
2008
Oliver!, The Rivals, Treasure Island
2007
The Importance Of Being Earnest, Do-Re-Mi, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Henry V, Little Shop Of Horrors, Fanfare For EODS
2006
Amadeus, Chess, A Comedy of Errors, Ibsen’s Ghosts, The Wiz, Some Enchanted Evening
2005
A Chorus of Disapproval, My Fair Lady, Merry Wives of Windsor, Godspell, Scrooge
2004
This Happy Breed, The Music Man, Much Ado About Nothing, Honk!, A Little Night Music
2003
Murder in the Cathedral, Theft, That’s Entertainment, Jesus Christ Superstar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Daisy Pulls It Off, Gypsy
2002
Habeas Corpus, Oklahoma, Twelfth Night, The Wizard Of Oz, Salad Days
2001
Blithe Spirit, Fiddler on the Roof, The Taming of the Shrew, Annie (with Young EODS)
2000
The Sound Of Music, Sailor Beware, Half A Sixpence, The Merchant Of Venice, Charlie Girl
1999
Lock Up Your Daughters, Hello Dolly, The Boyfriend, NODA Centenary (London Palladium)
1998
Kiss Me Kate, See How They Run, The Adventures of Mr Toad
1997
Me And My Girl, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Spotlight
1996
Party Piece, Guys & Dolls, Good Companions, Alice the Musical, The King & I
1995
Waiting In The Wings, Chess, Charley’s Aunt, Bugsy Malone, Song Of Norway
1994
Daisy Pulls It Off, Showboat, Arsenic & Old Lace Encore, Die Fledermaus
1993
Round & Round the Garden, South Pacific, Steel Magnolias, Peter Pan, The Merry Widow
1992
The Rape Of The Belt, Annie Get Your Gun, Stepping Out, Oliver!, Carmen
1991
Chorus Of Disapproval, Carousel, Someone Waiting, My Fair Lady
1990
Relative Values, Charlie Girl, Outside Edge, Fiddler On The Roof
1989
Tons Of Money, Hello Dolly, Waters Of The Moon, Hans Andersen
1988
Present Laughter, Guys & Dolls, Pack Of Lies, Oklahoma
1987
An Inspector Calls, Camelot, A Man For All Seasons, Calamity Jane
1986
Ghost Train, Half A Sixpence, Barefoot In The Park, Gigi
1985
When We Were Married, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Jane Eyre, Song Of Norway
1984
The Heiress, The Music Man, Absurd Person Singular, Deathtrap, No, No, Nanette
1983
Who Saw Him Die? Showboat, Quiet Weekend, Oliver!
1982
Habeas Corpus, Kismet, Hay Fever, The Merry Widow
1981
Cactus Flower, My Fair Lady, Hobson’s Choice, The Sound Of Music
1980
The Magistrate, Kiss Me Kate, Separate Tables, La Vie Parisienne
1979
The Importance Of Being Earnest, Oklahoma, This Happy Breed, The King & I
1978
Look After Lulu, South Pacific, The Dock Brief & What Shall We Tell, Caroline King’s Rhapsody
1977
Lloyd George Knew My Father, Annie Get Your Gun, Vivat! Vivat! Regina!, Pickwick
1976
Gigi, Carousel Rebecca, The Vagabond King
1975
Breath Of Spring, Orpheus In The Underworld, Semi-Detached, Song Of Norway
1974
She Stoops To Conquer, Half A Sixpence, Charley’s Aunt, Lilac Time
1973
My Three Angels, Fiddler On The Roof, Noel Coward, Fumed Oak, The Astonished Heart, Red Peppers, The Dancing Years
1972
The Giaconda, Smile, Hello Dolly, On Monday Next, The Merry Widow
1971
As Long As They’re Happy, My Fair Lady, Angels In Love, Guys & Dolls
1970
Dear Octopus, Oliver Tartuffe, The Count Of Luxembourg
1969
Separate Tables, Brigadoon, Pink String & Sealing Wax. Showboat
1968
The Corn Is Green, Kismet These Mortals Perchance To Dream
1967
Becket Oklahoma The Crucible White Horse Inn
1966
The Waltz Of The Toreadors Bitter Sweet You Can’t Take It With You Call Me Madam
1965
Inherit The Wind Carousel The Visit The Desert Song
1964
The School For Scandal Chu Chin Chow The Rape Of The Belt King’s Rhapsody
1963
Dinner With The Family Wedding In Paris Saturday Night At The Crown Miss Hook Of Holland
1962
Someone Waiting The New Moon Ladies In Retirement The Yeoman Of The Guard
1961
The Noble Spaniard Summer Song The Love Of Four Colonels The Vagabond King
1960
The Young Elizabeth Brigadoon Full House The Merry Widow
1959
Hotel Paradise Bless The Bride The Case Of The Frightened Lady Gipsy Princess
1958
The Matchmaker Rose Marie Outward Bound Quaker Girl
1957
And So To Bed White Horse Inn This Happy Breed The Dancing Years
1956
The Cradle Song Annie Get Your Gun Meet A Body Tom Jones
1955
Saloon Bar Oklahoma An Ideal Husband Lilac Time
1954
The Student Prince Viceroy Sarah Cox & Box The Pirates Of Penzance Relative Values
1953
The Corn Is Green Showboat On Monday Next The Mikado
1952
Arms & The Man Maid Of The Mountains Playbill Iolanthe
1951
Love From A Stranger The Desert Song The Rose Without A Thorn Goodnight Vienna
1950
Hay Fever Chu Chin Chow Pride & Prejudice Merry England
1949
The Housemaster Rose Marie The First Gentleman The Gondoliers
1948
Candied Peel The Mikado Quality Street The Vagabond King
1947
Time & The Conways The Rebel Maid The Middle Watch
1946
The Lady’s Dress The Yeoman Of The Guard
1940
Grouse In June The Mikado
1939
Katinka The Importance Of Being Earnest Winter Sunshine
1938
Call It A Day The Arcadians And So To Bed Painted Sparrows
1937
Barbara’s Wedding The Cradle Song The Chocolate Soldier Muted Strings A Cup Of Kindness
1936
The Rose Without A Thorn A Country Girl Trial By Jury Pirates Of Penzance Theatre Royal
1935
Doctor’s Orders The Geisha The Yeoman Of The Guard Touchwood
1934
A Murder Has Been Arranged The Vagabond King Romance Marry The Girl
1933
Loyalties The Desert Song The Barretts Of Wimpole Street The Truth Game
1932
Beauty & The Barge Merrie England The Middle Watch The Pelican
1931
Murder On The Second Floor The Gondoliers Mice & Men It Pays To Advertise
1930
The High Road The Mikado Interference A Damsel In Distress
1929
The Last Of Mrs Cheyney Miss Hook Of Holland Quality Street The Dover Road
1928
Things Are Seldom What They Seem On The Moor Rosalind The Rivals San Toy Belinda The Charm School
1927
The Sport Of Kings Veronique Tilly Of Bloomsbury Within The Law
1926
Our Mr Hepplewhite Dacre Of The South The Rising Generation Twelfth Night
1925
Lord Richard In The Pantry Nothing But The Truth Iolanthe The Sign On The Door
1924
Trelawney Of The “Wells” Ruddigore Summer Is A-Comin’ In The Admirable Crichton
1923
Diplomacy Patience Eliza Comes To Stay Leah Kleschna
1922
You Never Can Tell The Pirates Of Penzance Between The Savoury & The Soup Weather Or No The Will The School For Scandal
1921
The Will How He Lied To Her Husband Half-An-Hour A Pair Of Silk Stockings Les Cloches de Corneville Dr Wake’s Patient A Butterfly On The Wheel
1920
Penelope The Yeoman Of The Guard The Duke Of Killiecrankie His House In Order
1919
His Excellency The Governor Lady Fredrick
1918
Dandy Dick The Passport
1917
Lady Huntsworth’s Experiment
1914
Tom Jones
1913
Iolanthe The Gondoliers The Man From Blankleys
1912
The Mikado HMS Pinafore Mice & Men
1911
My Friend The Prince School
1910
The Yeoman Of The Guard Merrie England
1909
The Gondoliers Dandy Dick
1908
Liberty Hall The Mikado The Magistrate
1907
Maritana