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Dramatic Societies thrived in WGC - these included the Welwyn Thalians (Barnstormers and the WGC Operatic Society), the Welwyn Folk Players and the Welwyn Drama Club (based at the Barn Theatre). In 1927 the Welwyn Theatre Society (which became the Drama Club) won the British Drama League Community Theatre trophy, and in the same year they won the Belasco Cup in New York. The Thalians also won the British Drama League trophy in 1935, against 600 competitors. Welwyn Theatre hosted the Welwyn Festival Association's annual drama festival of one-act plays which attracted societies from all over the south of England and beyond. There were also many WGC participants in addition to the above mentioned Thalians, Folk Players & Drama Club - including The Ring, Roche Sports & Social Club, ICI Dramatic Club, St Francis Players, Handside Drama Group, the Welco Players and Peartree Boys Club. Since the first festival in 1928 many famous theatrical personalities were present as adjudicators, and an audience of over 1000 was present each evening. A popular event each summer was the large-scale production of a Shakespearean or other play in the natural amphitheatre of The Dell, in Sherrardspark Wood. There was also a Music Society, with choral and orchestral sections, and a Male Voice Choir.

WGC Theatricals
WGC leaflet detailing Drama & Music facilities. Page 3 includes this photograph of The Beautiful One at The Barn Theatre.
WGC Theatricals
The Dell, Sherrardspark Wood - postcard from the Mill Green Museum archive.
WGC Theatricals
The Dell, Sherrardspark Wood - a production of As You Like It. Photograph held in the WGC Library Local Studies Collection.
WGC Theatricals
The Dell, Sherrardspark Wood - audience watching seated in the natural amphitheatre. Photograph held in the WGC Library Local Studies Collection.
WGC Theatricals
The Dell, Sherrardspark Wood - a performance of A Midsummer Nights Dream. Photograph held in the WGC Library Local Studies Collection.
WGC Theatricals
13th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 3rd-5th June 1946. Cover design by Stanley Herbert. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
15th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 14-19th June 1948 at the Welwyn Theatre. Cover design by Stanley Herbert. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
16th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 13-18th June 1949. Cover design by Stanley Herbert. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
18th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 4-9th June 1951 held at Welwyn Theatre. Cover design by Stanley Herbert. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
18th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 4-9th June 1953. Page 12 advertisement for forthcoming first production in The Dell since before WWII - A Midsummer Nights Dream sponsored by the Peartree Boys Club and performed by the young people of this town. The open air production was described as being in the Elizabethan manner as the young people of the day themselves might have played it, complete with choral music of Elizabethan madrigals. A stage in character with the period has been constructed in the natural setting.
WGC Theatricals
19th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 16th-21st June 1951 held at Welwyn Theatre. Cover design by Stanley Herbert. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
20th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 29th June-4th July 1953 held at Welwyn Theatre. Front cover. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
21st Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 14-19 June 1954 held at Welwyn Theatre. Front cover. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
22nd Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 6-11 June 1955 held at Welwyn Theatre. Front cover. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
23rd Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 4-9th June 1956 held at Welwyn Theatre. Front cover design by Jessett. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
24th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 17-22nd June 1957 held at Welwyn Theatre. Front cover. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
25th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 16-21st June 1958 held at Welwyn Theatre. Front cover. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
26th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 15-20th June 1959 held at Welwyn Theatre. Front cover design by Stanley Herbert. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
27th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 20-25th June 1960 held at Welwyn Theatre. Front cover. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
28th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 29th May-3rd June 1961 held at Welwyn Theatre. Front cover. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
29th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 18-23rd June 1962 held at Welwyn Theatre. Front cover. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
30th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 15-20th June 1964 held at The Embassy (formerly Welwyn Theatre). Front cover design by Stanley Herbert. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
31st Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 24-29th May 1965 held at The Embassy. Front cover. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
32nd Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 13-18th June 1966 held at The Embassy. Front cover. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
38th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 5-10th June 1972 held at The Embassy. Front cover. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
45th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 4-9th June 1979 held at Campus West Theatre. Front cover. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
49th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 6-11th June 1983 held at Campus West Theatre. Front cover. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
50th Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 4-9th June 1984 held at Campus West Theatre. Front cover - Golden Jubilee issue. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
51st Annual Welwyn Drama Festival programme 3rd-8th June 1985 held at Campus West Theatre. Front cover. Donated to the Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust archive by Robert G.
WGC Theatricals
1928 photograph showing the Welwyn Theatre in Parkway to be one of the earliest public buildings - on the bottom right of the picture the original Welwyn Stores can be partially seen. At the top of this picture is the rail station with its entrance towards Howardsgate, which has already been planted out with trees and flowerbeds. The smaller building near the middle with people crowded around is on the site of what will become the new and much larger Welwyn Stores (now John Lewis). This photograph is from the WGC Library Local Studies Collection.
WGC Theatricals
Welwyn Theatre photographed c1928. Item held at the WGC Library Local Studies Collection.
WGC Theatricals
Welwyn Theatre interior decor. Item held at the WGC Library Local Studies Collection.
WGC Theatricals
Welwyn Theatre interior decor. Item held at the WGC Library Local Studies Collection.
WGC Theatricals
Welwyn Theatre seating. Item held at the WGC Library Local Studies Collection.
WGC Theatricals
Welwyn Theatre lobby with poster and photographs promoting forthcoming attractions. Item held at the WGC Library Local Studies Collection.
 
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