Beryl Orders

Bio

Sixty years ago when Players was formed, I was asked to prompt the first production – A School for Scandal. At first Hylda Darby produced nearly all the plays and for some 35 years I acted in most productions – about 100 plays. How did I manage to learn all those lines! I particularly enjoyed Waters of the Moon but probably my favourite part was as Emma Hornett in Watch it Sailor. I have enjoyed all my years with Players, from the acting days, prompting, as Secretary of the Theatre Club and occasional assistance front of house. Sixty years ago Players was formed when Lily Angell gathered together a group to produce 'A School for Scandal'. At that time we were known as St. Lawrence Senior Players as there was already a group of young people called St Lawrence Players. Among the first cast were Harold Smith, Gerald Collins (later a popular Dame in the annual pantomime), Hylda Darby and Joan Elding, who all stayed with us for many years. Soon Hylda took over as producer, continuing for the next twenty-five years, ably assisted by husband Bill and Charles Sanders backstage. At first we just used curtains on the stage, but gradually began to build scenery and improve the sets. New Players joined the ranks – Leigh Smith, Audrey Coates, Jean Jungreuthmeyer and Wally Durston were among the stalwarts. The hall at that time was not licensed for public performances so we could not advertise and seats were available by invitation only, being booked by prior purchase of a programme. Our audiences have been very loyal and supportive. Fr. Rupert Godwin, the Vicar during our early years, was so disappointed at having to miss one of our productions due to illness that he invited the cast to visit him in his bedroom so that he could see us in our costumes and made-up ready to go on stage. From the beginning we had three productions a year. At first the Christmas show was always a pantomime or, later, a children's play, performed first at the annual Sunday School party and the following weekend for our invited audience, with disabled children from the local St Michael's Home invited to the matinee. The cast of these shows also included some of the Junior Players and children from the local Dancing School as fairies, etc. We also often provided entertainment at the Church Summer Fetes, such as revues or a pierrot show. We have had some difficult moments, but it has usually been 'alright on the night’. However there was the occasion when I was playing Alice in 'Alice in Wonderland' and was being lowered down the rabbit hole from the flies when the lights went up too soon and I was seen dangling mid-way! A more painful accident once happened when the leading man (Leigh Smith), making a hasty exit, cracked his head on the wall backstage. Bleeding profusely, he had to be mopped up in time for his next entrance: the show must go on. Happy days!

Appearances as cast

Beryl has appeared in these productions.