The History of East Lane Theatre Club, by J Barrington Serjent

It all began half-a-mile away across the playing fields from where our theatre is now, when, in 1936, the former pupils of what was then East Lane School decided to found their own dramatic society. World War II put a stop to all our activities, but we re-established ourselves in 1946, with a production of Lionel Brown's 'To Have and to Hold', presented at the local Preston Manor School.During the next fifteen years over 100 plays, revues and pantomimes were staged at various school and church halls in Wembley, until, in 1961, a new venue, The Elms Hall, in Sudbury, became available, and that was home for the next twenty-seven years.In those days we rehearsed wherever we could, sometimes even in members' houses, but in 1976 we decided that we ought to have our own space. Planning permission was granted, a second hand wood building was bought, and after a lot of fund-raising and hard work we had a 48' X 24' rehearsal room and workshop, built alongside the old tennis pavilion at Vale Farm, which we had been renting from the council for scenery storage.

But the turning point in our history came in 1988 when the Elms Hall was scheduled for redevelopment and we had to leave.

No other suitable premises were available; there was only one solution, short of closing down, to convert our workshop into a theatre.

With permission for a change of occupation and financial help from the council, and the Edward Harvist Trust, plus seating sponsorship and many donations, the now titled East lane Theatre Club opened its doors in October 1990 with a Gala Performance of Alan Ayckbourn's 'Absent Friends'.

At that time only the theatre itself looked much as it does today, but building work went on and has continued ever since. Helped by a generous grant from the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, dressing rooms were fitted out, a brick foyer was built (one of the few jobs we didn't undertake ourselves)and the tennis pavilion was transformed into a stylish cafe and bar.

Work still goes on, of course, there will always be room for improvements but we are very proud of our little theatre, the only one of its kind in the borough.

Please click here for a full list of productions from 1936 to the present day.