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