The Mary Wallace Theatre, Twickenham
By Monica Jones
One of the highlights of my summer was attending outdoor cultural events in the area. We are so blessed with a great choice of outdoor concerts, comedy and theatre. I spent a special evening at the Fountain Gardens opposite Eel Pie Island in Twickenham enjoying a fantastic production of Pride and Prejudice. It was magical, and yet anoth-er outstanding production from this little theatre company.
The usual home of the Richmond Shakespeare Society is just a short walk from the gardens at the Mary Wallace Theatre. It is one of the area’s most distinguished and award-winning amateur theatre companies, offering up to nine productions each year. Though initially established to play Shake-speare, RSS productions range widely from the classics to the modern, and occasionally strange! (Ben Hur on scooters for the chariot scene?) The Richmond Shakespeare Society was founded by Gladys Erikson, the dancer and actress, in 1934 with the aim of pro-ducing Shakespeare’s plays in the open air. Since then, and only omitting the war years, the RSS has played 3-4 productions annually in a variety of locations but had no permanent home until the discovery and acquisition of the old disused mission hall on Twickenham Embankment in the late seventies. A forward looking and sympathetic Council gave them preference over proposed developers and offered a 99 year lease, provided they could turn the decaying and derelict building into a via-ble theatre serving the community.
Two years of frantic fund-raising and four months of extensive building works followed and, with the aid of a number of generous legacies and dona-tions, a fully equipped 101-seat theatre was ready to entertain audiences by 1982.
Prince Charles laid the commemorative stone of the brand-new Mary Wallace Theatre and, with a secure and permanent base, the RSS have gone on to produce up to eight plays in the theatre and one open-air production annually.
2023 promises to be a new and exciting landmark for the society and for the building as extensive development work is planned for next summer, providing wheelchair access to the auditorium, a modernised foyer and bar areas and improved and extended toilet facilities.
In the meantime, the RSS 2022 Season continues with MISS JULIE by August Strindberg in Sep-tember, Moliere’s THE HYPOCHONDRIAC in October and THE FLINT STREET NATIVITY by Tim Firth – our Christmas show. 2023 promises an Agatha Christie classic – THE HOLLOW – in January. Do go and experience this classy little theatre for yourselves.
The Mary Wallace Theatre is situated close to the Thames on Twickenham Embankment, TW1 3DU – and stands conveniently between St Mary’s Church and the Barmy Arms. Car parking is avail-able just next to it.
For further information on productions, book-ing and membership please see www.richmondshakespeare.org.uk Whether as audience or participants, all are most welcome.