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FOR
over half a century
Peterborough
Mask Theatre has produced a varied repertoire of high quality theatre.
To succeed in the heady world of local theatre is a testament to
the enviable and consistent high level of Mask productions.
Since the Company was formed back in 1947 it has worked to the
basic rule of performing 'Plays of Merit'.
The quality of the script leads to the quality of production .
It
all began with an advertisement in the Peterborough Standard newspaper on
October 17 1947. The call
went out for actors, actresses, technicians and others.
They responded and the Peterborough Mask Theatre was formed.
The
inaugural production was a comedy, Mr Bolfry by James Bridie. Auditions
were held on November 24 and 26 1947 at the Grand Hotel and the
County Grammar School for Girls respectively.
These two venues were also where the first rehearsals were to take
place.
Peterborough Mask Theatre's Mr
Bolfry
was staged at Elwes Hall in February 1948.
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Tickets cost two shillings, three shillings and four shillings
respectively. That is 10p,
15p and 20p in today's money!
The three-night debut run, was well received
in both box office and critical terms as the Peterborough Standard
revealed:
'...the
Mask's
confidence
in its ability
to succeed has been more than justified.
It needs only to maintain
the extraordinarily high
standards achieved in its
first
production.'
With
the foundation stone laid the Mask Theatre began to build on its
reputation. In the past 50
years Mask has performed a diverse range of theatrical work including Arms and the Man, Julius
Caesar, One Flew Over The
Cuckoo's Nest and Daisy Pulls it
Off.
Mask has also innovated a workshop programme in recent years which has
provided
an ideal route for newcomers to take to the stage.
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The
workshops have had a two-fold function in providing experience and
confidence to new actors and secondly a vehicle for exploring ideas for
future Mask plays.
During
our 50-year history Mask has appeared at numerous venues in and around
Peterborough, encompassing the early years at 'Elwes Hall', 'Millfield
Hall' and 'The King's School'. In
1975 Mask
Theatre were proud to be the first Amateur Drama Company to tread
the boards at Peterborough's premier theatrical venue, the Key Theatre,
with a production of Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov.
The company has averaged twice yearly productions at the Key ever since.
Not content to provide entertainment to local audiences, Mask has also
gained an international appeal, following invitations to perform overseas
at 'Collegium
Augustinaeum',
an English language theatre in Goch, on
the Dutch-
German border .
Received with equal enthusiasm at the John
Clare
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