Drama on the Move

Drama on the Move

According to some of the more established members of Trinity Players, perhaps Drama On The Move (DOTM) was the most exciting and thorough rewarding and enjoyable activity undertaken by the members. The undertaking involved much hard work but it appears extremely worthwhile.

For over 16 years from 1978 until 1994, the Players performed as many full length plays at a variety of local venues, reaching audiences and, no doubt in the process, gaining new audiences in the process for plays at Trinity Church. Much money was raised for worthy charitable causes at a range of levels.

It appears that before DOTM, Trinity Players had already established the touring tradition with One Act plays performed for pensioners’ clubs and hospitals in the Barnsley District. Margaret Midgley, the Players’ secretary, wrote to The English Theatre Guild in June, 1978 applying for the rights to perform the full length play “Beside the Seaside”. A polite if humble request was to seek a reduced rate as no charge was made for admission at the various venues, Trinity Players charging for a small fee towards performing rights and production expenses.

Being a church group and raising money for the Church and Trinity’s production costs, Margaret hope that the Guild would look kindly upon Trinity Players. Within the week, The English Theatre Guild allowed a half performance fee rate for each performance. ( for the record that was £4 plus 32p VAT instead of £8 plus 64p VAT! ).

In the following years, the deal was struck by Margaret with Samuel French, who continued to offer an acceptable concessionary price for the rights. In arriving at the fees, Samuel French required the number of shows planned and the planned size of audiences for each venue. 

The secretary had considerable work to do, most being done by letter in gathering the data and contacting Samuel French. However, the pattern was  now set and the ball began to roll.