The Farnborough and Royal Aircraft Establishment Amateur Operatic Society
During the war, and whilst doing my RAE Apprenticeship, I was heavily involved with the Farnborough and Royal Aircraft Establishment Amateur Operatic Society which put on regular productions in Farnborough and Aldershot.
Desert Song: 5th - 10th April 1943, Theatre Royal Aldershot
The Theatre Royal is long gone and the stage photo is back to the days of the magnesium flash!
Vagabond King: 17th - 22nd April, 1944, Theatre Royal Aldershot
Notice the date on this one - less than two months to D-day! Vagabond King was my first show. I'm in the back row, the fifth from the right (against the tree). You can't imagine the memories that come flooding back when I look at all the people I was with on stage. It was a great deal of fun working in the old Theatre Royal which was a REAL theatre, in spite of the fact that it had seen better times.
The Gondoliers: 11th - 16th September, 1944, RAE Assembly Hall
This was our second show in 1944 and it was staged in the (I think 'new') RAE Assembly Hall. In the picture starting from the pageboy with the white cravat (centre back) I'm three heads to the right.
The Gondoliers: 11th - 16th September, 1944, RAE Assembly Hall
The cast of The Gondoliers
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James Dodds as a Gondolier
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Good Night Vienna: 16th - 21st April, 1945, Theatre Royal Aldershot
Good Night Vienna: 16th - 21st April, 1945, Theatre Royal Aldershot
The cast of Good Night Vienna
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James Dodds and Mabel Gray in Good Night Vienna
James Dodds and Mabel Gray in Good Night Vienna
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Iolanthe: 10th - 15th September 1945, RAE Assembly Hall
The shows were a major event in Farnborough's wartime entertainment calendar. With those in the pictures and adding others mentioned in the programme (but not on stage) it accounts for a fair number of Farnborough (and Aldershot) identities. For most, entertainment it was the 'fliks', with the Rex on Farnborough Road, the Scala at North Camp, the Empire and the Ritz (complete with Wurlitzer) in High street, Aldershot. Not forgetting the Hippodrome Theatre near the bus station and the Theatre Royal. We held our rehearsals in a hall in Queens road, on the right just past Camp road. I don't remember if it was a church hall or school hall. The entrance was on Queens road and it was an upstairs room.
Good Night Vienna: 16th - 21st April, 1945, Theatre Royal Aldershot
The cast of Iolanthe
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James Dodds as Private Willis
A song by Private Willis and report in the local press
A report on the production of Iolanthe in the local press
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The Rebel Maid: 29th April - 4th May 1946, Theatre Royal Aldershot
We rehearsed in St Mark's Church Rooms, Queen's Road, Farnborough. After the Rebel Maid in 1946 and the Yeomen of the Guard in 1947 I finished my apprenticeship at RAE and went to work for Fairey Aviation at Heston.
The Rebel Maid: 29th April - 4th May 1946, Theatre Royal Aldershot
The cast of The Rebel Maid
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James Dodds as the Sergeant
A report on the retirement of W.J. Applin who produced The Rebel Maid in the local press
A report in the local press on The Rebel Maid
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Yeomen of the Guard: 18th - 22nd March 1947, RAE Assembly Hall, Farnborough
Click to read three local press reports from this performance in 1947.
Yeomen of the Guard: 18th - 22nd March 1947, RAE Assembly Hall, Farnborough
The cast of Yeomen of the Guard
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James Dodds as a Yeomen
Yeomen of the Guard was also performed at the former town hall in 1939.
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Information and images courtesy of James Dodds.
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