Ron Drew's Theatre Pages

Professional Theatre 

•  Music Hall 
  Started in South Shields by Dick Thornton

• The Early Years
  A brief look at the theatres (and cinemas) which were once to be found in South Shields

• The Queen's Theatre  
  The story of the Queens - Shields most loved theatre until its death in 1941

• Local Theatres

  • Sunderland Empire
    The Home of Music Hall and Variety in Sunderland in the early 20th Century.
     
  • South Shields Customs House
    An Arts Centre with a Main and Studio Theatre and an Art Gallery.
     
  • Memories of  La Strada, South Shields
    The first Night Club in the North East of England.

Amateur Theatre

• The Early Years
  A brief review of Early Amateur Theatre in South Shields  
   
• Local Societies today

• South Shields Amateur Operatic Society 
  A comprehensive history of the SSAOS  and details of most shows presented by them since 1949

• The South Shields Gilbert & Sullivan Operatic Society (G&S)
  Born in 1948 the G & S Society has progressed from small beginnings in a church hall to becoming one of the leading societies in South Shields.

• The Westovians
  Originally a small group at the former South Shields Secondary School and now a Society with its own theatre
   

• The Cleadon Village Drama Group
  A Group based in the village who normally produce 4 plays a year

• Local Theatres

  • South Shields Pier Pavilion
    From a bad weather shelter for trippers to a thriving amateur theatre for the Westovians

• The Little Theatre, Cleadon Village, South Tyneside
  The home of The Cleadon Village Drama Group

• Reminiscences 
  Ron Reminisces about his days of Amateur Theatre in South Shields with the Westovians and the SSAOS

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Copyright (c) 1998-2004 Ron Drew
Last revised: January 04, 2005.