In 1960, St. Hilda’s Church found that among its congregation, there were several people with an interest in drama. Bunny Bernard-Smith, who had been an entertainer on the professional stage, was “volunteered” by the vicar at the time to set up an amateur dramatic group.

Starting with a revue “A May Miscellany” in May 1960, there have been nearly 100 productions staged by the Entertainers. After the pantomime “Robinson Crusoe” in 1962, it became established for the Entertainers to produce two shows each year - a pantomime before Christmas and a play (or one-act plays) in May, leaving the summer free for social events such as the regular ten-pin bowling championship, the barbeque and an annual trip to Torquay, home of one of our former chairmen.

Proceeds from the productions in the early years were donated to the new church hall fund - to replace the old corrugated iron hall that stood on the site of the hall we rehearse and perform in today. Eventually the fates took a hand and the old hall actually burnt down in the mid 1960s, when the present hall was built. In 1994, the stage again suffered extensive damage in another fire - just three weeks before the May production of one-act plays, but in the true spirit of show business, the show went on - on a temporary apron stage.

Donations from profits since the 1970s have been largely made to charities associated with children - the Pestalozzi Children’s Village Trust in Sussex, and latterly White Lodge Centre in Chertsey.

St Hilda’s Entertainers has established a reputation for being a very friendly group with many having been members for a number of years - Steve Smith joined in the 1960s, Mike Smith, Hazel Bean and Sue Pinfold in the 1970s and numerous current members in the 1980s. Some have left, only to return years later; others have moved away from the area, but remained members, and further afield - from France, Switzerland and Australia, a few still maintain regular contact.

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