70th JUBILEE CELEBRATION

Torbay Theatre, aka Torbay Dramatic Society, has been around as long as the Queen has been Queen, and we are going to celebrate it with a special evening showcasing excerpts from a play from each decade.

This will be an entertaining evening for all, with audience seated at tables, and plenty of opportunity to mingle between acts. We hope to attract many members from days gone by, as well as our usual mix of roughly age 8-88 currently involved, so reminiscence will be a-plenty!

To contribute, email us with your memories at info@torbaytheatre.com

Lynne Davis has been one of our most prolific directors, and has also choreographed many plays and shows at Torbay over the years. Here she talks about Tin Hats and Gas Masks, written by Lynne to commemorate World War II and celebrate its songs. She directed this show three times at Torbay Theatre, as well as professionally at the Pumphouse, with a grant from Creative NZ.

“Looking back, I suppose the production that enveloped me most was Tin Hats and Gas Masks, because it was completely from my imagination and began with a blank page, which was challenging. The research was long, fascinating, emotional and educational.”

“The members of the casts of the three productions at Torbay were so talented they made directing a pleasure, and I compliment the knowledge and enthusiasm of the crew members of each production.”

 “To the Torbay Dramatic Society, thank you for your trust and so many happy memories and for giving me the opportunity to take part in over thirty productions.”

Lynne Davis

The theatre holds rather a wonderful memento of this show. A cast member from an earlier production, Jack Sharman, knew Vera Lynn, and posted her a programme from Tin Hat and Gas Masks, which she signed and posted back – see photo.