WINDSOR THEATRE GUILD
President - Sue Holderness
The very best in theatre!-
There's NOTHING quite like it!
Windsor Theatre Guild is a registered charity.
We produce high quality theatre in exciting places.
Each year we stage an open-air Shakespeare play in the Chapter Garden of Windsor Castle.
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SHAKESPEARE'S TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
(Photo:- WINDSOR & ETON EXPRESS NEWSPAPER)
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AMDRAM SUPPORT NET
Check This Out....HIGHLY RECOMENDED!
A mailing list for amateur dramatic and other performing societies based in the UK to facilitate sharing of information and support. The list can be used to inform other groups of shows, activities, events and any other useful information. You can tell us about forthcoming shows, seek background information about prospective productions, ask for help, scenery, props, or whatever!
Some Pictures...
ABOVE: The Merry Wives of Windsor as performed by Windsor Theatre Guild in 1951
BELOW: Some more recent images!
BELOW: Hedda Gabler - Spring 2000
BELOW: The Gatekeepers True Religion - 2000 (Festival Entry)
(Members who have interesting Guild Photos are invited to submit them - email us the details. Click here )
Since its founding in 1939, the WINDSOR THEATRE GUILD has become one of the leading theatre
companies in the Thames Valley, performing a wide variety of plays in and around Windsor in
Berkshire.
The Guild's repertoire ranges from classics to modern playwrights and it
has performed at the Baldwin Institute, Eton; the Studio Theatre at
St George's School Windsor Castle the Farrer Theatre at Eton College, the Windsor Arts
Centre,The Guildhall, Windsor, the Datchet Hall and of course the Chapter Garden of Windsor Castle . It is here in the exclusive Chapter Garden that the
Guild has presented open air productions of Shakespeare's plays since 1951
- a privilege
highly valued and generously granted by the Dean and Cannons of Windsor.
Whether
performing "on stage" or engaged in essential "back stage" support
- from stage management , lighting and costumes to front of house, it is the commitment and enthusiasm of the membership coupled with the high artistic standard of it's producers and directors that has earned the guild it's enviable reputation for innovation and
excellence.
Whilst the Windsor Theatre Guild looks to the future, it is not forgetful of the aims and traditions of it's founder membership. Although sadly, there are no members left from 1939, the current membership is committed to build on past successes and uphold
traditions and aspirations over the years.
These pages are designed to be both
historical and informative, so read on and "Break a leg"!
The Windsor Theatre Guild is one of the longest established
dramatic societies in the area; World War II was but a few weeks old when "Conflict"
a comedy by Miles Malleson was performed by the newly formed Windsor Theatre Guild on
Saturday 14th October 1939 on the tiny stage of the Labour Hall in St. Leonards Road, Windsor.
Since those far off days over 200
productions have taken place and these, in line with the Guild's original constitution,
have included "good, unusual and experimental plays as well as those of more obvious
box office appeal". Well-known authors and writers from Britain, Ireland, Europe,
Russia, and America have all been represented in the Guild's work. Although the Guild
has never had, in some sixty years of continuous performance, a home base to call it's
own most of the performances have taken place in Windsor and Eton. Over the years
activities have also taken it to Slough, Maidenhead, Henley, Farnham Royal, Chalfont
St. Peter, Datchet, Colnbrook and Sunninghill. Windsor Theatre Guild even performed
on the London stage with "The Intruder" at the Toynbee Theatre in 1943, and two years
later at the Unity Theatre with "Juno and the Paycock". School children throughout North
America have seen, on their television educational programmes, short films based on the
Guild's Shakespearean and other educational productions. The Guild has entered many
One-Act play festivals over the years often reaching the finals.
At the end of 2001 - on the
stage of The Theatre Royal Windsor, the Guild was fortunate to be able to perform the
WORLD PREMIERE of Chrirtmas in NW1 from Writting Home by Alan Bennett.
Windsor Theatre Guild
There's NOTHING quite like it! back
WTG VENUES....
THE CHAPTER GARDEN,WINDSOR CASTLE
By R.H.E. Russel M.A., C.V.O.
Former headmaster, St. George's School, Windsor Castle
Lying below the northern walls of the Castle, the Chapter Garden is a belt of green
between the Datchet Road and the Castle banks. On it's eastern side stands a sturdy wall,
of red brick and more than 200 years old. On the western side it is bounded by the main
building of St. George's School, a building of appropriately historic import and erstwhile
residence of the Naval Knights of Windsor. A Canallto painting of the mid 18th century
shows the view of Castle and town from along Datchet Lane, and we see the extension of the
Chapter Garden wall. We also see the banks with their beautiful symmetrical plantation of
trees, and the angular path along which tread ladies in their crinolines. High on the bank,
just below the Castle wall, there stands a mock-temple.
In 1802 the building
of Travers College
was completed, and the order of the Naval Knights was founded. A print of the building by
Stradler was issued in 1804. In it the Chapter Garden is fore-shortened; the banks are made
to steep, and the trees thereon no longer conform to patterns, but appear as a leafy bed on
which the Castle sits.
A reverse view of the garden is provided by major Ed.
Kretschmar in 1847 when, from the Round Tower, he observes the total panoramic view in
two pictures. Here he outlines every tree and path in the Chapter Garden, which he names
the Dean's Garden.
Myth and Legend blend to confuse us as to the original purpose
of this stretch of ground, but certainly there is a strong belief that it was in this area
that martyrs were burnt at the stake in the sixteenth century.
Connoisseurs of foliage and plants will enjoy circumambulating the garden, for within the mentioned confines
they will find examples of Weeping Ash, Copper Beech, Mulberry, a Judas Tree, a Norway Kaple,
an incipient Cedar, a Flowering Cherry, an Almond Tree and a large Bay Tree. They will also
find a fine Wisteria along the wall that skirts the Datchet Road; it is said that this
Wisteria was part of a gift from the Emperor of china to Queen Victoria, and among the first
to come to this country.
The Chapter Garden lies for the most part barely above
river level, and from time to time has been completely flooded. In the nineteenth century
such flooding was commonplace. Preventative action has ensured that recent years have not
inconvenienced us in this way. Many photographs exist to show the water lapping the two
front steps of the school both in 1933 and 1947.
The Chapter Garden nowadays is still a haven of comparative peace in busy surroundings;
members of the Chapter still sit there on occasion, and sometimes collect flowers from the
borders. Small boys fire arrows at weekends as a gentle pass-time. And every year the Windsor
Theatre Guild presents a Shakespeare play on the slope immediately below the Castle banks.
The surroundings beckon and welcome these guests; history and drama seemed destined to fuse,
and the outcome is general enjoyment.
May you all share this!
Much has changed since this was written, however the Garden
retains much of its original beauty and charm. WTG audiences love the exclusive feel of the place
and the towering walls of the Castle give a most wonderful backdrop WTG plays, back
THE STUDIO THEATRE, ST GEORGE'S SCHOOL, WINDSOR CASTLE
St. George's School nestles under the North Terrace of Windsor Castle adjacent to the Chapter
Garden. The building was built in 1803. It boasts a fine classical facade with a loggia
between the pedimented wings.
Inside there is a small and intimate studio theatre
which Windsor Theatre Guild have been privileged to be permitted to use for some of its
productions. The size of the auditorium limits the audience to less than one hundred and
provides an intimate and exciting atmosphere for productions of many types. back
THE GUILDHALL, WINDSOR
Just yards away from historic Windsor Castle is
another important building in Windsor. The Guildhall,
another venue reguarly used by Windsor Theatre Guild.
The existing Guildhall, was opened in 1689. Sir Thomas Fitch, began the building but died
soon after, and it was completed by Sir Christopher Wren. It apparently cost 2,000 pounds
to build.
It has the traditional style of such buildings, a covered area for market stalls beneath,
meeting rooms above. Although at one time the market area had its sides in-filled (making
it look a bit of an eyesore) it has for many years been returned to its original open sided
style.
Tradition has it that when Wren had completed the brick and stone building,
the councillors of Windsor were concerned about the wide span of the supporting beams and
insisted that he put in additional columns to support the meeting rooms.
Wren was confident that it was strong enough without any extra support, and simply put in
columns what were two inches too short. It is said that the counsellors did not notice -
(this is doubtful!) - however it is obvious that the columns were too short, and serve no structural purpose.
The building boasts statues of Queen Ann, and her husband Prince George of Denmark (added around 1707 and 1713 respectively). The classical design using red brick decorated with stone is attractive and is still
used for many of it's original purposes to this day.
In recent times The Guildhall
has become a popular location for weddings and the Windsor Theatre Guild often use it's magnificent council chamber for period drama. This provides a beautiful setting for plays and is very popular with audiences. The building is of course "listed" and has many
restrictions on what can happen to it or in it. One of these restrictions is that for drama is on the number of people in the building at any one time, this is set at 120 which means that with a small cast and crew productions are normally limited to an intimate
audience of less than one hundred souls.
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Photographs on this site are copyright,
they were taken by members and friends of Windsor Theatre Guild.
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This Site was maintained (occasionally!) by
Trevor Rudge for WTG . Last updated (a little!) - Late August 2002
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WINDSOR THEATRE GUILD
There's NOTHING quite like it!
Just yards away from historic Windsor Castle is
another important building in Windsor. The Guildhall,
another venue reguarly used by Windsor Theatre Guild.
