November 1929: The Masque Theatre in England – A Short Season at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne

An article on page four of the Bexhill Chronicle (Bexhill-on-Sea Chronicle, in The British Newspaper

Archive), on Saturday the 16th of November, 1929, reads:

 

“DEVONSHIRE PARK THEATRE, EASTBOURNE

 

The Masque Theatre are occupying the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne, for a short season, and

their first week has been an unqualified success when Barrie’s famous play ‘The Admirable Crichton’

has been performed. The last two performances of this play take place to-day, Saturday at 2.30 and 8.

 

For the week commencing Monday ‘To Have the Honour’ a comedy by A. A. Milne will be presented each

evening at 8 o’clock and there will be matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30.

 

The Masque Theatre was formed in the spring of 1928 for the purpose of bringing to such towns as do not

possess a repertory theatre a season of plays of exceptional interest. They have also been responsible for

producing in England for the first time some interesting and successful plays, of which ‘A Hundred Years

Old’ was one; others were ‘The Good King,’ by Raoul Auernheimer; ‘Before Breakfast,’ by Eugene O’Neill;

and ‘Colossus,’ by Robins Millar. Their productions of well-known authors have included ‘The Cherry

Orchard’ and ‘The Seagull,’ by Anton Tchekov; ‘Windows,’ by Galsworthy, etc.

 

The productions are in the care of Mr. Claud Gurney, and the scenery is all designed, constructed and

painted by members of the Masque Theatre staff.

 

Although the Masque Theatre have dispensed with the usual ‘Star’ system which is generally in use in

touring theatres, each member of the company is a player of exceptional merit.”

 

 

 

The British Newspaper Archive.

 

 

 

George Fairfull-Smith, July 2024.