Article No 9 (1938) Article by Stewart Green STEWART GREEN (Author of a book about the history of Crewe Theatre and a Hospital Radio presenter) put together an exhibition about the theatre during the weekend of the 16 & 17th of September 2000 the week of the petrol strike. Attendees at the event were very small but during the event he met two ex members of the theatre one was a lighting man from the 1970's with the other being Vera Jones from Crewe who back in 1938 auditioned for a role as a dancer in the pantomime Robinson Crusoe. Below are some of the events connected with her performance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREWE GIRLS IN PANTOMIME CAST LIST 24 - 31 Dec 1938 ROBINSON CRUSOE (Pantomime) Frank H Fortesque Presents Incl; Jimmy Malborn as Billy Crusoe Geraldine Hurley as Robinson Crusoe Kitty Iris as Principle Girl Neil Durham as Mrs Crusoe Wally Thomas as Old man of the Sea & the Cannibal King The Dancing Durhams Madame Hopwood's "Little Sparklets" Zinemova Gandey's Comedy Circus (Ponies, Dogs, Monker's and a Kicking Mule) Dancers; Vera Hulse (Now Vera Jones) From Crewe Margaret Ecclestone Freda Penance Ireen Thorley Irene Rowlands Pic & Feature Page 7, 12 Nov Crewe Chronicle of Miss Margaret Ecclestone of Crewe a Dancer who will appear in Robinson Crusoe REVIEW AND INFORMATION (Supplied by Vera Jones) Three little girls sat at their desks in school today with lots of other little girls and tried to concentrate on passing, multiplication and historical data. But their minds were far away and their eyes looked on a world of laughter, tinsel and fairy Princes. For three months they will play in the fairy tale world wearing beautiful dresses and doing things they most wish to do while their friends in everyday clothes are staring at blackboards and writing about such things as ancient treaties. The three girls are Freda Pennance (13), Irene Rowlands (13) & Vera Hulse (14), pupils at Crewe Borough School who have just got permission to take their first professional engagement - "Robinson Crusoe", Crewe's Christmas pantomime. At the time you had to get permission from the Council to go on tour away from the town you were at school. The Crewe Council at first had disapproved of the girls joining the Frank H. Fortescue Company as they considered the three ladies too young. They did however let the girls go on tour with restrictions about how long they were allowed to work and the time the spent leaning with a tutor so they didn't miss out on their education. 24 December 1938 Crewe Chronicle, page 7 NEW THEATRE The pantomime season opens on Christmas even when Frank H Fortescue presents "ROBINSON CRUSOE". For many years Mr Fortescue has been producing pantomimes, and his name at the head of affairs is the guarantee of a good show. He has gathered together a company of established pantomime artists and exorcised great care in the selection of costumes and scenery. Jimmy Malborn leads the comedy in the part of "Billy Crusoe", and no better exponent of this role could be wished for: Geraldine Hurley cuts a fine figure as the principle boy "Robinson Crusoe" and will win admiration of all who follow his adventures. Kitty Iris makes charming principle girl, who will sing and dance her way into all hearts. Many opportunities for comedy come to Nell Durham, who takes the part of Mrs Crusoe, and her interludes with her son Billy are vary diverting. Wally Thomas, a fine character, actor and vocalist, plays the duel roles of Old man of the Sea, and the Cannibal King in fine style, and the minor roles are all in capable hands. Specialities are by the Dancing Durhams, Madam Hopwoods Little Sparklets, Zimemova and Gandey's comedy Circus Beautiful Ponies, dogs, monkeys and a Kicking mule will make a special appeal to the juveniles. The Performances are twice nightly, with matinees on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. ------------------------Article Ends--------------------------------------------