DEWSBURY ARTS GROUP
… IN THE BEGINNING
1963 was Dewsbury’s Centenary Year, the year that marked the first 100 years of Dewsbury being a
Borough. It was also a year for the Dewsbury Drama festival – twelve one act plays being performed
at St Mark’s Church Hall, Dewsbury. One of the plays was “The Bear” performed by the newly-
formed Dewsbury Arts Group. It would be marvellous if it were possible to record that this, first ever
production by the Group, swept the boards at this Centenary Festival. It was not so! It was placed
third. But its entry in the Bradford Festival the same year brought more success for “The Bear” was
placed first by the adjudicator E. Martin Browne. The prize money that was gained by this win was
used to extend the Group’s activities.
The first major event staged after “The Bear” was the Group’s First Annual Exhibition in the Exchange Hall of Dewsbury Town Hall in October 1963. Since its formation the Group has always maintained a commitment to both Theatre and the Visual Arts. The first full length production by the Group was of Christopher Fry’s verse play “A Sleep of Prisoners” performed ln Dewsbury Parish Church in November 1963. Subsequent full- length productions were performed at Earlsheaton Secondary School, and early presentations there included “Wuthering Heights” and “The Importance of being Earnest” as well as lesser-known pieces such as “Dark of the Moon” and “Inherit the Wind”. As enthusiasm, Membership and Patronage grew so the Group was able to work to a regular Annual Programme of six major productions, and to embrace musicals, documentaries, and children’s Theatre into its repertoire
Expansion of the Group’s activities after 1963 led to the acquisition of its premises at Lower Peel Street. After 1972 most of the Group’s major productions were presented at the Dewsbury Arts Centre at Batley Carr (later named the Dewsbury Little Theatre). With the newly created Studio Theatre being used for smaller additional productions and visits by professional companies presenting their work at the Studio under the Group’s auspices. It has also led to the extending of the youth work done, voluntarily, within the Group and the establishing of a reputation for a sound Youth Theatre. Links have been built with the Lawrence Batley Theatre at Huddersfield, and with theatre companies in our twin town in Germany – Kreis Unna. Gradually over the years the Group’s major productions have been transferred to the Studio Theatre (now the David and Judith Wodd Theatre) and the 2011/1012 Season was the first season when all the Group’s productions are staged at Lower Peel Street.
The Spring Exhibition and the Annual Summer Exhibition were the backbone of the Visual Arts opportunities within the Group. After the difficulties following 2020 and the ever-decreasing exhibition space in the area, we are now building back up to having exhibitions of our members’ art work. Notably in the Frank Mitchell Gallery at Lower Peel Street to coincide with each major production. We are also getting involved with Craft Fayres and searching for suitable exhibition space. The regular Life Drawing sessions have continued and have an ever-growing number of enthusiasts who attend on Wednesday evenings.
It is the energy and commitment of its Members and the enthusiastic support of its Season Ticket Holders that has made Dewsbury Arts Group a vibrant, unique, welcoming organisation for the last sixty plus years
