Long-standing EAT supporter, Malcolm Corbould, has a few memories of the earliest days of the theatre. He writes:

May 8, 1974: Half of the car maintenance garage has been taken over for a theatre next door. I have mixed feelings.

Which was odd because I was always more theatre than car maintenance.

As we know the members (including my brother) built the theatre – which would not be allowed today.

February 8, 1975: A superb concert for and at the half-finished Edward Alderton Theatre.

Having sold all 160 tickets without any advertising, they had got a great bill together, everyone playing for free. Patti Brown, a professional, Bill and Jane, two super classical guitarists and their pupil Martin, Pete Quirk [Manxman, singer-guitarist, Erith College student] joined various groups made up of members of the drama society:

Graham (Corbould), Neil the architect, Derek the director, Elspeth, Beverly – who’s got a brilliant voice – and husband Colin, David and Bill the sound man etc. etc. The concert was due to end at 12 but went on till 12.35. We had chorus songs – the audience singing as well – quiet songs, traditional songs, older songs, modern pop-folk songs and classical guitar. Plus hot dogs. For 50p it was overwhelming. I also recall being moved by a blind man singing “Foggy Foggy Dew”. Somebody recorded the evening and I still own a couple of very lo-fi cassette tapes of the event.

The EAT was among the first places I can recall to have the ‘sponsor a brick’ scheme, now common. So three of the family four have our names on it to this day. (I believe Mother was the absentee – as Dad John had signed she may have felt it enough).

Wishing you a Happy 50th Birthday and many more to come.

Another brick in the wall, this one Malcolm Corbould.

Do you have any memories of the EAT over the years? Send your stories to us at edwardaldertontheatre@gmail.com or leave them in the comments!