Richard Armstrong
Richard's love of the stage was born by accident 82 years ago, when he was just 5 years old. In those long lost pre-war days a great deal of amateur stage work was carried out by the Unorthodox Churches, many of which relied upon the ability of their individual congregations to present stage productions, that were good enough to attract audiences to their individual efforts, over long periods. For example. In those pre-television days it was common for one of their stage productions, presented on two nights per week, to run for up to three months. Providing a source of considerable income for the financial support of the particular church involved..
It was against this background that Richard was first persuaded onto the stage to recite all six verses of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem Ultima Thule The Windmill. A very serious presentation, as far as Richard was concerned, but which was received by successive audiences with gales of laughter. It didn't take long for Richard to work out for himself that, although he first of all resented the response invoked, he really did enjoy the audience's approval. Before the end of the run he had discovered for himself the ability to make an audience laugh. With him, not at him.
At the age of 11, then attending Grammar School, it was his Art Master who broadened his experience by involving him in scenery painting, for the school's Annual Stage Show. Leaving School at the age of 14, when his Father became unemployed in the Great Depression,. he found employment in a local slipper works where he met his mentor, who would influence him for the rest of his life. Percy Clegg, a manager employed within the same company was, by chance, also the permanent writer and producer of an Annual Stage Revue presented by Bethesda Methodist Chapel. in Waterfoot. He approached Richard and asked for his help in painting scenery for his next production, The Bethesda Review of 1937, to which Richard readily agreed. As a result Percy and Richard, in spite of the difference in age, soon became close friends and worked together until Richard emigrated to Canada in April 1939.
He subsequently returned to England in April 1943 as a commissioned Fighter Pilot with the RCAF, was shot down in 1944, sent to a German POW. Camp where he was able to return to his early passion by helping with the Camp Stage Society's presentation of Thornton Wilder's Our Town.
After the war Richard resumed his association with his friend and took over the writing and production of Pantomimes for Bethesda Methodist Chapel and at the same time joining the local Repertory Society, The Rossendale Players, with whom he stayed until 1952. Eight years, either painting scenery, stage managing, acting, or subsequently producing in 32 presentations before his work took him abroad to West Africa in 1952.
Not to be outdone, and with the considerable assistance of the Development Corporation, he formed his own Traveling Repertory Company and presented innumerable plays, such as The Reluctant Débutante and Seagulls over Sorrento. to name but two. Each play was cast from miners, electricians, engineers, their wives, and anyone else whom he could rope in. Few of these volunteers had any experience but, nevertheless, they were met by wild acclaim from enthusiastic and packed audiences.
Richard returned to England in 1962 and, from then on, became associated with a long list of different societies: as his work took him around the country:-.
The Hamble Players, The Bornemouth Operatic Society, The Bromsgrove New Road Methodist Gilbert and Sullivan Operatic Society, The Blakedown Amateur Dramatic Society, The Redditch Operatic Society for whom he was Resident Producer for many years, The Droitwitch Operatic Society, The Drotwich players, The Valley Players, Seaton Delaval, where you may remember him in their presentation of A Month of Sundays and his production of Harold Brighouse's Hobson's Choice and Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood.
Finally he joined Whitley Bay Theatre Company in 2004 when you may remember him as Mr Grainger in Are you Being Served, he followed this up by playing Private Godfrey in our production of Dad's Army and finally playing the part of The Major in our two hugely successful productions of Fawlty Towers.
Unfortunately he cannot remember the names of all the plays and Operas that he has either Produced or taken a part in, but they must be quite considerable.
Curiously he has never produced anything for Whitley Bay. For the simple reason that he has never been asked!