Midhurst Players' anniversary

The first stipulation details an annual subscription of five shillings '“ after which it is straight into the things that really matter.

"Any player who swears will be fined one penny (producer being exempt)."

It's a lovely image, and you can't help wondering just how far the producer used to take his carte blanche to curse.

Similarly appealing is the fourth rule of membership: "Any player arriving more than one quarter of an hour late at rehearsals will be liable to a fine of sixpence."

The original fine was a penny. But a big series of type-written x's clears the way for the more draconian punishment.

The document is one of the treasures unearthed by Midhurst Players chairman David Baker as the group celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Among the most interesting pieces are those he has come across from the pre-war era, pieces pre-dating the Players' foundation in their current form.

This year's anniversary marks the launch of the Players in their November 1949 incarnation. But as David says, their origins go back to 1927. Their first production was The Romantic Age, a whimsical piece from A A Milne. The following year they tackled Oscar Wilde's The Importance Of Being Earnest.

The base they used is now Tesco's. Back then it was variously described by the local critics as being The Public Hall, The Electric Theatre and The Electric Cinema, but sadly it seems things came to an impasse, first time round, in the early 1930s.

Their last production was Out Goes She, in either 1931 or 1932 - a production which promoted a fairly active correspondence in the local paper. The piece dealt with divorce - and there was outrage among the good Christian citizenship.

"There is no evidence of a production after that, so the controversy may have been a factor," David says. "I think that they may have lost heart after that, but increasingly the public hall was being used as a cinema. Basically they fell apart.

"After 1931-32, the next thing we get is something called The Troopers putting on an evening of singing and dancing entertainment in 1936. And then from 1938-51 we get a series of WI dramas and so on. They put on shows in the war in aid of war funds to help the war effort, mainly women. Then after the war, you start noticing a few gentlemen in the group.

"Moving on to 1949 you get the setting up of the Midhurst Players in their modern existence."

The Midhurst Players celebrate their anniversary with a production of Hello, Dolly!, book by Michael Stewart, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, based on the play The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder.

Performances will take place at the Midhurst Rother College, River Site from Wednesday November 4 to Saturday November 7. Tickets on 01730 814419 or through King & Chasemore, West Street, Midhurst.