This is where we tell you something about our ourselves.

On this page we relate our history, the ideas that underpin us, how we are organised, and how you can join us.

Who are we?

Tread the Boards (TTB) was founded in Newport Pagnell, Bucks, in 1986. We are now a Registered Charity, but we started out as a group associated with the local Adult Education Centre and based in Ousedale School's Drama Studio. Our first production was Alan Ayckbourn's "Bedroom Farce". Over the next couple of years we put on a variety of shows (see The Archive), built a regular audience and developed to the point where we felt that we could achieve more as a group independent of Adult Education.

We moved from Ousedale to the old Electra Cinema in Newport Pagnell, which at this time was being run as an Arts Centre. Here we put on another Ayckbourn, "Time and Time Again" which was a great success, performing to very good audiences.

Buoyed up by this we prepared for our next production, "Play it again, Sam", only to be hit by the news that the Electra had gone bankrupt and was to be sold for redevelopment. We had to find an alternative venue at short notice and moved to the Madcap Theatre, Wolverton to present "Play it again, Sam" and, later that year, our first pantomime, "Aladdin".

For a while after that we were nomads performing at various venues, Ousedale School; The Barn, Great Linford and Shenley Leisure Centre.

After a lengthy tenure at Wavendon Community Centre where we have had a number of successful performances to our credit, we returned to the Madcap Theatre, Wolverton once again for a long run as our main venue. Starting in 2010, we will also be appearing at the Chrysalis Theatre at Camphill, Willen. 

Our "Philosophy"

It may seem somewhat grandiose for a small Amateur Drama group to be talking about its philosophy, but from the start we had certain clear ideas about how we wanted the group to develop and what sort of drama we wanted to produce.

We had three main aims:

• The group should be open, i.e. no cliques, no closed committees, no "backdoor" casting.
• We should aim to avoid the standard "Am.Dram" type repertoire as far as possible, producing quality shows using quality plays, and we should try to be original in our approach.
• We should aim for the highest production standards possible.

To a large extent we have been able to work to these aims. The group is open, with all members having an equal opportunity to participate in our activities. The casting of any play is the sole responsibility of the Director of the play (and we rotate directors to preclude favouritism).

Our range of plays has been broad (see The Archive), and our performance quality is high. We seem to have the knack, through good teamwork, of getting the best from people, however inexperienced they may have been to start with.

If this sounds all very pompous and high-minded, don't assume that we are a collection of drama stick-in-the muds. We are involved in drama because we enjoy it and we are determined to enjoy what we do. The social aspect of the group has always been important, not just the weekly apres-rehearsal Pub session, but we maintain a constant programme of social events of various kinds, particularly theatre visits.

Constitution

In 2002 Tread the Boards became a Registered Charity. Our aims are:

To advance education and to develop public appreciation of the dramatic arts by the performance of dramatic and musical works.

The group has a written constitution which provides for an elected committee of trustees consisting of a minimum of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. Other officers can be appointed as required. Our Annual General Meeting is held in June or July at which officers are elected.

A Play Selection and Planning meeting open to all members is held once a year to plan our programme for the forthcoming year.

Membership

If you think that you would like to join us, full details of membership can be found here. Alternatively, visit our Contact Page and send us your enquiry.

• 1: TTB Home
• 2: News
• Current page is 3: About TTB
• 4: Membership
• 5: Planned Productions
• 6: Next Production
• 7: The Archive
• 8: FAQ Page
• 9: Contact us
• 10: Links