Swanbank Music was formed in 1982 by Bill Blenkinsop, Billie Stephens, Martin Chapple and Julian Mann. The company got the name when the landlord of the Eight Bells Pub near Putney Bridge asked the four friends the reason for their regular weekly meetings at the pub and we explained that we were forming a musical theatre company but couldn't think of a name. The landlord told us we were standing on the Swanbank of the Thames and hey presto! we had our name. However, we had no funds, premises or members but soon gathered friends and musical contacts together and started by presenting concerts, graduating to costumed productions of Iolanthe, HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury. Martin arranged for us to use St. Etheldreda's Church in Fulham where we rehearsed until I was able to book Roehampton Parish Hall, the church hall attached to the school my children attended. We could not afford the services of a director for these early productions and sang the G.& S. works holding the scores. In 1983, we were very excited to present our first fully costumed show - The Merry Widow directed by the late Stephen Salter. This was performed at the Wolfson Hall, part of the Charing Cross Hospital complex.
Eventually, I persuaded one of the mothers from my children's primary school to come on board as director. Jill Ellams had been a professional singer and actress and she has directed many productions for us.
We eventually moved to Wimbledon Theatre - a great thrill and with an enormous sense of pride for our 1989 production of The King and I which was attended by Herbert Lom, one of our honorary patrons who starred in the show in the West End show. Our production of Oliver! at Wimbledon Theatre in 1990, with David Mellor's son Anthony in the title role, was a huge success. Over 90 members of the cast which included 30 children, took part and Lionel Bart himself attended a performance. Other Wimbledon shows have been Guys and Dolls, The Dancing Years, Kiss Me Kate, Hello Dolly!, Carousel, Fiddler on the Roof and My Fair Lady. Another high spot was our production of Into the Woods in 1993, part of the Cannizaro Park Open Air Festival, which took place in the lovely herb garden of Cannizaro Park. We also perform at Putney Arts Theatre.
Carry On star Liz Fraser, our Hon. President attends every production and actress Celia Imrie, and radio and t.v. presenter David Jacobs are vice presidents who come to our shows when time permits.
We choose a local charity to be the beneficiary of any profits made as a result of our productions and via musicals, cabarets and concerts we have to date donated over £93,000 - £26,000 of this going to Putney's Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability.
On 2nd and 3rd July at 7.45p.m and at 3p.m. on 3rd July, we are presenting The Mermaid's "Cowardy Custard" at Putney Arts Theatre, Ravenna Road, S.W. 15. This is a miscellany of Noel Coward's words and music in the form of a fast-moving revue. We are proud to have West End performers Don and Miranda Fellows (parents of Susannah, Samantha and Georgie - also West End performers), in the cast of this rarely performed revue.
The cast have had tremendous fun putting it together and tickets can be obtained from 020 8 949 2901. Our Honorary President, actress Liz Fraser, will be attending Friday night's performance to draw the raffle. The beneficiaries for this production will be Putney charity United Response's Woodland Way - a house in Mitcham which houses 6 people with learning disabilities - to create a sensory garden for the residents to enjoy.
In September, Swanbank begin rehearsing for The Sound of Music. Anyone who is interested in joining our friendly company can email our membership secretary, M.E. White for more details or 01372 843147.