At its inception, The Chase Theatre Company consisted literally of its three founders, Clare Gollop, Maureen (Mo) Lawton and Denis Steer. All three experienced actors probably had a specialty to offer. Mo for costumes and singing, Clare for choreography and Denis for direction.

Our first offering for obvious reasons presented several problems. We had agreed, as a matter of principle, that we would have no formal membership. The casts of the plays we hoped to present would be by invitation only. We had to find a suitable venue and we had to find a play to which would be relatively easy to stage at a comparatively reasonable cost.

After much heart searching and with some trepidation, it was finally agreed that we would stage an American play – ‘Agnes of God’ by John Pielmeir. The play had been presented successfully in America and had been made into an Oscar nominated film starring Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft and Meg Tilly. Clare, Mo and an excellent young actress, Helen Dixon undertook the parts in this three hander play. It was staged at the Charles Cryer Studio Theatre in Carshalton with Denis directing.

With a bare set – apart from a desk, purchased for a few pounds, three chairs, two nun’s habit’s, a present day suit, the play relying on its gripping plot and taut dialogue proved to be a success. Helped by an excellent lighting plot, devised by Graham Weymouth of the Sutton Theatres, a well chosen musical background and fine performances by the three principals, the production was enthusiastically received by the audience during it’s weeks run.

Never was the expression “from the sublime to the ridiculous” more apt to describe the second production at the Charles Cryer. It was felt that – after ‘Agnes of God’ we needed something funny and something to bring in the audience – the latter not least from a financial point of view.

No-one is quite sure who suggested it, but it was finally agreed to present the stage version of the perennial TV success ‘Allo Allo’. This show required a large cast of eight men and four women, a piano player and a violinist (we put him in). Where were we going to find eight men? These are very hard to find on the amateur circuit at the best of times. There is a continually changing supply of costumes and uniforms (as at one time there were seven or eight Hitler’s on stage!) and thankfully with Mo’s knowledge she set to work. It required a formal set and it required – to mount it successfully – music and dance. Fortunately – and to her eternal credit – Clare, with her background of musicals, was able to step in to devise and direct the musical side of the production. Mo brilliantly undertook costumes and Denis directed the dialogue.

Lighting again proved very important and Jamie Wilson provided this with his creative lighting. The props list was astonishing and included - among other items – a blow up Hitler doll, a caged cockatoo and the famous sausage containing ‘the fallen Madonna with the big – etc etc’!

The script of ‘Allo Allo’ is baudy– almost of ‘Carry On’ proportions in places. To any actor prone to corpsing, the sight of Rene wrestling with a large sausage secreted on his trouser area and a rubber Hitler being inflated through his rear is testing the limits of restraint, but we managed.

The show proved to be a tremendous hit with the full houses it drew and was enjoyed by cast and audience alike. Perhaps – more importantly – it put CTC into contact with various actors and actresses who formed its talented cast.

For its third production CTC turned to the well established costume drama ‘The Heiress’ by Ruth and Augustus Goetz – an adaptation of Henry James’ famous novella ‘Washington Square’. The play had been successfully produced several times in London – perhaps the most notably – at its premiere at the Haymarket in 1949 with Ralph Richardson and Peggy Ashcroft. It had also been an Oscar winning film in the same year.

All three principals of CTC appeared in ‘The Heiress’. Clare in the demanding title role, Mo as the fluttering Aunt Penniman and Denis as the Father. Denis also directed. Barry – Clare’s husband – made his debut as the dissolute Morris Townsend. The set transformed the Charles Cryer Studio Theatre into an elaborate mid Victorian salon and we used the staircase through the auditorium as the access to the upper region of the house in Washington Square.

Marilyn Curtis’ piano playing during and between acts added beautifully to the atmosphere.

Furniture and properties appropriate to the period were produced from a variety of sources and another ingenious lighting plot, again by Jamie Wilson, helped to create the lamp-lit décor.

Because of the nature of the Charles Cryer the audience was within touching distance of the players.

Denis was particularly disturbed on his entrance at the matinee, to be greeted by what seemed loud snoring. As he opened the play, Denis felt this was a little premature, but it turned out to be nothing more then heavy breathing by a member of the audience in the front row. Never smoke on stage, if you don’t in real life is a wise maxim – demonstrated in ‘The Heiress’ by Denis who regularly, almost ignited his cravat in coping with a large cigar, which he proceeded to puff with all the qualities of a goldfish. So absorbed was he, that, one night instead of the line “You see how she is with young men” he substituted “young women”, which has a rather different connotation.

The plot of ‘The Heiress’ – as befits a master storyteller – held the audience and their enthusiastic reception confirmed another successful production.

CTC are always very grateful to all those who work hard behind the scenes CTC know only too well the show could not go on without them. They no doubt have had their own challenges and amusing incidents – as always it has been a pleasure working through these with such talented hard-working individuals.

CTC forth-coming production is ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ by Oscar Wilde, at the Charles Cryer Studio Theatre, Carshalton. Again, this will be presented with a bare set but it will be creatively dressed with hired, begged and borrowed furniture, props and costumes. All three founders of CTC will be performing with Clare as Gwendolen, Mo as Lady Bracknell and Denis as Chasuble and will include a well chosen talented cast. Barry (Clare’s husband) enjoyed himself so much in his first production with CTC that he has snatched the title role of ‘Earnest’, two of the ‘Allo Allo’ cast have returned and three of whom are new to CTC. Denis will be directing, with Clare assisting. CTC are looking forward to presenting this well-known comedy of manners from 24-28 May 2005 and it is sure to delight you all. Contact CTC box office on 020 8764 1626, tickets from £9. Visit our website.