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 Martins
Bank Society of the Arts – Drama Section in: The Sixth Hour by Wilfred
Grantham
Staged:
12 December 1946 in the Little Theatre at Head Office Water Street Liverpool
The Sixth Hour is one of the first plays staged by the Society
of the Arts Drama Section for which we have a review and a photograph. In
fact they put on a total of FOUR plays in 1946, two of which are covered by Martins Bank Magazine, and we
are not sure why the other two are not mentioned. The Sixth Hour and Drama at
Childwell Bottom are both performed to an audience of fellow society members
and other Bank Staff at Head Office on the evening of 12 December 1946.
Martins Bank Magazine questions whether or not a religious
play is the right thing for an amateur group to perform, but goes on to
generally praise the production, which sees an audience of one hundred and
twenty crammed into the small basement theatre. Among them is Mr Verity –
Deputy Chief General Manager of the Bank – his wife and family, so there must
have been an extra air of nervousness amongst the players as they tried to
put across the sorrow of Judas shortly after the death of Jesus. They had also already presented the play to
the Irby Drama Festival, and earned excellent reviews. It seems the Drama
Section are definitely going places!
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 A religious
play is a difficult proposition for an amateur company to present
successfully. It has to be done well, and in tackling “ The Sixth Hour,” by
Wilfrid Grantham, the Drama Section produced the most ambitious play it has
so far attempted. The players succeeded magnificently and the performances,
first at the Irby Drama Festival where it earned high praise, and then in
the little theatre at Head Office, were most impressive. The play depicts
the remorse of Judas a few hours after the Crucifixion, and this character
was played by Sydney Rimmer (manager, Charing Cress branch, Bitkenhead),
who was also the producer. Sydney Rimmcr’s reputation on Merseyside as an
amateur actor is only second to his reputation as a producer, and in this
difficult role he laid a spell on his audience.
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Desmond West, Bill Brookes, Sydney Rimmer,
Maureen Dempster and Audrey Wall Jones.
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Desmond
West (Claughton Village branch) played convincingly as Caiaphas and Maureen
Dempster (Heywoods) as Leah, the shrewish wife of Judas, gave a most
talented performance. Audrey Wall Jones (Birkenhead) as Sarah, priestess of
the Temple, played her seductive role with warmth, though passion rather
than restraint might have made her portrayal even better. Bill Brookes
(Central) as the street seller gave us a delightful thumbnail sketch
illustrating his versatility in yet another field. The audience, over 120,
was the largest we have yet had and conditions in the Music Room were
uncomfortably hot and overcrowded. Still, out of evil comes good, and it
seems likely that we may be lucky enough, through the kindness of
supporters, to acquire the use of a more commodious place for our next
production. We were glad to welcome Mr. and Mrs. Verity and their family on
this occasion.
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 M
Sep3M x
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