The Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society - Revision history

FHODSArchive: /* Founding: The Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club (1902) */

2026-06-16T19:54:03Z

Founding: The Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club (1902)

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:54, 16 June 2026
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	The society was founded in 1902 as the '''Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club''', performing at the [[Woodward Institute]] in Folkestone. In 1913 it was renamed the '''Folkestone Operatic Society''', with operatic productions moving to the [[Pleasure Gardens Theatre]] — a venue that had first opened in 1851 and became the society's home for large-scale work.		The society was founded in 1902 as the '''Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club''', performing at the [[Woodward Institute]] in Folkestone. In 1913 it was renamed the '''Folkestone Operatic Society''', with operatic productions moving to the [[Pleasure Gardens Theatre]] — a venue that had first opened in 1851 and became the society's home for large-scale work.

	The society closed for the duration of [[World War I]] (1914–1918), then resumed productions until the outbreak of [[World War II]] (1939–1945), when it closed once more.		The society closed for the duration of World War I (1914–1918), then resumed productions until the outbreak of World War II (1939–1945), when it closed once more.

	===Post-war expansion (1947)===		===Post-war expansion (1947)===

FHODSArchive at 19:52, 16 June 2026

2026-06-16T19:52:39Z

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	<div class="fhods-crew-block">		<div class="fhods-crew-block">
	<div		<div class="fhods-crew-group-label fhods-crew-group-first">Get Involved</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-row">
			<div class="fhods-crew-role">Membership</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-name">[https://towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk/fhods/membership/ towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk/fhods/membership]</div>
			</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-row">
			<div class="fhods-crew-role">Front of House</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-name">Contact Joanne Pearce at [mailto:foh@towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk foh@towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk]</div>
			</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-row">
			<div class="fhods-crew-role">Archive enquiries</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-name">Contact [[Gary Ingoldby-Spate]] at [mailto:gary@towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk gary@towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk]</div>
			</div>
			</div>

			{{FHODS Section\|Former Venues}}

			<div class="fhods-crew-block">
			<div class="fhods-crew-group-label fhods-crew-group-first">Venues used by FHODS</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-row">
			<div class="fhods-crew-role">1902–1914</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-name">[[Woodward Institute]], Folkestone</div>
			</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-row">
			<div class="fhods-crew-role">1902–1960s</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-name">[[Pleasure Gardens Theatre]], Folkestone (operatic productions)</div>
			</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-row">
			<div class="fhods-crew-role">Various</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-name">[[Leas Pavilion Theatre]], [[Folkestone Town Hall]], [[Chichester Hall]] Sandgate</div>
			</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-row">
			<div class="fhods-crew-role">1952–1963</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-name">[[Ham Yard Theatre]], Church Street, Folkestone (57 seats · 114 productions)</div>
			</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-row">
			<div class="fhods-crew-role">1963–2001</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-name">[[The Little Theatre]], Sandgate (104 seats)</div>
			</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-row">
			<div class="fhods-crew-role">1975–late 1990s</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-name">[[Leas Cliff Hall]], Folkestone (pantomimes)</div>
			</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-row">
			<div class="fhods-crew-role">2001–present</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-name">[[The Tower Theatre]], North Road, Folkestone (Grade II listed · owned by FHODS)</div>
			</div>
			</div>

			{{FHODS Section\|External Links}}

			<div class="fhods-crew-block">
			<div class="fhods-crew-group-label fhods-crew-group-first">Links</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-row">
			<div class="fhods-crew-role">FHODS website</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-name">[https://towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk/fhods/ towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk/fhods]</div>
			</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-row">
			<div class="fhods-crew-role">The Tower Theatre</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-name">[https://www.towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk]</div>
			</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-row">
			<div class="fhods-crew-role">FHODS Archive</div>
			<div class="fhods-crew-name">[https://fhods-archive.co.uk fhods-archive.co.uk]</div>
			</div>
			</div>

			[[Category:FHODS]]

FHODSArchive at 19:51, 16 June 2026

2026-06-16T19:51:59Z

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	<div class="fhods-crew-row">		<div class="fhods-crew-row">
	<div class="fhods-crew-role">All years</div>		<div class="fhods-crew-role">All years</div>
	<div class="fhods-crew-name">[[Category:Productions\|Browse the full productions archive]]</div>		<div class="fhods-crew-name">[[:Category:Productions\|Browse the full productions archive]]</div>
	</div>		</div>
	</div>		</div>

FHODSArchive at 19:51, 16 June 2026

2026-06-16T19:51:28Z

Show changes

FHODSArchive: /* Founding: the Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club (1902) */

2026-06-10T23:26:00Z

Founding: the Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club (1902)

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:26, 10 June 2026
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	== History ==		== History ==

	=== Founding: ~~the~~ Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club (1902) ===		=== Founding: The Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club (1902) ===

	The society was founded in 1902 as the '''Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club''', performing at the [[Woodward Institute]] in Folkestone. In 1913 it was renamed the '''Folkestone Operatic Society''', with operatic productions moving to the [[Pleasure Gardens Theatre]] — a venue that had first opened in 1851 and became the society's home for large-scale work.		The society was founded in 1902 as the '''Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club''', performing at the [[Woodward Institute]] in Folkestone. In 1913 it was renamed the '''Folkestone Operatic Society''', with operatic productions moving to the [[Pleasure Gardens Theatre]] — a venue that had first opened in 1851 and became the society's home for large-scale work.

FHODSArchive: /* The Little Theatre, Sandgate (1963–2001) */

2026-06-10T23:24:59Z

The Little Theatre, Sandgate (1963–2001)

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	=== The Little Theatre, Sandgate (1963–2001) ===		=== The Little Theatre, Sandgate (1963–2001) ===

	In 1963 FHODS acquired a former church in Sandgate and converted it into the 104-seat Little Theatre, Sandgate, which became the society's primary home through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The pantomime tradition, established in 1975, was initially performed at the Leas Pavilion Theatre before transferring to the Leas Cliff Hall, where it ran for over two decades. Having outgrown the Sandgate site, FHODS began looking for larger premises.		In 1963 FHODS acquired a former church in Sandgate and converted it into the 104-seat [[Little Theatre]], Sandgate, which became the society's primary home through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The pantomime tradition, established in 1975, was initially performed at the Leas Pavilion Theatre before transferring to the [[Leas Cliff Hall]], where it ran for over two decades. Having outgrown the Sandgate site, FHODS began looking for larger premises.

	=== The Tower Theatre (2001–present) ===		=== The Tower Theatre (2001–present) ===

FHODSArchive: /* Ham Yard Theatre (1952–1963) */

2026-06-10T23:24:34Z

Ham Yard Theatre (1952–1963)

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	=== Ham Yard Theatre (1952–1963) ===		=== Ham Yard Theatre (1952–1963) ===

	In 1952 FHODS acquired part of the Queen's Hotel annexe in Church Street, Folkestone, and developed it into the 57-seat Ham Yard Theatre — the society's first dedicated home for dramatic productions. Over the following years FHODS staged 114 productions there.		In 1952 FHODS acquired part of the Queen's Hotel annexe in Church Street, Folkestone, and developed it into the 57-seat [[Ham Yard Theatre]] — the society's first dedicated home for dramatic productions. Over the following years FHODS staged 114 productions there.

	The closure and eventual demolition of the Pleasure Gardens Theatre in the 1960s brought an end to that chapter of the society's operatic history. Large-scale productions subsequently moved to other venues, including the Odeon and the Ritz in Hythe.		The closure and eventual demolition of the Pleasure Gardens Theatre in the 1960s brought an end to that chapter of the society's operatic history. Large-scale productions subsequently moved to other venues, including the [[Odeon]] and the [[Ritz Cinema\|Ritz]] in Hythe.

	=== The Little Theatre, Sandgate (1963–2001) ===		=== The Little Theatre, Sandgate (1963–2001) ===

FHODSArchive: /* Post-war expansion (1947) */

2026-06-10T23:23:43Z

Post-war expansion (1947)

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:23, 10 June 2026
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	=== Post-war expansion (1947) ===		=== Post-war expansion (1947) ===

	The society resumed after the war and in 1947 added "Hythe" to its name, becoming the '''Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society''', reflecting its growing regional membership. Productions in this period were spread across several venues: operatic work continued at the Pleasure Gardens Theatre, while dramatic productions were staged at the Leas Pavilion Theatre, Folkestone Town Hall, and Chichester Hall in Sandgate.		The society resumed after the war and in 1947 added "Hythe" to its name, becoming the '''Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society''', reflecting its growing regional membership. Productions in this period were spread across several venues: operatic work continued at the Pleasure Gardens Theatre, while dramatic productions were staged at the [[Leas Pavilion Theatre]], [[Folkestone Town Hall]], and [[Chichester Hall]] in Sandgate.

	=== Ham Yard Theatre (1952–1963) ===		=== Ham Yard Theatre (1952–1963) ===

FHODSArchive: /* Founding: the Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club (1902) */

2026-06-10T23:23:18Z

Founding: the Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club (1902)

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:23, 10 June 2026
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	=== Founding: the Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club (1902) ===		=== Founding: the Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club (1902) ===

	The society was founded in 1902 as the '''Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club''', performing at the [[Woodward Institute]] in Folkestone. In 1913 it was renamed the '''Folkestone Operatic Society''', with operatic productions moving to the Pleasure Gardens Theatre — a venue that had first opened in 1851 and became the society's home for large-scale work.		The society was founded in 1902 as the '''Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club''', performing at the [[Woodward Institute]] in Folkestone. In 1913 it was renamed the '''Folkestone Operatic Society''', with operatic productions moving to the [[Pleasure Gardens Theatre]] — a venue that had first opened in 1851 and became the society's home for large-scale work.

	The society closed for the duration of World War I (1914–1918), then resumed productions until the outbreak of World War II (1939–1945), when it closed once more.		The society closed for the duration of World War I (1914–1918), then resumed productions until the outbreak of World War II (1939–1945), when it closed once more.

FHODSArchive: /* Founding: the Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club (1902) */

2026-06-10T23:23:00Z

Founding: the Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club (1902)

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:23, 10 June 2026
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	=== Founding: the Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club (1902) ===		=== Founding: the Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club (1902) ===

	The society was founded in 1902 as the '''Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club''', performing at the Woodward Institute in Folkestone. In 1913 it was renamed the '''Folkestone Operatic Society''', with operatic productions moving to the Pleasure Gardens Theatre — a venue that had first opened in 1851 and became the society's home for large-scale work.		The society was founded in 1902 as the '''Folkestone Dramatic & Music Club''', performing at the [[Woodward Institute]] in Folkestone. In 1913 it was renamed the '''Folkestone Operatic Society''', with operatic productions moving to the Pleasure Gardens Theatre — a venue that had first opened in 1851 and became the society's home for large-scale work.

	The society closed for the duration of World War I (1914–1918), then resumed productions until the outbreak of World War II (1939–1945), when it closed once more.		The society closed for the duration of World War I (1914–1918), then resumed productions until the outbreak of World War II (1939–1945), when it closed once more.