The Swan Theatre Company can trace its origins back to the 1940’s when members of the Bradgate Tennis Club wanted something to keep them occupied during the winter months. It has always been known for tackling the occasional ‘difficult’ play but at that time a policy was established to produce not only new plays but also those more challenging. That often led to an interesting season artistically if not financially.
During the sixties and seventies the group held rehearsals in "the hut" on Linden Road, Bedford. From these sparse premises came a wide variety of productions from "Toad of Toad Hall" (1968) through "The Crucible" (1967 &1973) to "Macbeth" (1975) and "The Merchant of Venice" (1979). There followed a period of rehearsals in Bennett's Works, (now the museum), before Bedford Dramatic Club and the Bradgate Players took up residence in the old Allen Park pavilion. The ill wind, (or careless firework), which destroyed the pavilion in 1983, left both groups temporarily homeless until the formation of The Bedford Players. In 1986, a number of the local groups got together and acquired some land from the Borough Council and surplus temporary classrooms from the County Council to create rehearsal and storage space. These buildings were already well beyond their useful life but they lasted another 10 years or so.
The renaming of the company came from a desire to change artistic direction and to inject a fresh input to the local theatrical scene. The newly named company aims to produce quality and exciting theatre and specialises in recent West End successes but also endeavors to present a balanced programme catering for all tastes and ages.
When the opening of The Place Bedford was first announced in 2001, Swan Theatre Company (click on the link for the original launch article for the Swan) were one of the first groups to commit to using the venue giving Bedford Players Trust, the arts trust which established The Place, the confidence to proceed with the venture. Swan’s production of ‘A Day in the Death of Joe Egg’ was the first full scale production at the Place in January 2003, and many exciting and challenging productions have followed includingRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Miss Julie, Talking Head, and Journeys End to name but a few. The Place, being a very flexible space, has enabled the Company to continue its policy of new and challenging productions presented in as a professional way as possible.
As a club, Swan are always looking for new members to get involved in any aspect. Interested people should contact the Chairman chairman@swantheatrecompany.com