The Original Facilities

In 1990, the 'Drama facilities' at Hymers College comprised of one half of a large classroom with a room divider separating the two halves.  The clear drama space had two walls of cupboard where the costumes hung.  Plays were performed in the school Dining Hall with sections of the floor removed to create a raked auditorium and the stage area had a removable curtain and lighting desk.  Annual productions of the school play and play competitions were performed there.  Drama was taught to Years 7 and 8, and to Year 12 as part of their General Studies programme.

Early plans for a theatre were something like this:

• In June 1993, the Headmaster asked me to put forward a plan for a presentation to a Governors' meeting in 3 days time, for a theatre incorporating the Memorial Hall being joined to the drama space currently occupying the end of the JCR block.
• The following term it was all change – for a theatre attached to the Sports Hall/Dining Hall and it would need to include Senior Common Room (SCR) facilities.
• Given the size of the project, the Governors acknowledged and agreed upon the need for professional advice.
• The bursar enlisted help from a theatre architect.  The Headmaster, Bursar and myself visited three schools with fine theatres and an initial plan was worked out.
• Several important requirements were agreed, including a well-equipped lighting/sound box at the back of the theatre; a stage and backstage area the same size as the auditorium; a door to access the Sports Hall from backstage to enable a large cast to change there; no windows because a theatre does not have windows; one single block of raked seating with a ‘folding’ capacity; a wooden floor; a full set of ‘blacks’; a basic set of lights, to be added in due course and a set of versatile platforms to create different levels.
• It was planned that toilet and changing facilities for the staff, in the same building, could be used by the performers, when necessary, in performance.

After much discussion over costs and necessities, building work on the project began early in 1994.  Completion date was set to be Summer 1995.  Apart from some problems with the weather, I know of no other major building issues.  The Topping-out Ceremony was held in the sparse and echoey staffroom-to-be in March 1995, and the major decoration work began during the Easter Holiday.  By late June, it was just about finished.

Opening of the Judi Dench Theatre

The Governors felt that the theatre should have an opening ceremony with a prominent contemporary theatrical doing the opening honours.  Judi Dench, a near local (from York) was suggested and when formally asked, was delighted to fit it into her schedule, but could we arrange her transport from York (where she would be staying with her brother) to Hull and back?

The date was set for 4th July and advertised as such in the Hull Daily Mail.  Perhaps fearing future hordes of theatregoers invading Hymers Avenue on performance nights, a local group of protestors was formed.  So Hymers representatives met with the action group and fears seemed to be allayed.

After some discussion, it was agreed that the opening ceremony would include an introduction to the proceedings (from one of the Governors, Richard Ashton), a welcome to Dame Judi (from Head of Drama, myself), a speech from her, then thanks offered by a pupil (Andrew Plaistowe, OH 1985-95).  After this, refreshments would be served in the Dining Hall, to be followed by a play, the very first to be performed in the new theatre.  I chose Tom Stoppard’s ‘Albert’s Bridge’.  He had written it for radio but I thought it would work well on the stage.  It had a dozen good parts and could show-piece the performing space, including the flies, and was about the right length.  It gave the Woodwork Department the opportunity to build a terrific set – a section of a cantilever trussed bridge no less.

The day of the opening went well.  Before the ceremony, sherry was provided in the Headmaster’s office for those immediately involved and their guests, with the Dame saying simply, ‘Call me Judi’.  As part of the initial proceedings in the Theatre, she read a W H Auden poem and proclaimed the Judi Dench Theatre open.  After this, she was formally thanked by Andrew Plaistowe and from him accepted a gift from the school.  In the Dining Hall, I suspect Judi ate frugally for she was chatting informally with so many admirers.  Her easy manner impressed all.

After the play – which was very well-received – Judi congratulated the cast and crew, particularly praising Tim Welburn (who played Albert, his first onstage role) and was happy to talk with them for some time.  She told a story of her having to cope (as a non-smoker) with lighting a cigarette in her new film, playing ‘M’ in ‘GoldenEye’.  It had not been easy for her.

Neil King (Head of English, OH Staff 1974-2006) had brought Judi from York to Hymers and I was to take her back to York.  At the time, I had a small Peugeot, which I had professionally valeted for this journey and when I opened the doors, I was dismayed to find that the seats were still slightly damp.  Kicking off her shoes, Judi said it didn’t matter at all.  I drove out of Hymers via the main exit, thus avoiding a cluster of local residents who were demonstrating with banners but not expecting the Dame to be leaving in a small (but sparkling) grey Peugeot 208!

Our journey to York was interrupted by the police, who stopped me on the Beverley by-pass.  Perhaps thinking I was inebriated, they wondered why I was driving so slowly.  I explained I was being extra careful as I had a precious passenger.  Judi laughed and was instantly recognised.  Suitably impressed, the copper allowed me to drive on without charge.  In fact, I was driving slowly to prolong this dream-like experience.  Judi later sent me comps to see her in ‘Absolute Hell’ at the National and afterwards to join her and husband, Michael Williams, backstage for champagne.

Judi bought a seat for the theatre in the name of her daughter – Finty Williams, which is still there today.

Post Theatre Opening

Having the Judi Dench Theatre brought significant changes to the School calendar and the Drama syllabus.  In the Autumn Term of 1995, it was now possible to begin the NEAB (later AQA) GCSE course in Year 10.  Drama continued to be taught in Years 7 and 8, now in the theatre, but the drama contribution to the Year12 General Studies course was discontinued.  Every May, there was a Shakespeare Day for Year 13 English students, when one on the set A Level English Literature Shakespeare plays was handled in an entirely dramatic way.

In 1995, a lunchtime Drama club began, mainly attended by Year 9 and below, running once a week through the year.  The theatre became a useful space for the annual Year 9 Arts Day, as it did for the School Charity Days, ending with two performances of The Staff Show.  In 2000, an AS level Drama course was added as an option for Year 12 students.

The School Play was scheduled for the Autumn Term (in late November).  The Play Competition – now scheduled for March, and owing to their popularity and increased numbers of submitted plays, split into Junior and Senior Competitions.

The adaptable auditorium seating enabled in-the-three-quarters staging ‘Oh, What a Lovely War!’ and removal of the first three rows made room for an orchestra ’pit’ for ‘Into the Woods’.

By the time I retired in 2007, there was sufficient interest in Drama for Hymers to appoint a full-time Head of Drama.

Richard Grayson, Former Head of Drama, OH Staff 1990-2007

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