The Square Drama Circle, a volunteer-run theatrical company rooted in Dunstable since 1976, will stage its 150th production this September, bringing together the founders who first trod the boards 50 years ago alongside performers making their debuts with the group.
Founders return after five decades
Malcolm and Bridget Calvert, who set up the company at The Square Methodist Church and appeared in its inaugural show, The Patient in 4B, are preparing to perform together again as the company marks the milestone. The couple are the only members to have been continuously active throughout the group’s five decades of work.
Their involvement has become multi-generational. Their daughter, Tammy Bradley, grew up around the group, subsequently became involved herself and now chairs the company. Bradley also met her husband through the Square Drama Circle, demonstrating how the organisation has played a social as well as artistic role in the town.
Anniversary show and the company’s identity
The production chosen to mark production number 150 is a stage adaptation of the BBC sitcom Hi-de-Hi!, written for the theatre by Paul Carpenter and Ian Gower. The company says it wanted the anniversary to feel like a celebration rather than a formal commemoration, and selected a comedy that reflects the recurring character of humour within its repertoire.
The staging will be interactive: performers in the yellowcoat roles will move among the audience, and elements such as the camp radio desk and bar will extend into the wider performance space. Audience participation is planned, including the signature calls “Hi-de-hi!” and “Ho-de-ho!”.
“For production 150, Square wanted its anniversary to feel like a celebration rather than a formal commemoration.”
Volunteer-run and community-focused
Since its foundation at The Square Methodist Church, the drama group has mounted comedies, dramas, pantomimes, musicals and original pieces. Across its history the company estimates that around 200 performers and volunteers have taken part in its 150 productions. It continues to be run entirely by volunteers and stages two productions each year from its long-standing home.
The group’s recent output has also attracted recognition: four of the past five productions received award nominations, evidence of the quality the volunteers have sustained alongside the social and participatory aims of the company.
What this means for Dunstable
The Square Drama Circle’s milestone underlines the endurance of local cultural organisations in Dunstable and their capacity to bind generations. For audiences, the anniversary production promises a mix of nostalgia and fresh faces; for volunteers it is an opportunity to celebrate a pronounced record of continuity and community involvement.
Local arts organisations across the East of England face challenges such as securing venues, attracting volunteers and reaching new audiences. The Square Drama Circle’s model — volunteer-led, rooted in a religious community space, and organising two shows a year — offers one example of how a small company can sustain itself over the long term.
- Founded: 1976 at The Square Methodist Church, Dunstable
- Milestone: 150th production in September
- Participation: c. 200 performers and volunteers over five decades
- Output: Two productions staged each year
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founders still active | Malcolm and Bridget Calvert — continuous involvement since 1976 |
| Chair | Tammy Bradley (daughter of founders) |
| Recent recognition | 4 of last 5 productions received award nominations |
As the company prepares to welcome audiences back this autumn, its history offers a reminder that local cultural life often depends on the steady commitment of volunteers and the willingness of townspeople to share time, craft and stories. Whether audiences come for nostalgia, to support local theatre or to see new performers, the 150th production will be a marker of how community arts endure in Dunstable.
