The Gables, Surbiton

This was a one-off performance for soldiers which took place ‘In the cosy theatre of The Gables, Surbiton, kindly lent by Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Boret' (Surrey Advertiser 4 August 1917), on Tuesday 31 July. Two performances were given, in the afternoon and evening, in aid of the Woman’s Theatre Camps’ Entertainments, an organisation which since its inauguration in November 1914, had given about a thousand entertainments in camps, army huts and hospitals both at the front and at home. Unfortunately, the wet weather impacted on attendances. Among those contributing to the programmes were Mr. Ben Webster and Miss May Whitty in duologue: Mr. Harry Russon, the entertainer: Miss Inez Bensusan. Miss Evelyn Welsh-Hail and Miss Shirley King, in the humorous war sketch, A Bit of Blighty: Miss Nellie Ganthony (humorous sketches at the piano), Miss Christine Hawkes (English concertina), Mrs. Saba Raleigh and Mr. Alfred Barber (monologues), Miss Margaret Bussé (recitations), Miss Margaret Ismay (songs), Miss Gladys van der Beeck and Miss Christine Hawkes (duets for concertina and voice), Miss Helen Mar (the American storyteller), and Miss Zenie Whitehill (at the piano).