Grand Theatre, Clapham

The Era, 19 May 1915, reviewed The Patriot, a recruiting sketch by Fredk. Lonsdale, produced at the Grand, Clapham, on Friday 14 May 1915: ‘Mr. Fredk. Lonsdale’s recruiting sketch produced at a special patriotic meeting at the Grand, Clapham, last week, is well conceived, and has some good dialogue, but it is too lengthy and somewhat faulty in construction. The scene is the morning room of a typically upper middleclass suburban family. The one son has applied for a commission, which he knows he will never get, and with the exception of the elder daughter, the other members of the family are hypocritically asking for something to do for their country. The learn that a “Tommy” is to be billeted on the, and the people so ready apparently to be useful are up in arms. However, the Tommy turns out to be a real live baronet, Sir John Coates, who has enlisted as a private. The eldest daughter and he become betrothed, the one son enlists, and the father promises to have houseful of “Tommies.” The sketch was well acted on the whole, especially good being Miss Dolly Hawkins’ delineation of the elder daughter, Mary, a sincere and convincing study. Mr H. Mordaunt Rogers and Miss Cecil Donnelly were characteristic as Mr. and Mrs. Collington, the mother and father, and Miss Hilda Barnes as Esther (the younger daughter), and Mr Nigel Charrington as Edward (the son), were satisfactory. Mrs. Percy Rogers gave a neat little study of Ellen (the cook), and Mr. Percy Rogers deserves praise for his acting as Private Coates’ (The Era, 19 May 1915). ‘Recruiting Meeting At The Grand. Mrs. Pankhurst paid a visit - the second within a short period - to the Grand Palace on Friday evening, and made an appeal for recruits to the 3rd Battalion 23rd County of London Regiment … At the call of the Mayor, a collection was made by the attendants engaged at the ball on behalf of the survivors of the Lusitania, and a very satisfactory response was made. The proceeds will be forwarded to the Lord Mayor of London’s Fund. A collection was also made of Mrs Pankhurst’s fund on behalf of war babies, and during the evening a special sketch, entitled “Patriot,” was presented by Mr. Percy Rogers’ (South Western Star, Friday 21 May 1915).

The Era, 29 November 1916, listed Gilbert Heron and company in Saved by Wireless in Calls for Monday 4 December at the Clapham Grand.

Duncan and Godfrey presenting "A Soldier, a Girl and a Jolly Jack Tar." (The Era - Wednesday 11 April 1917)

This performance (theatre and start date) is included in a list of forthcoming performances of “Married on Leave” in The Stage of Thursday 1 August 1918. Advertised in The Era, 23 October 1918, at the Grand Palace, Clapham Junction. The Stage of Thursday 31 October 1918 carried an advertisement for ‘Lew Lake’s Married on Leave by Dorothy Mullord’ which could be seen that week at the Grand, Clapham.

The Stage, 22 and 29 May 1919, listed Jolly Times as On Tour from 26 May at the Grand, Clapham.

Advertised in The Stage, 3 October 1929, and the South Western Star, 4 October 1929.