CAPRIAN THEATRE COMPANY

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INTRODUCTION TO THE COMPANY

The Caprian Theatre Company is based in Gateshead in the North East of England.

Formed in 1964 by a group of enthusiasts, we produced our first musical play, Salad Days (by Sandy Wilson) in 1965. The chosen venue for this production was the Gateshead Little Theatre, the only purpose built theatre in Gateshead. To this day the majority of our musical productions have been performed in this venue.

The Caprians are affiliated to the National Operatic and Dramatic Association, NODA, and due to their geographic location are assigned to its Northern Area.

National Operatic & Dramatic Association

Many of our musical productions are claimed to be Northern Premier productions, being the first time that the shows were presented by amateurs in the NODA Northern Area. It was always intended that musical productions (although not a constitutional requirement) would wherever possible be chosen from the list of shows which were suitable for a small cast and venue and not from the list of popular shows so often presented by the other larger Societies in the area. This principle has always been adhered to, although some of the shows that were produced eventually became popular enough for the other larger Societies to present.

The Company is affiliated to the Gateshead Arts Association, an arts umbrella body representing the interests of performing, visual and literary arts organisations within the Borough of Gateshead.

Our first pantomime presentation was Aladdin in 1967 at the Little Theatre. Three more pantomimes were to be presented here until it was realised that the venue was too small for such productions. Seating capacity was not enough to satisfy the demand by our patrons and with such a small capacity it was difficult to recover costs with the subsequent risk of running a show at a financial loss.

The larger venue of (the now demolished) Heathfield Senior High School was the venue for our first production outside of the Little Theatre, this being Red Riding Hood in 1972. Since then, all pantomime productions have taken place at the Dryden Centre (originally the GatesheadGirlsGrammar School).

 Follow this link for further information on the Caprian committee structure.

One of the objectives contained in our constitution is to raise funds for charitable purposes. We have made contributions to many charities over the years, not only by way of direct financial assistance but also by allowing discounts on ticket prices and performing concerts when requested directly in aid of specific charities. Whenever possible such assistance is directed at charities within our local area in return for the support of the local people who make up our audiences. Nationally based charities do however receive assistance where this is considered appropriate.

What's in a name?

There have been a number of different symbols used to represent the town of Gateshead over the years.  The most obvious one is that of a goat's head, from which the town is supposed to take it's name.  The reason for the goat's head is not clear.  Until the 1830s, the coat of arms comprised a goat's head within a shield, with a goat's head perched on top.  From the 1830s, a new design appeared with the head within the shield replaced by a gate tower.  From the mid 19th Century, a motto "caput inter nubila condit" (its head is hidden in the clouds) was added.  The motto is taken from a section in Virgil's Aeniad concerning the effect of rumour - a curious passage to use for a town motto.  The coat of arms was unofficial and varied slightly until the 1930s, when the Court of Heralds embellished and standarised it.  In 1974, the old Gateshead Council was incorporated into a new Metropolitan Borough, with a new symbol made up of portcullis and helmet.  This has been changed variously since, to the most recent Gateshead Council 'swoosh' logo.

A goat's head is also incorporated in the emblem of the former Gateshead Grammar School.

In 1953, a group of people from the Grammar School formed a choir.  The name of the choir was THE CAPRIANS, chosen because of the link between the school and the goat's head used in its emblem.  The 10th sign of the zodiac is Capricorn (the goat) and the name Caprian is a derivation of this.

Some of the choir members decided in 1964 to form an Operatic Society for the purpose of presenting their first musical production, Salad Days by Sandy Wilson.  It was decided to retain the link with the school and the name CAPRIAN AMATEUR OPERATIC AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY was chosen.

The Society logo was design in the 1990s by our then secretary, feeling it appropriate to a goat's head in the design, reatining the link to the Caprian title and it's origin.

The Society formally changed it's name to the CAPRIAN THEATRE COMPANY in 2006.

capriantheatrecompany@blueyonder.co.uk

Page updated on 04 Dec 08