When a few teachers got together in 1927 to discuss ways in which their pupils might be encouraged to take more of an interest in Shakespeare's plays, they probably little thought that the small enterprise they started would result, 90 years later, in the handsome and well equipped theatre that now graces Hampton Hill High Street.

What started as the performance of a few scenes from Twelfth Night soon developed into a fully-fledged drama group, performing, as most similar groups still do, in hired halls.  Over the years, as the group expanded and their reputation became established, it was the ambition of the club to find a home of its own rather than to rely on hired facilities that were often not ideal.  This is, of course, the aim of many similar clubs and more often than not it is an aim rarely achieved.  However, having survived, albeit in somewhat reduced circumstances, the ravages of war, in 1949 Teddington Theatre Club obtained the use of a hut adjoining Craig Hall in Teddington from the Council and there established a dynamic presence, building sets, rehearsing and performing many small scale studio shows, whilst continuing to hire local halls and York House for their major productions.

The desire for their own theatre, however, was always present, and in 1972 the club were given a long lease of the ballroom annexe of Hampton Court House which was converted into a theatre and became its permanent home for the next 25 years.  Those years saw many fine productions and the club went from strength to strength.  However, conscious that the premises were leased and that leases do come to an end, fund raising continued and a more permanent future home was always the ultimate aim of the club.

In the mid-1990s, the Council, owners of Hampton Court House, wished to sell the whole of the property and, in exchange for what remained of the lease we held on the ballroom annexe, agreed to give us a prominent site on Hampton Hill High Street on a long lease at a peppercorn rent on which we could build our very own theatre. 

Fund raising went into overdrive and we amassed enough to build the shell of the present theatre but not enough to fit it out.  A generous grant from the National Lottery and many donations from local businesses and individuals including a grant from the estate of Sir Noel Coward gave us the funds to complete the project, and the Hampton Hill Playhouse opened in 1998 with one or two pilot productions to be followed by a gala opening of a specially written play by Jimmie Chinn (a long-time member and professional playwright), The Garden Party in the presence of HRH Princess Alexandra. 

As a condition of Lottery funding and the establishment of TTC as a charity, we are always at pains to integrate what we do with the local community as much as possible.  The Playhouse (renamed Hampton Hill Theatre in 2015) has attracted many stage schools who hire its facilities for rehearsals and shows; many other local drama clubs also perform on its stage and in the studio theatre and the facilities are in constant use for meetings and receptions and other social functions by local residents and businesses, the hire income being an important revenue source to help in the upkeep of the building and to ensure that the technical facilities are updated on a regular basis.

It is not widely known that TTC owns and manages the Theatre on an entirely voluntary basis.
The Club is presenting its usual eclectic range of plays in this anniversary year, ranging from the dramatic and controversial to the lightest of French farces, culminating at Christmas with a production of Alan Bennett's adaptation of The Wind in the Willows. So we can allow ourselves a moment of pride in the achievements of the last 90 years, and look forward to a gala presentation in celebration, whilst we continue to thrive until 2027 when we are fully confident of an amazing centenary year.

Article supplied by Barry Hill