This amateur dramatic society was founded in Halesworth, Suffolk, in the year which gives it its name, and in our first 40 years we have established a long tradition of touring a varied and adventurous range of productions to towns and villages in the Blyth River valley area, from Southwold in the East to Laxfield in the West; northwards from Halesworth to Beccles and Bungay in the Waveney valley, and southwards to Framlingham.
  We take the stage in village halls and theatres and, on summer evenings, in pub gardens, on commons and (at Bungay) in castle ruins.
   The story of our first 40 years is presented in these pages, along with the second 40 years as they roll along: they began with our 2008 production of Great Expectations (cast pictured above) and Great Expectations of pleasure are what actors, producers and offstage teams work every year to sustain for ourselves and for our audiences.