Many years ago the Women’s Institute Drama Group in Halesworth began to win prizes. Their enthusiasm and a taste for ‘the stage’ encouraged the group to form Halesworth’s first amateur dramatic society in 1967. The prime mover in its foundation was Jo Stone, wife of the then headmaster of Halesworth Modern School; it was named just ‘Circle 67,’ and for some years was based at what is now the Middle School.
Among the founder members were Jennifer Dickson, Alan Deering, Helen Holmes and Robin Westmacott. The first person to honour us as president was Charlie Vanstone; he was followed successively by ‘Nick’ Nicholls, Ruth Nicholls, Dr Michael Dickson and, in 2010, the current president Peter Lewis.
Subsequently we performed most frequently at the Halesworth Rifle Hall, but we soon began to tour productions around a wide variety of local village halls and other venues.
In 1983 we began the annual summer open-air tour of pub gardens which continues as the ‘Shorter Shakespeare’ series, and at Christmas 2003 gave our first performance at ‘The Cut’, Halesworth’s newly opened and splendid theatre and arts complex.
Since the late nineties Circle 67 has established a base at Bramfield Village Hall, this is where regular rehearsals take place and is where our costumes are stored.
