Our History

Founded in 1951, ASDS performed, for its first twenty years, at the hall of its mother church on Oxford Avenue. After losing their first home through arson in 1971, they moved theatres several times before settling, in 1996, at the De La Salle Theatre, at St Peter’s School, where they performed until 2022 before changing to using a variety venues to continue to provide amateur theatre with professional values and standards, consistently delighting and impressing audiences and critics alike.

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As well as our customary two plays and a musical or pantomime, and along with their Friends’ Evenings, 'Friends' also enjoy the Society’s free annual Christmas Concert at All Saints’ Church, a long-established tradition.

Many members are Southbourne-born and –bred and/or live locally, including some third and fourth generation members. Membership is open to those aged 16 and above, while members’ younger children (and grandchildren) usually provide the junior chorus for musicals or pantos. The Society meets and rehearses on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, in addition to which there is a lively and varied programme of social activities, including theatre trips.

There is a strong spirit of teamwork: no one just acts or directs but it is part of the spirit of the Society that every member contributes to all aspects of our annual programme of productions, including in backstage and technical roles and helping front of house - definitely no room here for prima donnasand all members are welcome - indeed, encouraged - to sit in on and watch all auditions.

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The well-being of the Society is overseen by three elected Trustees who ensure that its running is consistent with its written constitution. The day-to-day management of the Society is in the hands of a Committee of eight elected members: four officers (Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary) elected every two years and four further members elected annually.

Onstage, quality is at the heart of our productions; offstage, we are a very friendly and welcoming society with a lively social life.

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(Chairman, All Saints’ Dramatic Society)