3,000 MILES WITH L \TELLING THEATRE.
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Making Use of the Motor Vehicle for the Tr The Recent Completion of a Length Dramatic Touring Company and Its Effects. Scotland and the North of England.
ALTHOUGH there may still be much in the life of the average town-dweller which offers a peculiar attraction for those whose activities are circumscribed by the amenities of rural existence, one cannot fail to have noticed the astounding difference which modern transport—as represented by the motor vehicle in its many guises—has wrought in the everyday lives of people in the. country. Until recent years most rural districts, and particularly those unserved by the railway, were virtually cut off from the outside world for many days at a stretch, With the exception that they received their domestic and other supplies needed for the well-being of their scattered populace at intervals of a week or more, they were, more or less, isolated. •
he advent of the motor vehicle, however, has entirely changed the outdook of rural inhabitants who are now able to enjoy many of the benefits and attrac-tams which were hitherto the special privilege of townsfolk. Moreover, not only is the motor vehicle inseparable from the workaday lives of these people, but also does it play its part in enabling them more readily to seek relaxation from the cares and worries of business affairs.
Before and After—The Inconveniences of Road Travel.
Many instances are available in support of this statement, and are there not a 'number of motorbus and coach proprietors who now run regular services for the benefit of country people who are desirous of visiting the theatre or other places of amusement in the adjacent large towns and cities? Those who seek pleasure in this way may be involved in lengthy journeys, which are pleasant enough in the summer months but which are extremely tedious in the dull and dismal days of late autumn and winter.
Moreover, much as the outgoing trip may be enjoyed, the •home-coming often engenders a feeling of Is it worth while? "—which ultimately induces all but the most ardent enthusiasts to limit the frequency of their pleasure-seeking excursions.
It is, of course, perfectly obvious that, if residents in rural areas are not disposed to seek their pleastire far from their native heaths, then the means of providing entertainment must be taken to them. It is the old, old story of Mohtunet and the Mountain over again.
The average small town or village may boast an unpretentious cinema theatre, but other than this it is usually sadly deficient in facilities for providing good-class entertainment, although it may possess suitable halls where such performances can be given.
It is here that the travelling theatre, in which suitable provision is made for carrying a small company of artistes, as well as equipment, possesses distinct possibilities. This suggests a unique employment for the motor vehicle, although one which is not entirely new.
It was in 1919 that the officials of the Arts League of Service' whose offices are at 1, Robert Street, Adelphi, London, W.C.2, first conceived the idea of a mobile theatre for the furtherance of the objects of the League. Before proceeding, we should mention that the worthy objects of the Arts League of Service is to bring the arts into everyday life, for which purpose drama, dance, and music are presented, and lee. bares and exhibitions.held, all over the country. To assist this end, a dramatic touring company was formed. This company, which consists of experienced professional actors and actresses, travels in its own motor vehicle, which has been specially built for the purpose.
The dramatic company conducted its first tour in 1919, when a fortnight's itinerary was arranged amongst a number of Sussex. villages. On this occasion a Daimler statiou-wagonette, lent by Muriel Countess de la Warr (one of the treasurers of the League), was used. A second venture, also a tour in the South of.England, was made in a Ford ton truck, the property of the Y.M.C.A.
After the completion of this tour, requests for visits poured in so rapidly that the Arts League of Service decided to acquire a, vehicle of its own, and accordingly a Crossley 1-ton tender was purchased. This vehicle performed faithfully until 1922, when— the work having grown to such dimensions, and the props, costumes, etc. having swelled the bulk and weight of essentials to be carried beyond the capacity of the Crossley—a special vehicle was bought. Before leaving the Crossley a characteristic incident may be told. When after many tours, it became evident that the vehicle could not be used for another tour, without some sort of a general " clean-up," which was beyond the financial resources of the company, members of the touring party gave up their holidays to repainting the chassis and body and generally improving the appearance ; and very proud of their work were they when the subsequent tour was started.
The latest vehicle comprises a short standard reconditioned Z-type Lancia chassis, 1918-1919 series, fitted with a special type of body designed by Messrs. Alldays Motors, of 78, Jermyn Street, St. James's, London S.W. So far, this vehicle, has done remarkable work, and it has recently returned from a successful 12-week tour in Scotland and the North of England.
The Construction of the Two-compartment Body.
We will give a short description of the body fitted to the Lancia chassis, which enables proscenium, baggage, stage props and numerous costumes to be readily transported, as well as 10 members of the company conveniently to be carried. As a matter of fact, on the recently completed Scottish tour separate costumes for nine plays and about 20 smaller items were transported, so that it is obvious that wellthought-out arrangements have been incorporated in the design of the body. The general (resign of tee travelling theatre can be se,en from several of our illustrations on the previous page. The body is of the two-compartment type, in which definite space is set aside for the accommodation of passengers and of baggage. The passenger comport,. inent is immediately to the rear of the driver's cabin, through .which access to it is gained by way of a hinged seat. Accommodation in the passengers' department is provided for six people, the seats being arranged in a semi-circle and being provided with deep spring cushions and squabs, which are well upholstered. Three additional passengers are carried on the near side of the driver, so that the full complement is brought up to ten. The passenger compartment is provided with two sliding plate-glass windows, which run in Becklethwaite channels.
The rear portion of the vehicle is constructed in the form of an ordinary lorry, having a let-down tailboard with the necessary supporting chain and two canvas curtains in position above it.
Below the lorry body floor, and also that of the passenger compartment (both of which in reality are false floors), there is a further space, in which accommodation is arranged for the proscenium, long ladders and battens, and other theatre impedimenta
carried by the fravelling party. This compartment is 12 ins. high,. 5 ft. 6 ins.wide, and extends the entire length of the body, and is provided with a hinged flap at the rear, which enables the party's effects easily to be loaded and unloaded.
Additional accommodation for luggage is provided above the passenger section, which has a roof rail. The space below the driver's seat is used, for the housing of tools, and a spare wheel is carried in a special bracket on the off side. The members of the Arts League of Service dramatic touring company have found that the vehicle is •a great boon when undertaking long journeys, the speed and springing of the' Lancia commercial chassis being, to all intents and purposes, similar to that of a high-powered touring car.
On the recent, 12-week tour about 40,000 people witnessed the performances of the touring company. and everywhere they were Most appreciated. In fact so much so, that most of the places visited are asking for two, performances nightly instead of one on a return visit which is being arranged for the autumn of this year. . • On the last 'tour a distance of 3,000 miles was covered, and no mechanical breakdown et' any description was experienced. The Scottish road surfaces in some places. are notoriously severe, and it B34
says a great deal for the Michelin Cable covers; Which are fitted, that the only tyre trouble encountered was with a valve, despite the fact that a high rate of speed (30-35 m.p.h. was often averaged) was maintained and a heavy load carried. The journey commenced late in. September and was completed just previous to the Christmas holidays. The itinerary began at Hawes, extending so far north as Pitlochry, Alaerfeldy and .Kirriemuir, and finished at Altrincham and Cheadle Hulme, nearly 50 places in all figuring on the list.
As we have already said, invitations for return visits have been received, from all those places previously visited, and now requests have come in from so far north as Inverness and Aberdeen, and it remains now to be seen whether they can be fitted in with the numerous demands which are beiag made from many towns and villages ia England.
As the whole of the work of erecting the theatre scenery, unloading the vehicle previous to a performance, and reloading it after the completion of the entertainment is done by the members of the company and takes some time, it is obviously most essential for them to he in possession of a reliable vehicle, as any delay in arriving at a place would mean .a long wait for the audience and a possible shortening of the programme. It is the proud boast of the Arts League of Service dramatic touring company that it has never disappointed an audience, and to this ..end tha Lancia, with its reliable and effi• eicpt running, has most faithfully contributed.
During the Scottish tour there were many occasions in rural areas when no shed or barn could be found high enough-to accommodate the Lancia travelling theatre, and he car had to stand the night in the open, protected in a very meagre fashion.
To enable some indication of the satisfaction which has been derived from the Lancia, theatre to be gathered, we would mention that it, made light of all the hills which were encountered on the Scottish tour, and that the last section of the tour—from Manchester to London—wasaccomplished, with a ftt:1 equipment of passengers and baggage, in eight hours without trouble of any deserintion. The average fuel consumption of the vehicle has 'proved to be about one gallon for 10-12 miles' running.
It should be added that the Arts League of Service' is not a business undertaking at all, although an endeavour is made to run it in a businesslike manner so far as possible. The League has a membership of nearly 400.
The itineraries for the tours of the dramatic company and its travelling theatre are built up from letters of application received by the League from people all over the country, and the League has to arrange them in groups, according to counties.
In connection with all performances the Leigue makes arrangements with local organizers for a guarantee to cover risks: By this means it is possible for the League to pay its way, although it is
not a profit-making society