The South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA) is the regional film archive for the South West of England. Established in 1993, SWFTA's core collection comprises of the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and TSW (Television South West). The archive also cares for a significant number of donated film collections, both amateur and professional, dating back to the early 1900s.
This film is part of Free
Exmouth Players
The Exmouth Players open to a full house.
From the collection of:
Overview
The Exmouth Players open the world premiere of R.F. Delderfield’s comedy Once Aboard the Lugger. The playwright Delderfield is interviewed and champions what is known a ‘rep’ or repertory theatre and this piece was written to tour the regions. If plays were shown in the West End or on Broadway the rights would have to be released and small companies could then buy the rights in order to perform the play. The Players started in 1928 and are resident at the Blackmore Theatre.
Rep depends on the same group of actors drawing on a alternating repertoire of plays, classical and new. The last time the Exmouth Pavilion was sold out for the Players was in 1946 for Ronnie’s Worm’s Eye View also penned by Delderfeld and starring comedian Ronnie Shiner (1903-1966). Ronnie’s reference in this interview to the common market, precursor to the European Union’s single market, is timely “This is what the French are going to do to us - they might come over ‘ere in motor boats and pinch all the lobsters and things”. Ronnie Shiner appeared alongside Flanagan and Allen in his first film Wild Boy (1934). He appeared on stage in Worm’s Eye View from 1945 to 1947 giving over 1,700 performances.
Related
Watch for free
Exmouth Carnival Exmouth Carnival
Current affairs 1978 2 mins Silent Location: Exmouth
Floats of fancy as the townspeople of Exmouth parade for the annual carnival.
Watch for free
Friend of the Little Tortoises Friend of the Little Tortoises
Current affairs 1961 5 mins Location: Exmouth
Kay Gray of Exmouth is interviewed about her campaign to stop the transportation of tortoises.
Watch for free
The Way to the West The Way to the West
Travelogue 1947 17 mins Silent Location: Cheddar Gorge
Hitchcock went the wrong way! Head south by southwest with this travelogue from Bath to Cornwall.
Watch for free
Exmouth Lifeboat Launch Exmouth Lifeboat Launch
News 1961 0 mins Silent Location: Exmouth
RNLI crew launches its lifeboat in the Exe estuary.
Watch for free
Australian Women’s Cricket Team at Exmouth Australian Women’s Cricket Team at Exmouth
News 1976 4 mins Location: Exmouth
The Australian Women’s Team tour England in the hot summer of 1976
Watch for free
Winter Fashions have been Modelled in a Park in Exmouth Winter Fashions have been Modelled in a Park in Exmouth
Current affairs 1977 2 mins Silent Location: Exmouth
Wearing Fur gets Hairy
Watch for free
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Watch for free
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.