One of the main restrictions on the Society in presenting full productions of Shakespeare’s plays through the 1930s and 1940s, was the lack of its own premises. In this absence, rehearsals were held in members’ homes, and other activities and meetings took place in various locations in the city.
Even so, a more regular pattern of productions is evident in the 1940s and at least 5 productions were presented at various venues around the city.
It is worth noting that the Milo O’Shea, who was destined to become a celebrated theatre and film actor, played no less than three parts in the Society’s 1943 production of Julius Caesar. Wilfred Brambell, later of Steptoe and Son (TV) fame, played Autolycus in the 1940 production of The Winter’s Tale.
