I knew a bit about my godfather (Peter Goss) and Dad (David Poulson) running the New Theatre, Bromley, and had previously posted about them taking over the lease in late 1954. I recently combed through old newspapers to better understand their first few years trying to win back audiences, build a repertory company and balance the books. I came away impressed – gobsmacked – at how much they did, at a time so many provincial repertory theatres were struggling.

Commercial television began in 1955 compounding worries about the impact of films and BBC television on keeping live theatre outside of London’s West End financially viable. According to an interview Peter gave to a local paper in 1961, he and Dad had worked out what they could afford for rent if they were to cover their costs for quality productions and told Rank (the landlord) their rate was too high – then offered them half what they were asking! Peter’s view was “This is not just our theatre, it’s Bromley’s theatre”

Two and a half years after they opened, a local paper covered their work in a story headlined: “HOW TO MAKE A SUCESS OF REPERTORY” – crowds coming out of the repertory company outnumbering those from the cinema.