OUR STORY part 2
Ned Lawton and the girls from our first production of
'The Best little Whorehouse in Texas' (1988)
THE EIGHTIES: Growth and Diversification
The Griffins may have changed their name in the Seventies but it was in the Eighties that they positively re-invented themselves. The catalyst for this change was a decision by Vauxhall Motors to end the tradition of sending all of their employee's children to an annual Christmas Pantomime. To soften the blow the Recreation Club organised a free afternoon of entertainment for the children which culminated in a one-act play "Alice In A Winter Wonderland" presented by the Griffins.
Despite its shortcomings it was successful enough to lead the way to the 1981 production of Griffin's first full scale pantomime Cinderella, directed by Frank and Eileen Jackson. The show was a huge critical and financial success and guaranteed that 'the golden egg' of pantomime was here to stay. The spring production of 1982, Confusions, was also a major milestone for the Griffins. After years of performing plays in the cavernous canteen in Kimpton Road, it was decided to relocate our smaller productions to the more intimate environment of the Library Theatre, Luton. This move not only raised our profile on the local theatrical scene it also brought us a whole new audience and more importantly a wealth of new talent.
Our continued success with pantomime not only provided us with financial security but also proved that we could hold our own when it came to staging musical numbers. It was therefore somewhat inevitable that the group's long held ambition of staging a genuine musical would finally come to pass. And so it was that in 1983, Bryan Millin's hugely successful production of Grease became the Griffins first musical.
Throughout the rest of the decade the Griffins consolidated their position as a versatile group that was equally at home performing pantomime, musicals, comedies or dramas. The Griffins had found their niche.
THE NINETIES: Changing Times
The Nineties heralded a period of great change for Vauxhall Motors and this led to inevitable ramifications for the Griffins. The radical modernisation of Vauxhall's manufacturing plant meant that many of the old, inefficient buildings had to go.
Sadly one of these was the old canteen with its two magnificent stages and copious storage space. The 'Vauxhall Theatre' certainly had its faults but it was our spiritual home and it gave us the opportunity to do things no other group could. Who can forget the faces of the children as Cinderella's coach made its magical way around the entire auditorium?
(follow link to see demolition of canteen pictures)
Eventually the Recreation Club's superb new facilities were opened and although we are fortunate enough to have a wonderful rehearsal space and storage facilities it was sadly, despite consultations with us, impractical to incorporate a theatre into the overall design. Although the Griffins performed some musicals and pantomimes at Luton's Sixth Form College, the Library Theatre was to become our main showcase.
During the Nineties the Griffins built a reputation for presenting shows that other groups would not attempt. This reputation was largely due to our high production values and the technical expertise of various members.
The highly acclaimed Return To The Forbidden Planet (2003) combined
high production values with a stunning ensemble performance.
THE NOUGHTIES
In the new Millennium the Griffins have continued to present a variety of of musicals and plays with a predominantly populist slant. Our annual pantomimes continue to prove immensely popular and in 2006 we broke with tradition and presented the adult pantomime as a separate production in its own right. This experiment proved immensely popular and was repeated in 2007. With a programme of four productions a year and a committee bursting with ideas for the future we can look forward to some exciting years ahead.
