Founder Friends of New Wimbledon Theatre is a friendly, theatre appreciation group based in Wimbledon
Primarily, we are here to support New Wimbledon Theatre but we also visit other West End and regional theatres, where we benefit from excellent ticket concessions. Our backstage tours, parties and monthly talks from theatre people are also not-to-be-missed.
Members enjoying a monthly meeting
We are a friendly, theatre appreciation group based in Wimbledon.
We were formed some 50 years ago with the purpose of saving Wimbledon Theatre from extinction. While still supporting New Wimbledon Theatre today we have evolved into a thriving group of theatregoers who meet regularly not only to enjoy theatre productions but also to participate in various activities from backstage tours to monthly meetings in Wimbledon for informal talks.
We were founded in 1968. Back then Wimbledon Theatre was going through turbulent times. The lease was due to run out and if the theatre were to stay open it badly needed repairs.
However, when the future of the theatre was discussed at the Wimbledon and District Consumer Group, Mavis Oswald proposed the formation of a theatre club to keep the theatre going. On 8th November 1968, the Friends of Wimbledon Theatre began.
From the beginning, the Founder Friends enjoyed support from actors, directors, musicians and writers. The actress Thelma Ruby was our first President later to be followed by the playwright David Wood, the ‘national treasure’ Dame June Whitfield, DBE and currently the actress/producer Jan Hunt.
Although New Wimbledon Theatre is now part of the Ambassador Theatre Group, supporting NWT through visits and fundraising is still high on our agenda. We aim to place ‘Welcome’ packs of fruit and flowers in the main dressing rooms for most of the productions, which we’re told are much appreciated by the stars.
Our President is the actress Jan Hunt who says:
I am and always have been, full of admiration for all that the Founder Friends have accomplished together as an organisation. You are all so committed which is indeed inspiring to see and I will do all I can to make you proud of me and to work closely with you to continue your warm, comradeship and success.