A Children's Theatre

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 30, 8 February 1929, Unnumbered Page

A Children's Theatre

Miss JOAN LUXTON, a young actress hailing from Australia, has earned for herself the title of "A Theatre Fairy Godmother." According to an English-journal, she has been running the Children’s Theatre in Endell Street, London, for, some considerable time. This charming young actress is still only 24 years of age, but she has already crammed a good deal of experience into her young life. She has been acting ever since she was 15 years old, and she hails from Australia, where she received her early training as a dancer. On reaching WHngland she studied at the Academy of Dramatic Art in Gower Street, and after touring in several plays she also acted in London at the Everyman and the Apollo. But it is as the founder, manager, and one of the principal performers of the Children’s Theatre that Joan Luxton has thus early come to be regarded as a real theatrical Fairy Godmother. It certainly was a very bright idea of hers to start a theatre for young folk which should provide exactly the right kind of dramatic fare that really appeals to children.

No sooner had this real "brainwave" occurred to this young actress than she set to work, with a strong little band of personal friends and helpers, to carry it out. A backer was secured-blessed be the name of this generous and public-spirited friend of London’s children !-and a vacant shop in Endell Street was quickly transformed into an excellent little theatre. Although it is unique in being the smallest theatre in England to be licensed by the Lord Chamberlain and the L.C.C., it is, nevertheless, perfectly equipped with proper stage lighting, real footlights, scenery, curtains, ete.; and its comfortable tip-up seats are just right for small occupiers. There is even a real miniature box office, where children may go and book their own seats-the price of which varies from 3d. to 1s, 2d. for the small folk. As there is accommodation only for about 115, the financial difficulties have been tremendous, and with the high cost of advertising making the latter almost entirely prohibitive, it has been no easy matter to keep this splendid little venture going. But the excellence of its programmes and the enthusiastic appreciation of the juvenile audiences have been the best advertisements. The prices have necessarily to be kept low and within reach, not only of the smaller-incomed parents, but of the children’s ‘own pocket money. The running expenses are kept down to the lowest level consistent with the perfect efficlency aimed at, and with this object in view every member of Miss Luxton’s jolly company performs some other job besides that of acting. They not only act, sing, dance, or play the piano, but are their own scene-painters, costumiers, theatre attendants, electricians, and stage hands.

The delightfully varied programmes ustially consist of short one-act plays, folk-songs and sea-chanties in costume, and plenty of mime and dancing. Fun and beauty are cleverly mingled, while at the same time good dramatic taste is unobtrusively fostered. Youngsters are keen critics, and at the Children’s Theatre it has been found that the really best items are always those which are most appreciated. The success that has already attended Miss Luxton’s brave little venture makes one hope that it will lead to a wider spread of the movement, and that the time is not far off when we shall have children’s theatres and children’s kinemas not only in every district of London, but also in all towns-happy little theatres where, as in Miss Luxton’s pioneer one in Endell Street, young folks may enjoy really suitable dramatic fare full of fun, adventure, and beauty, and in which no objectionable features are ever allowed to intrude.