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Summary: The construction and ceremonial opening of a new theatre at Catterick Army Training Camp, probably immediately post-1918.
Description: The style and tone of the film are light with attempts at humour. Its stated policy is that "items of camp interest will be specially filmed and displayed in the Board's Garrison Theatres and Cinemas from time to time". The controller of the camp, Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Towle, is shown with Sir George May cutting the first sod for the theatre. Soldiers work on its construction. The finished theatre is a permanent brick structure. For the opening the soldiers file inside, organised by Captain Stanley Hicks. The audience includes nurses and officer cadets (with the white cap-bands). The artistes arrive by car: Thorpe Bates, Douglas Furber, Mme Gleeson-White, Miss Lillian Hoare and Percy Kahn. The party of distinguished guests include the Marquis and Marchioness of Zetland, the Bishop of Ripon with his archdeacon, the headquarters staff of the Reserve Centre, the GOC-in-C Northern Command, Sir John Maxwell, the Lord Lieutenant of North Riding, Sir Hugh Bell, with Lady Bell, and bringing up the rear as guest of honour the Duke of Connaught. All are shown entering the theatre, and the Duke's party is shown leaving, but the interior of the theatre is not shown.
Production Details: National Army Canteen Board (Production sponsor)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Connaught [George] (HRH Duke of) (person)
Towle, Frank (person)
Hicks, Stanley (person)
May, George (person)
Bates, Thorpe (person)
Furber, Douglas (person)
Gleeson-White (Mme) (person)
Hoare, Lillian (person)
Kahn, Percy (person)
Zetland (Marquis) (person)
Zetland (Marchioness) (person)
Ripon, Bishop of (person)
Maxwell, John (person)
Bell, Hugh (person)
Bell (Lady) (person)
British Army, National Army Canteen Board (regiment/service)
National Army Canteen Board (regiment/service)
Keywords: engineering, military, British (object name)
buildings, British - military: theatre (object name)
buildings, British - commercial: theatre (object name)
arts, British - theatre (object name)
GB, England & Catterick, Yorks <Army training camp> (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Silent
Soundtrack language: None
Title language: English
Subtitle language: English
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 650 ft; Running time: 11 mins
HD Media:Yes
Notes: Date: according to the Army List, Sir John Maxwell was GOC-in-C Northern Command from January 1917 until September 1919
