February 1937
Arthur Manning is considered to be the founder of SBADS. He was born in South Brent in 1889 and grew up to make his living as a pianist, church organist and, in the 1920s and ’30s, as the leader of his own dance band – which makes regular appearances in our archives. His first known appearance in an amateur show was at the Vicar’s Hall in 1907. A year later he became a founder member and musical director of the South Brent Pierrots and had a hand in almost every entertainment in the village for the next 30 years.
He set up a number of village entertainment groups, including the Brass Band and Juvenile Orchestra. In 1925, he founded South Brent’s first amateur drama group, performing a pantomime in December of that year. He remained the producer, director and manager until 1934.