Bungay was one of the first towns in the Waveney Valley region to have its own theatre, when Nathaniel Godbold opened a purpose-built venue in the Castle Yard in 1773.
He arranged a varied programme of plays, songs and dances, and it accommodated travelling players visiting the region.
His first manager was William Scraggs, and David Fisher was employed as the stage carpenter. Fisher eventually became co-manager, and when Scraggs died in 1808, he established his own company of performers, known as the Norfolk & Suffolk Company of Comedians.
He had already developed excellent acting skills, and his three sons, David, Charles, and George, all grew up inheriting his talents, their wives and daughters joined in and then the grandchildren, resulting in a real home-grown ensemble.
When touring the region with his Players, Fisher experienced the difficulties of performing in the small regional towns, because they lacked suitable buildings, and he had to make-do with taverns, barns, or in private houses, which were often very inconvenient.
So he decided to take the ambitious step of creating purpose-built theatres on his regular circuits. He commenced with Wells and Woodbridge in 1812, and then added theatres in the other larger regional towns resulting in thirteen in total.
The Bungay theatre was the last to be built, in Broad Street, in 1828, replacing the Castle Yard building which had gradually become unfit for purpose.
All the theatres were designed with similar interiors, so that scenery and props could easily slot into the auditoriums. Fisher’s son David was responsible for the handsome painted and gilded decoration, and the new Bungay theatre opened on February 28 1828 with a performance of Bell's Stratagem some shorter pieces, and music and dancing, to suit all tastes.
In the early Victorian periods, there were few entertainments for people in the small rural towns to enjoy. In Bungay, there was little more than the two seasonal fairs, and the annual horse racing on Bungay Common.
So the theatrical performances were a huge attraction, and excitement rose as the day for the company’s arrival dawned, and crowds gathered in the Market Place.
Some of the local lads and apprentices raced off to the main Ditchingham road, eager to be the first to see the long line of horses and wagons appear, loaded with props and costumes and some of the Players sitting astride them.
As soon as they were spotted drawing close, the lads panted back up Bridge Street, and shouted joyfully to the assembled crowds – “ They be A- Cummin ! They be A –Cummin!"
Everybody cheered and clapped, making the lads feel very self-important, being the first to impart the news, and worth risking the thrashings they could expect from their masters on the following day for bunking off work.
The master of the Boys Grammar School had already led his 25 pupils in a neat crocodile, two by two from Earsham Street to the Butter Cross. When the wagons and the players arrived he permitted them to shout a roar of approval and throw their caps up in the air.
They were also given the opportunity to attend one or two of the performances, and one of the surviving play-bills states: - ‘The Play of Venice Preserved, March 1828, by desire of the Young Gentlemen of the Grammar School.’
The ‘Young Gentlemen’ paid for the performance from their own pocket-money, or some of them pestered Papa to give them a shilling or two.
During the visit there were usually four performances a week, and lasting from 7pm to midnight. They usually ran for about two months, in the spring period. The pricing of seats was arranged so that almost everybody could afford to attend from the richest to the poorest.
The theatre prospered for about twenty five years but for various reasons the Fisher family were obliged to close all their regional theatres in 1844. The building was then used as a Corn Hall, and later as the first silent screen cinema, and for commercial purposes.
Then in the early 1990s an enterprising group, known as the Famous Five, determined to acquire the building to be used as a performing arts centre.
After various setbacks, hard work, and a lot of fund-raising the entirely renovated building opened to the public on September 29 2006.
Unlike the original venue which had only provided seasonal performances, the Fisher Theatre has become a multi-purpose community establishment, offering a diverse range of entertainment, activities, and events for all ages and tastes.
To find out more about the history of the theatre, visit an exhibition in St Mary’s Church, Bungay.
It runs from Saturday, October 26 to Sunday, November 3, 10am to 4pm each day.
There is an exhibition preview on Friday, October 25 at 7.30pm. Please book in advance. Call 01986 893133, or email flixtonrectory@btinternet.com
On Sunday, October 27 at 4.15 pm is A History of Drama in Bungay, Talk & Slide-show, Christopher Reeve, followed by tea and cakes.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here