There is no contempory written minute or other record of the day Cobham Amateur Dramatic Society came into existance that has ever been found.   There are, however,compelling clues as to our beginnings from which we have been able to establish with a high degree of certainty the order of events.   We know that the Society evolved from a group called The Cheerios Concert Party which was formed early (1915) in the First World War. It disbanded in 1923 but two of the members, Mrs T.O.Richards and Mr W.W.Keene and there were likely to be others, then formed a group which gave public readings initially of Dickens and Shakespeare.   The first of these readings was in early 1925, 'on a bare stage without footlights or other stage lighting' (F.C.Lawrence 1950), possibly as part of some other village event so it is reasonable to assume that the group was formed in 1924 following the demise of the Cheerios.   So began the presentations of the Cobham CADS. Selected readings from the classics without the competition of radio or TV and with the nearest picture houses some miles away in Gravesend or Rochester they were an important part of the life of the village and very well supported by their appreciative audiences.   In 1926 there was a performance in the village 'club house' also known as 'the hut', and this venue was to serve CADS well until 1946
November 24th and 25th 1926   Presented by W. W. Keene	Readings of Shakespeare and Dickens   Excerpts from the following were read.   As you Like It The Forest Scene Duke Senior .. Mr W W Keene Orlando .. E A Morris Adam.. Mr R C Wood Jacques.. Mr H A Barrow   Nicholas Nickleby   Scenes from The School Room & The Squeers Parlour Fanny Squeers .. Miss Roberts Tilda Price .. Mrs T Richards Nicholas Nickleby .. Mr T Richards John Browdie .. Mr J Betts Martin Chuzzelwit   Mrs Gamp's Tea Party   Saviey Gamp .. Mrs Brighton Betsy Briggs .. Mrs Carey   Twelth Night Viola brings Orsino's proposal to Olivia Olivia .. Mrs L K Pye Viola .. Miss E Mitchener Maria .. Mrs R C Wood Malvolio ..  Mr G E Morris   As You Like It Orlando meets Rosalind in the Forest Rosalind .. Miss G Usher Celia .. Miss V Morris Orlando .. Mr E N Morris Touchstone .. Mr G E Morris Romeo and Juliet The Balcony Scene Juliet.. Miss Edith Evans Romeo.. Mr W W Keene Nickolas Nickleby The Proposal Scene Mrs Nickleby.. Mrs R C Wood Kate.. Miss Moojen A Neighbour.. Mr L K Pye David Copperfield A Monologue Uriah Heep Mr L P Goodwin	Venue - The Club House
All, or maybe only part, of this programme was repeated in Meopham Village Hall, in collaboration with the Meopham Club Committee in January 1927   This information was taken from the Gravesend and Dartford Reporter dated 27th January 1927
Presented on   November 30th and December 1st 1927	Programme of   Entertainments   There is no mention of the producer	Venue   The Club House
The entertainments were described in the village magazine, The Recorder, as Five Scenes.     It was rather more than that for there was singing too.     A programme for the Entertainments has recently been found so now we know exactly what was performed for this presentation.
Opening song - chorus   The Animals went in two by two       Scenes from David Copperfield     David gets to his journey's end : The incursion of the Murdstones to Miss Trotwood's Cottage and their repulse, and David's installation.     Song - chorus   All Through the Night       Scenes from Oliver Twist       The Thieves Kitchen     The advent of Oliver, his situation, his escape and recapture. The "true gold" of Nancy, revealed, forebodes the end.     Song - sung by Mr.L.K.Pye   The Vagabond       Scenes fron The Pickwick Papers       At the Inn     Sam Weller and the maids at the inn - with the unfortunate disappearance and the finding again of the unhappy sausage-maker       Song - chorus   Billy Boy       Scenes from Oliver Twist       Mr. Bumble's Courting     The courting of the widow Corney - Mr. Bumble woos, wins and regrets.     Song - chorus   What shall we do with the drunken Sailor?       Postal Orders   a farce
� � David Copperfield � Miss E Mitchener� Mr J F Brady Mr I Bull� Miss K Brighton Miss M Moojen� Mrs L K Pye � � The Thieves Kitchen � Miss N Powell� Mr L K Pye Mr H A Barrow� Mr W W Keene Mr T O Richards� Mrs R C Wood	� The Cast � � Postal Orders � Miss G Usher � Miss E Evans Miss M Roberts� Miss V Morris Mr G E Morris	� � At The Inn � Mr J Betts �� Miss E Evans Miss K Brighton � � � Mr Bumble's Courting � Mr L H Evans� Mrs W Carey Mrs T O Richards
� During these early years the Society, then known as Cobham Dramatic Society, also gave presentations of excerpts from the writings of Charles Dickens to the Dickens Fellowship at Rochester. � Among them were readings from A Christmas Carol and The Thieves Kitchen � � � �
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