Drama has played a major part in the long life of evergreen amateur actress Thelma Torr as she waits in the wings for her next role – at the age of 92
The retired teacher from Holt appears as Mrs Billet, the cantankerous and cranky mum of a beach hut owner, in the upcoming production of Sand Castles at Sheringham Little Theatre from June 24-26.
It is the latest role in an amateur stage career stretching back to Thelma’s school days in the 1930s and 40s and a hobby that she has enjoyed ever since.
She said: “I still really get a buzz from being on stage, and doing rehearsals. I try to do one production a year – if there’s a part suitable for me.
“It’s my social life, along with volunteering at the National Trust bookshop at Felbrigg Hall once a week, and I’m lucky I am still fairly fit and can still drive.
“My hearing’s gone a little, but I can still pick up my cues on stage if other cast members are projecting their voices clearly, as they should.”
Kent-born Thelma first trod the boards at school, and got involved with a local community drama group in the 1940s, where one of her roles was as a fairy in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. One of her fellow cast members was a young Tony Hart who went on to become a well-known artist, television presenter and creator of animated figure Morph.
While studying French at Bristol University she joined the college operatic society, and when she moved to London to work in recruitment for petroleum giant Shell she was a member of the company drama group, where she took part in plays and musicals.
Drama took a back seat during a spell working in Canada, and then raising two children but resumed in the 1980s and 90s back in Kent where she enjoyed some of her favourite roles.
They included appearing in the musical Gigi as “Mamita” Madame Alvarez the title character’s mother, and as Cissy a retired opera singer whose innate wisdom is being clouded by onsetting dementia in Quartet.
When Thelma moved to Norfolk aged 70, to be near one of her daughters, she joined the Sheringham Players. An early role was as an elderly fur coat thief in Breath of Spring.
“It involved putting on an accent which I love doing,” she remembered.
Other more recent roles have ranged from the dotty Mrs Cropley in The Vicar of Dibley to housekeeper Mrs Northrop in When We Are Married – which provided one of the rare times Thelma did miss her cue. She got distracted in the dressing room, and failed to appear, leaving the cast to ad lib frantically until her eventual arrival, which was greeted with a bonus round of applause.
Thelma has also taken roles with the Cromer and Sheringham Operatic Society, though fewer in recent years as her mobility has decreased.
She is a big fan of another long-serving actress Dame Judi Dench because of her longevity and versatility – even though she is a mere youngster at 91.
Thelma also encourages others to get involved in amateur dramatics, either on stage or behind the scenes, as it’s a great way of making new friends.
Long-time friend, fellow cast member, and currently directing her in Sand Castles, Libby Henshaw said: “Thelma is a great character actress. I am 78 and Thelma is an inspiration for me to keep going. I hope I am as good her 92. Judi Dench might be a national treasure but Thelma is our local treasure.”
For tickets for Sand Castles visit www.sheringhamlittletheatre.com or call the box office on 01263 822347.
