A host of stars have performed at this historic theatre
BY BEN WEST
In the early 1980s I lived in Westcombe Park, SE3, a few doors up from Joe Griffiths, a talented musician who was part of a twice-weekly musical comedy cabaret show at the Tramshed Theatre in Woolwich.
The show, Fundation, ran until 1986 and also featured Terry Morrison, Victy Silva (though on occasion other female performers), Gareth Hale and Norman Pace. The latter two – who met at Avery Hill teacher training college in Eltham – later formed tv’s popular Hale and Pace comedy duo and became household names.
The ensemble would rehearse at Joe’s home, and I’d be treated to an audio run-through of the whole show each week, which was especially crystal clear in the summer months, as they’d either rehearse in the garden or at least have the windows open.
The show was very good indeed, and always played to sell-out audiences at The Tramshed. Pre-dating the Comedy Store, it was possibly the capital’s first regular, modern comedy club.
Joe also wrote the theme tune to 1970s children’s television series Chorlton and the Wheelies, and in the Tramshed show got into the habit of playing some serious classical piece on the piano, which would invariably degenerate into a rendition of the Chorlton and Wheelies tune.
One night, Hale and Pace decided to make an omelette onstage as part of a song, and at the end threw it from the frying pan onto a member of the audience, which on this occasion happened to be me. I can assure you that a freshly-cooked omelette landing on your nether regions is quite a painful experience, but I suppose it was gratifying to have 400 people around me laughing wholeheartedly at my expense.
A whole host of other musicians and comedians played at the venue over the years, including Peckham band Splodgenessabounds, briefly famous for their top-ten hit Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Please. In 1975 Squeeze played one of their earliest gigs there, and George Melly, Acker Bilk, the Blues Band, The Climax Blues Band, Albert Lee, Spizzenergi, Billy Bragg and Lindisfarne were amongst many others that also appeared at the venue. The Stray Cats filmed their hit, Runaway Boys at The Tramshed.
Early in their careers, Adrian Edmundson and Rik Mayall, as double-act 21st Century Coyote, performed at the Tramshed too, as did Vic Reeves/Jim Moir and Bob Mortimer, honing their act that would become Vic Reeves Big Night Out on television.
The late Malcolm Hardee, a colourful Greenwich resident who had previously been imprisoned for offences such as escaping custody, cheque fraud and various break-ins, left his old life for one in comedy, indeed becoming quite a legend in comedy circles, and performed his risque Greatest Show On Legs act with Martin Soan at The Tramshed.
Max Wall, Warren Mitchell, Jerry Sadowitz, Ninia Benjamin, Bob Mills, Julian Clary, Paul Merton, Harry Enfield and Craig Ferguson all also appeared there, while Booker Prize Winner Bernadine Evaristo described The Tramshed as ‘the making of my childhood’, leading to a lifelong career in the arts. She joined Greenwich Young People’s Theatre (GYPT), based at the theatre, in 1972 and says that she is ‘deeply grateful that this wonderful organisation shaped me’.
GYPT later became GLYPT (Greenwich and Lewisham Young People’s Theatre) and then relaunched as Tramshed in 2009, continuing to use creative opportunities to remove barriers, connect communities and enrich lives. It offers an extensive youth arts programme, training and support for creative young people and emerging artists, theatre and events, and a community programme inspired and led by the ambitions of its diverse communities.
The much-loved historic theatre, housed in a unique Edwardian power station that once served a tram network, was redeveloped a few years ago by Greenwich Council. Let’s hope that the Tramshed Theatre of the future thrives, and continues to be a real asset to the community.
