History of the Bats
For over 80 years, the Bats have been a vibrant and integral part of Queens’ College’s – and indeed Cambridge’s – theatrical legacy. Founded in 1942, the illustrious society has continually shaped and enriched the performing arts scene at college, fostering a tradition of artistic excellence and cultural expression.
‘Bats are to be found in belfries and the eaves of old buildings, especially those of Queen’s College in Cambridge’
An History of the Earth and Animated Nature
An 18th Century natural history book by Oliver Goldsmith,
An erroneous attribution
1942
“The Bats” was founded on November 17th 1942, during WWII, when only a few third-year students remained at College. A chance meeting of two twenty-one-year-olds led to a memorable party with scarce wartime supplies. When the celebrations moved outside to the Grove, the Dean, awakened in the middle of the blackout, did not reprimand those present — instead, he praised the vocal talent displayed. His encouragement resulted in the formation of a dramatics society, marking the birth of “The Bats”.
More detail on the formation of “The Bats” can be found in an article written by the late Jimmie Beament in 1989 for publication in The Record 1990, pp. 16–17. This image of Cloister Court was taken in 1940, just after Dunkirk.
1947
“The Bats” almost died out in the initial few years, when the founding members left for war. Fortunately, the resurrection came about during Queens’ quincentenary, in 1947-48.
Under the new President, B. G. Gradwell, the society under took policy not only to produce plays for the entertainment of the College, but to arrange theatre parties, play-readings and to stimulate interest in the theatre within College. The first two productions — Priestley’s I Have Been Here Before and a Revue — were staged for two nights each in the Fitzpatrick Hall and proved highly successful.
More can be read on this revival in The Record 1947-48, p. 16, and also in Jimmie Beament’s article in The Record 1990, pp. 16–17.
1989
In March 1989, Bats moved into the newly-opened Fitzpatrick Hall, endowing us with a state-of-the-art venue. The first performance in the Fitzpat was a play written and directed by Tom Holland: entitled Death of a Maid, it traced the final days of Joan of Arc. During the same week, After Magritte by Tom Stoppard was run as a late show.
More information can be found in 1990’s The Record.
2022
Joanna Scanlan (1980) pictured with the then Bats committee and the cast and crew of ‘Black is the Colour of My Soul’ on the 19th November 2022.
2023 —
The cast and crew of the 2023 May Week Shakespeare production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.