Our Story
BEATRICE HERFORD'S VOKES THEATRE·THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2019·
The Vokes Theatre, also known as Beatrice Herford's Vokes Theatre is a 1904 miniature of a London theatre - built by and named for Beatrice Herford, a renowned monologist. It is located on the grounds of the estate owned by Mrs. Herford and her husband, Sidney Hayward. The name "Vokes Players" came an an honor to Herford and Haywa
rd's friend, Rosina Vokes, a British actress who performed as part of the traveling Vokes family. For over 30 years, her tiny theatre was open only to her friends, leading lights of the New York and London stages, including Ellen Terry, George Arliss, Florence Arliss, Katharine Cornell; the house archives show that other guests included diva Geraldine Farrar, and actors Ethel Barrymore, John Drew, Norah Bayes, and others, some of whom (as well as others) inscribed their signatures on the inside of the box office door. In 1937, she gave use of the theater to a group of actors organized as the Vokes Players. The group refurbished the theater and continue to perform in it. Beatrice Herford's theatre is a Massachusetts historical site and houses a notable collection of theater memorabilia and photographs, in addition to remaining in vibrant and active use as the home of the Vokes Players. In June of 1937, a small group, organized by the Vokes Players, received the gracious permission of Beatrice Herford to use her precious theatre. Since then, the Vokes Players have evolved into one of the premier community theatre companies in New England. The group is made up entirely of volunteers, including the Board of Directors who are responsible for running the Players and the Theatre. Vokes Player membership is by invitation, and currently numbers more than 150. Vokes presents four major productions a year, generally including one musical, as well as various member and subscriber performances throughout the year.
