Diary

Mrs Lawrence, who was a performer appearing at the Ritz, came into the school and answer questions we had all prepared.

 

She told us how lovely it was to appear on the stage. There were 20 of us in all, including 2 pianists. I have brought my diary and I can tell you I was paid £5.50 a week to appear and it costs me £2 a week for my ‘digs’ (this is a room in a house). Mrs Lawrence was only 17 when she sand and danced at the Ritz.

 

It was called the Ritz because they used it as a cinema during the day and a theatre in the evening when Mrs Lawrence performed.

 

During the war the wounded were housed at the Ritz.

 

There had to be a minimum of 12 people to put on a show. So once when there were only 10 we kept encouraging no one else to turn up because we didn’t want to perform to such a small number.