The Swish of the Curtain facts for kids
The Swish of the Curtain is a popular children's book written by Pamela Brown (1924–1989). She started writing it in 1938 when she was only 14 years old, and it was published in 1941. This book has been printed many times and even turned into TV shows and radio plays. It's the first book in a series of five!
Contents
What is The Swish of the Curtain About?
This exciting story follows seven young friends from three different families. They decide to create their own acting group called the Blue Door Theatre Company. These talented kids do everything themselves: they write the plays, make them happen, tell the actors what to do, and even perform on stage! Each friend uses their special skills to help the group. For example, Nigel is great at designing the stage sets, Jeremy creates the music, and Sandra sews all the costumes.
As the story unfolds, each young person works towards a big dream. One character, "Bulldog," who is really good at funny roles, wants to create the perfect "swish of the curtain" sound. This sound is a special moment in a play when the curtains close. At the end of the book, the "Blue Doors" group enters a big drama competition. They need to win this contest to get into a special drama school. This school would help them achieve their dream of becoming professional actors!
Meet the Characters
The story features a group of memorable characters, each with their own talents and dreams:
- Nigel Halford
- Percy Halford, also known as "Bulldog"
- Victoria Jane Halford, or "Vicky"
- Jeremy Darwin
- Lynette Darwin, or "Lyn"
- Sandra Fayne
- Madeleine Fayne, or "Maddy"
The Blue Doors Book Series
The Swish of the Curtain is the first book in a series of five. Pamela Brown wrote four more books that continue the adventures of the Blue Door Theatre Company:
- Maddy Alone (published in 1945)
- Golden Pavements (published in 1947)
- Blue Door Venture (published in 1949)
- Maddy Again (published in 1956)
For a long time, The Swish of the Curtain was the only book from the series that was still being printed after the 1970s. But recently, many of the books have been republished! Longwater Books republished The Swish of the Curtain in 2006, Maddy Alone in 2007, Golden Pavements in 2009, and Blue Door Venture in 2011. The last book, Maddy Again, was finally reprinted in 2012. Before that, copies of Maddy Again were very rare and hard to find. More recently, Pushkin Press has republished all the books in the Blue Door series, so it's easier to read them all!
TV and Radio Shows
The Swish of the Curtain has been adapted for both radio and television, bringing the story to life in new ways.
Radio Adaptations
The story was first turned into a radio show during World War II, possibly in 1943. It was broadcast as a serial, meaning it was told in parts over several weeks. Many people remembered its catchy theme song, which ended with the words "...the Swish of the Curtain."
Later, in 1994, the book was adapted for radio again by Felicity Hayes-McCoy. This version was broadcast on the old BBC Radio 5. It was often repeated on BBC Radio 7's "Young Classics Hour." James Lance played Jeremy Darwin, and Caroline Harker played Lynette Darwin. Another radio show, which combined parts of Golden Pavements and Maddy Alone, also featured the same actors.
Television Adaptation
In 1980, the BBC made The Swish of the Curtain into a television series. The well-known actress Sarah Greene starred in the show as Sandra Fayne.
