‘Swingtime’ by The Little Theatre at Changi POW Camp (April 1944)

Note: Willis Toogood is listed in the cast of actors. To see a caricature of him, go to ‘caricatures & portraits’ on this website.

‘As it developed the Changi concert party became so popular that a quota system was developed so that each man had the chance to see each of the shows. There was a new show every two weeks, and over the years they included variety shows, musical dramas, pantomime and serious drama.

There were ‘creative’ ways of finding things for the concert party. As men went out to work they would try and find things they thought the concert party might need. Over the years musical instruments, including a piano and drum kit, clothes and a sewing machine found their way to the concert party. Although it was forbidden to bring these things into the camp, if the POW’s managed to smuggle them in they would be allowed to keep them.’

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/changi/life/concerts.htm

“Hap Kelly was a Yank from Texas. He had joined the US Navy as a trumpeter, but his ship had been sunk between Java and Sumatra in 1942. He was washed up on a beach fourteen miles away in Java. He was captured in the jungle and shipped to Singapore. He now played the trombone – rather brilliantly – in the Playhouse orchestra.” He is mentioned in this theatre program.
Source: The Naked Island by Russell Braddon; 1955 edition Pan Books Ltd, Pg 258