Congleton Players

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Congleton Players
FormationOctober 1935; 88 years ago (October 1935)
TypeTheatre group
PurposeAmateur theatrical group
Location
Membership
50 (In 2000)[1]
Notable members
Jonathon Morris[2]
WebsiteOfficial website

Congleton Players is an amateur theatre group based in Congleton, Cheshire. The Congleton Players was founded in October 1935. Congleton Players perform three plays a year at Daneside Theatre.

The theatre group is a member of the National Operatic and Dramatic Association.[3]

History[edit]

Early years[edit]

The Congleton Players was formed as a breakaway group from Congleton Operatic Society in October 1935.[4][5] The first production by the Congleton Players was Polly with a Past which was performed at Congleton Town Hall between 25 and 28 March 1936, all proceeds from Polly with a Past went to the Mayor's fund for Poor Children's Outing.[6]

First theatre[edit]

The Congleton Players' first theatre was converted from a former warehouse in Congleton into a 150 seat theatre. Writing In the April 1974 issue of Cheshire Life Cathrine Scott described the Congleton Players' theatre as a "professional little theatre".[7] The Congleton Players were originally allowed to use the warehouse for free, because the owner's daughters were early members of the Congleton Players; this arrangement later changed to a rental agreement.[7]

In the 1970s the Congleton Players were given notice that their "home" would be demolished because of the building of the then new inner relief road Mountbatten Way.[8] The Congleton Players final production at their old theatre was Night Must Fall in March 1978, after the production finished the warehouse the Congleton Players were using as a theatre was knocked down, and due to the Congleton Players not owing the warehouse they received no compensation for the loss of their theatre.[7][9][10]

Daneside Theatre[edit]

Main article: Daneside Theatre

Following the demolition of their theatre the members of the Congleton Players decided it was time for all the theatrical societies in Congleton to have a single dedicated theatre to use, this decision lead to the construction of Daneside Theatre.[11] In the years between the demolition of their theatre and the opening of Daneside Theatre the Congleton Players used Trinity Church Hall for their performances, and rented West Lodge from Cheshire County Council which was used to hold auditions amongst other things.[12]

Following moving into Daneside Theatre in 1984, The Congleton Players performed Dear Octopus between 8-12 January 1985 which was their first solo production at the new theatre.[5]

Present[edit]

In 2017 it was announced that it was planned that the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sport, Tourism and Civil Society John Glen MP, would attend the Congleton Players' 300th production.[13]

Past events and memberships[edit]

In the past the Congleton Players was a member of the Mid Cheshire Theatre Guild, and have hosted one act plays festivals, with audience members picking the winner.[14][15]

In the 1970s the Congleton Players had a membership of over 800, however by the year 2000 this had fallen to just 50 members.[1][7]

Past productions[edit]

Below is a list of some of the Congleton Players past productions:

Notable members[edit]

Awards[edit]

Siemens in the Community Award for Geoffrey Tuton Hoult.
Congleton Players Geoffrey and Margaret Hoult Annual Award for Excellence board as of July 2022.
1994 Certificate Of Appreciation to the Congleton Players in recognition of their valued assistance for ST Lukes (Cheshire) Hospice.
Congleton Players and Siemens Awards Plaque for One Act Playwrights.

The following people linked to the Congleton Players have won awards while members of the Congleton Players.

  • Geoffrey Tuton Hoult (Congleton Players set designer and set builder)[17] Siemens in the Community Dedication Award 2003
  • Dave Burt (Actor) role:Danny in Brassed Off (Best Male Lead Actor In A Drama NODA North West awards 2017)[18]
  • Nigel Evens (Director) production:The Crucible (Best Artistic Director Of A Drama NODA North West awards 2017)[18]
  • Adrian Grace (Actor) role:Mr Oakley in Goodnight Mr Tom (Best Leading Male in a Drama NODA District 8 2020 awards)[19]
  • Charlie House (Actor) role:William Beech in Goodnight Mr Tom (Best Male Youth Performance In An Adult Production NODA District 8 2020 awards)[19]
  • Cherryll Topham (Actress) role:Dolly in One Man Two Guvenors (Best Leading Female in a Drama NODA District 8 2020 awards)[19]
  • Niamh Moss (Actress) role:Bobby in The Railway Children (Best Female Youth Performance in an Adult Production NODA district awards 2023)[20]

The Congleton Players as a theatre group have won the following awards.

  • 1994 Certificate Of Appreciation from Mayor of Congleton Borough in recognition of the Congleton Players valued assistance for ST Lukes (Cheshire) Hospice.
  • Best Drama (NODA District 8 2018 awards)[21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Congleton in the year 2000. Congleton History Society, Congleton Museum Trust. 5 September 2001. p. 66. ISBN 0954082001.
  2. ^ a b "Star's Bread role won't be cut". Nantwich Chronicle. 22 November 1989. p. 11. Retrieved 28 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Congleton Players Amateur Theatre Club - NODA". www.noda.org.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  4. ^ "PLAYERS CELEBRATE THEIR 60TH BIRTHDAY". Congleton Chronicle. 3 May 1996. p. 24.
  5. ^ a b c "Drama group's double joy". Evening Sentinel. 31 December 1984. p. 20. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "Extracts from the Chronicle files "50 years ago"". Glancing Back. Congleton Chronicle. 28 February 1986. p. 14.
  7. ^ a b c d Scott, Catherine (April 1974). "PRESENT LAUGHTER-FUTURE GLOOM". Cheshire Life. Norwich: Archant Limated. pp. 47–48.
  8. ^ Congleton in the year 2000. Congleton History Society, Congleton Museum Trust. 5 September 2001. p. 57. ISBN 0954082001.
  9. ^ "'Love match' is a winner". Evening Sentinel. 20 October 1978. p. 24. Retrieved 17 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ a b B.C.C. (14 March 1978). "CAST MAKE THE MOST OF PLAY". Evening Sentinel. p. 16. Retrieved 23 September 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Reeder, Janet (12 June 2017). "Why Congleton has a long history of entertainment". Cheshire Life. Norwich: Archant Limated. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  12. ^ Wildern, Tom (19 October 1979). "Plans for a new home". Manchester Evening News. p. 22. Retrieved 26 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Ed Vaizey, Member of Parliament for Wantage (11 October 2017). "The Arts: Health Effects". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons of the United Kingdom.
  14. ^ "Congleton Playwriting Competition". BBC. Archived from the original on 23 July 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Cockpit
    Drama Column"    . Nantwich Chronicle. 21 August 1975. p. 40. Retrieved 10 July 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ^ "Here at last…". Congleton Chronicle. 21 September 1984. p. 27.
  17. ^ "Curtain comes down on long-severing stage technician". Congleton Chronicle. 19 July 1996. p. 27.
  18. ^ a b Lyons, Erin (11 May 2017). "A leading role for Congleton Players, winners of two gongs at theatre awards". Congleton Chronicle. p. 24.
  19. ^ a b c "NODA North West District 8 Awards 2020 - NODA". www.noda.org.uk. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  20. ^ McLeavy, Clare (4 February 2024). "NODA DISTRICT AWARDS 2023". Congleton Amateur Youth Theatre. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  21. ^ "NODA North West District 8 Awards & Dinner 2018 - NODA". www.noda.org.uk. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
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