Loading
  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Daneside Theatre

Daneside Theatre is a theatre in the town of Congleton, Cheshire, England. It opened in 1984 and expanded in 2001. The theatre is used by several local dramatic and musical societies.

History

Daneside Theatre was built in response to the closure of the Players Hall on Eaton’s bank that was used by the Congleton Players. The Players Hall was closed to allow for the construction of the Mountbatten Way inner relief road.

In 4 October 1980, the first sod was cut. The theatre was built by Daneside Theatre Trust Ltd. on top of the Congleton open-air swimming baths as part of the Daneside Leisure Development, which led to the closure of the swimming baths. The theatre cost £198,000 to build; some funding came from local townspeople who paid to have a seat named after a family member. The theatre officially opened on 3 October 1984 by the chairman of Congleton Inclosure trust, Jocelyn Solly.

The first production at Daneside Theatre was Curtain Up which featured various amateur theatrical groups in and around Congleton. In attendance were local members of parliament, mayors of both the Borough of Congleton and the town of Congleton, and other dignitaries.

A projector from Barclays Bank's training centre in Knutsford, which had recently switched to using video units for training, was donating to the theatre, which allowed for film screenings. The first movie to be screened at Daneside Theatre was Desperately Seeking Susan. Among the audience that night were the mayor of Congleton Borough, councillor Joe Alcock, and Congleton town mayor councillor Mike Kitton.

Refurbishment

Daneside Theatre was refurbished in 1997 at a cost of over £100,000. The refurbishment added a foyer and disabled toilets to the theatre, with a large amount of money coming from the estate of Jocelyn Solly.

Fire

The theatre was subject to an arson attack in 1998, when two storage containers outside the theatre were set alight. The props and scenery stored in the containers were destroyed. Firefighters were able to prevent the fire spreading between the burning containers and the theatre.

Expansion

Plaque marking the date the expansion was opened

The building was expanded at a total cost of £238,000 in 2001, of which £56,775 came as a grant from the Arts Council of England, and some came though support other organisations, such as the Garfield Weston Foundation. The expansion added new rehearsal rooms, a meeting room, and extra storage space.

The expansion was opened by Ann Winterton, MP for Congleton, on 10 November 2001.

Use by theatrical societies

The following theatrical societies use Daneside Theatre:

The Congleton Gang Show was formed in 1972. The Congleton Gang Show performs one performance every two years at Daneside Theatre.

The Congleton Gang Show was formed as part of the 1972 Congleton charter year celebrations.

  • Phoenix Theatre Company
  • SOL Theatre School
  • Trinity Amateur Operatic Society

Awards

The following is a list of people linked to Daneside Theatre who have won awards.

  • Annabelle Hull: Special Recognition Award (NODA District 8 2020 awards)
  • Mavis Stoner: Special Recognition Award (NODA District 8 2020 awards)
  • Sheila Rowley: Special Recognition Award (NODA District 8 2020 awards)

References

  1. ^ "Daneside Community Theatre Trust Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  2. ^ Reeder, Janet (12 June 2017). "Why Congleton has a long history of entertainment". Cheshire Life. Norwich: Archant Limated. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  3. ^ "BBC - Stoke and Staffordshire Stage - Daneside Theatre". BBC. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Scouts and Guides return to the stage". The social pages. Congleton Chronicle. 24 October 2024. p. 34.
  5. ^ "Daneside Theatre special feature". Congleton Chronicle. 21 September 1984. p. 27.
  6. ^ Hornsey, Brian (1997). Ninety Years of cinema in Congleton. p. 9. ISBN 1901425126.
  7. ^ "video Clue in Arson Blaze". Warrington Guardian. 19 February 1998. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Curtain rises on theatre extension". Warrington Guardian. 25 October 2001. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Sentinel Comment". Evening Sentinel. 28 September 1984. p. 12.
  10. ^ "Daneside Theatre". Congleton Town Council. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  11. ^ Alcock, Joan P. (30 June 2003). History and Guide Congleton. Stroud: Tempus Publishing Ltd. p. 108. ISBN 0752429469.
  12. ^ "History made as curtain goes up at the new Daneside theatre". Congleton Chronicle. 12 October 1984. p. 24.
  13. ^ "M.P. opens Daneside Theatre extension". Congleton Chronicle. 16 November 2001. p. 35.
  14. ^ "Fingers Crossed for Me and My Girl". Warrington Guardian. 19 February 1998. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Extracts from the Chronicle Files "25 years ago"". Glancing Back. Congleton Chronicle. 2 March 2023. p. 6.
  16. ^ "Grant Aid Makes Theatre Extension a Reality". Warrington Guardian. 19 April 2001. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  17. ^ "Centre Stage Youth Theatre Company Information sheet". centrestageytc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  18. ^ "Boys wanted by youth theatre co". Congleton Chronicle. 7 October 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Congleton Amateur Youth Theatre - NODA". www.noda.org.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  20. ^ "HOME". CongletonMusicalTheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  21. ^ "Congleton Musical Theatre - NODA". www.noda.org.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  22. ^ Greensmith, Alexander (4 March 2022). "Could you star in the long-awaited return of Congleton Pantomime?". Congleton Nub News. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Lottery Boost for Theatre". Warrington Guardian. 9 November 2000. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  24. ^ "About us". congletonplayers.com. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  25. ^ "Stage groups in Staffordshire". BBC News. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  26. ^ "Thanks for the memories, gang!". Congleton Chronicle. 3 November 2022. p. 22.
  27. ^ "Dazzling pace—and variety". Evening Sentinel. 29 November 1983. p. 6. Retrieved 17 December 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "2022 Season". Phoenixtheatrecomp. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  29. ^ "Home". soltheatreschool.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  30. ^ "Trinity Amateur Operatic Society » About the show". trinityaos.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  31. ^ "Daneside Theatre announces Spring 2003 season". Warrington Guardian. 17 January 2003. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  32. ^ "NODA North West District 8 Awards 2020 - NODA". www.noda.org.uk. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.

53°09′57″N 2°12′39″W / 53.1657°N 2.21085°W / 53.1657; -2.21085