Stage stars' golden year celebrations

DEPUTY Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Shadab Qumer, and Youth Mayor T-Jay Turner with the cast and crew of "Season's Greetings"

CROMPTON Stage Society has celebrated half a century of entertaining audiences at Shaw's Playhouse 2 theatre.

The theatrical society was actually formed in 1934 but was originally based on the top floor of the Oddfellows Hall on Farrow Street, Shaw where it put on its first ever production, "The Broad Highway".

It subsequently moved to a disused Methodist chapel on Gordon Street. However, in 1966 an unfortunate fire meant that the society was without a home, until it found The Princes Cinema, which, after renovation, became what is now Playhouse 2.

The 153-seat theatre is run entirely by volunteers and was the first amateur theatre with a unique open thrust stage in the North-West, which provides perfect viewing from any angle.

As part of the golden anniversary celebrations, Crompton Stage Society invited Deputy Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Shadab Qumer, and Youth Mayor T-Jay Turner, to watch its recent Christmas production, Alan Ayckbourn's comedy "Season's Greetings".

The Christmas production is the second play in the theatre's five-play season. The remaining three plays of the season are: Amanda Whittington's "Ladies Down Under" ­- a sequel to the popular "Ladies' Day", "Dial M for Murder" by Frederick Knott and "Ladies in Lavender" adapted for stage by Shaun McKenna.

As well as celebrating 50 years of drama at Playhouse 2, the theatre is celebrating 20 years of hosting music gigs, and, to add to the theatre's busy schedule, it shows a regular flow of recent films in its capacity as a cinema.

Barbara Micklethwaite, chairman of Crompton Stage Society, said: "We are delighted to be celebrating 50 years of Crompton Stage Society at Playhouse 2. The society is going from strength to strength. This is a result of our incredible band of volunteers, who dedicate their spare time into making Playhouse 2 a vibrant and successful community hub. We are very much looking forward to the next 50 years."

The society's productions still feature some of the people who acted at the original Playhouse as well as young performers from the theatre's PH2Youth. The youth theatre has proved extremely successful and hopes to encourage a new generation of volunteers and performers to Playhouse 2.