a poetic tribute to Saddleworth Players by Robert Knotts (With thanks to Trevor Baxter for his article, which inspired the writing and illustration of this poem.) (illustrations created using Loveart AI) In Delph, they gathered, the ladies so bright, At St Thomas’s Church on a frosty night. They sought more joy than hymns and tea, A stage! A script! Some artistry! The Girls’ Friendly Society took its chance, Exchanged their sewing for song and dance. […]
This summer Millgate Arts Centre have made a significant investment in the building to make long term repairs to a building that started off as a cooperative warehouse and shop and has since the 1970s been entertaining the Saddleworth Community. In 2022 as we prepared for their annual panto, they recognised that the backstage of the theatre had suffered significant structural deterioration over many years. Water ingress which was hidden behind decoration had worked its […]
We were delighted to be awarded a grant from Theatres Trust May 2025, which enabled us to purchase new LED Lighting to improve the quality of shows and attract more external shows. Our lighting rig, a stock of 60+ conventional fixtures and 4 LED RGB pars, plus a 48 way dimmer bank, needs modernising for Saddleworth Players shows , concerts and visiting play groups . Both they and their audiences are used to much better […]
Waiting for God is a very funny comedy which highlights the art of growing old disgracefully. In it, Diana Trent, who is quite a rascible lady living out her retirement days in the Bay View retirement home and actually at war constantly with a conniving manager meets a new resident, Tom Ballard, who is he’s eccentric, he’s funny and very warm hearted. And there it is, a friendship that turns to romance. It’s a very […]
“A joyfully anarchic journey through Dickensian London and beyond.” When a stage play has evolved from a radio play, my experience is that they just work. Maybe it’s the approach to devising them and the characters. Maybe it’s the quality of the writers and the development process they go through. Whatever it is, they simply have a greater sense of theatre about them and invariably, it’s a winning formula.The pedigree for Bleak Expectations easily places it […]
We are delighted to have be awarded a grant from Theatres Trust which enabled us to purchase new LED Lighting to improve the quality of shows and attract more external shows. The new lighting will be first used in Bleak Expectations in May. Our lighting rig, a stock of 60+ conventional fixtures and 4 LED RGB pars, plus a 48 way dimmer bank, needed modernising for Saddleworth Players shows , concerts and visiting play groups […]
Opening Night Review by Peter Fitton “The Rise and Fall of Little Voice” seems to be Farnworth-writer Jim Cartwright’s tribute to Shelagh Delaney’s “A Taste Of Honey”. Blowsy, mutton-dressed-as-lamb mother, Mari, despairs of her misfit daughter, LV, whilst trying to hang on to her fancy man, Ray Say. Wayward parenting certainly looms large and both plays walk a tightrope between the mother’s brash, slatternly lifestyle and the daughter’s desperate need to escape loneliness and neglect. […]
two shows in rehearsal The building repair work planned from the 26th May means we have a very truncated season with Bleak Expectations coming hotly on the heels of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. We would usually have a comfortable 7 weeks rehearsal period on stage but we’ll have just under 4 which includes Easter and bank holidays! Nothing daunted, our fabulous cast have set up camp in my living room and we’re […]
The Rise & Fall of Little Voice is my first involvement in a production with Saddleworth Players, as I have mainly been directing/acting at The Lyceum/Curtain Theatres with shows such as Calendar Girls, Dads Army, Heroes and Death of a Salesman. That’s been the case for the last 30 plus years. So I am old but in good working second hand order. Little Voice has been described as a grim northern fairy tale but its […]
IT DOES not take a super sleuth to detect the quality in Clue. The Saddleworth Players’ production of Clue at the Millgate Arts Centre is nothing short of spectacular! Based on the 1985 cult-classic film and the beloved Cluedo board game, this show is a blend of side-splitting comedy and thrilling murder mystery. The moment you walk in, you can see the effort that has been put in as soon as you take your seat. The stage […]