Saddleworth Players – Page 6 – MILLGATE ARTS CENTRE

A new way of working for Saddleworth Players

Saddleworth Players are implementing some changes to the way we organise ourselves. The problem: COVID closed down all the theatres and when we re-emerged in the recovery season we found that many people who previously were involved didn’t return. For some it was an opportunity to take stock and retire, for others, the lockdowns provided new hobbies and focus and the theatre has slipped in importance. This current Season we’ve attempted to carry on as […]

Opening night review of ‘Trap for a Lonely Man’ by Jude Gidney

The play is set in a ski lodge in France where Daniel Corban has just reported that his newly wedded wife has been missing for 10 days to the police. The Chief Inspector seems unhelpful but promises he will investigate for him. Seconds later the new local priest, Father Maximin, exclaims he’s found his wife and brings her to the chalet. However, Daniel claims he’s never set eyes on this woman before. As the story […]

Preview – Bette & Joan

Bette Davis and Joan Crawford: two of the deadliest arch-rivals of all time. Born in the same year (though Davis swore ‘Crawford is 5 years older than me if she is a day’, the two fought bitterly throughout their Long and brilliant Hollywood careers. The women worked together only once, in the classic thriller Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? in which their violent hatred of each other as rival sisters was no act. In this […]

Millgate Advent Calendar 2022

Saddleworth Players at Millgate Arts Centre annual advent calendar 2022 we hope you enjoy opening the doors on the advent calendar bringing back memories from past shows Let’s get this party started Saddleworth Players Youth Theatre… put the kettle on for a brew We’re making a list . We’re checking it twice working off the mince pies We three kings of orient are all I want for Christmas is… It’s Christmas jumper day…. Fred and […]

Ben Hur Review by Rebecca Wood

A review from the first night audience member: Wow – what an EPIC piece of theatre!!! Just 4 (tremendous) actors, multi-roling, gave a fabulous, enthralling & strory-telling performance. I can only imagine the hard work that went into this from the actors, director & crew…!! Your use of a simple, but effective multi-use set, really helped with the audiences understanding of the ‘scene setting’, from the dark dungeons to the dusty desert, we were treated […]

Ben Hur review by Martin Roche

Many congratulations to all involved in a superb team effort at Saddleworth Players at Millgate Arts Centre for their production of ‘Ben Hur.’ Four excellent performances from Mark Rosenthal, Andy Hoyle, Kate Davies and Jon Comyn-Platt: epic, hectic, chaotic, at times neurotic, consistently eccentric! It wasn’t so much directed, more choreographed by Verity Mann and the entire tech team was a tour de force. And thank you for allowing me the opportunity for audience participation […]

Ben Hur- opening night review by John Rigby

full of humour and energy John Rigby On hearing of the Saddleworth Players’ plan to put on Ben Hur at the Millgate, I must admit that my first reaction was one of bewilderment, especially as it was going to be played as a comedy. What on earth would it be like? Carry On Crashing, perhaps, or a cross between Hollywood epic and Last of the Summer Wine, with chariots lurching out of control down Stoneswood […]

Headteacher scores triumph in play

reproduced from News@Ken By Ken Bennett By day, Liz Travis is the popular headteacher in a 200-pupil village school… But from now until October 1, every night except Monday, she playing a starring role in Saddleworth Players production of “Scary Bikers” at Millgate Arts centre, Delph. And Liz, 49, who has lead Holy Trinity Dobcross School for 15 years, says candidly: “The most common question I am asked when I appear on publicity for the […]

A gentle and at times, hard-hitting ride through northern life, humour, relationships and politics.

A review of opening night by Martin Roche The great thing about a piece of theatre is when the subject matter brings an idea, a concept, a story to the stage which feels original and just works. I think we’re on safe ground in the originality stakes with a two-hander play encompassing foreign cycling trips, bereavement, Brexit, the Miner’s Strike and a burgeoning friendship! I guess it is the latter which is the glue which […]

From Page to Stage

By Carol Davies On Saturday, the 4th of June 2022 the play ‘Singers not Sinners’ premiered at Millgate Arts Centre, Delph and ran for a week. On the 30th August last it was reprised with the same cast at Oldham Parish Church, now Saint Mary’s with Saint Peter, on the site of the 1701 church. It was an extraordinary experience and a major place on the Journey. Because from Page to Stage IS a journey.. […]