Daneside Theatre

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Daneside Theatre
Official logo of Daneside Theatre
Exterior of Daneside Theatre in March 2022
Map
AddressCongleton
United Kingdom
OwnerDaneside Community Theatre Trust Limited[1]
TypeLocal
Capacity300[2][3]
ProductionFrozen Jr (Production by Congleton Amateur Youth Theatre 15-18 May 2024)[4]
Construction
Built1980-1984[5]
Opened3 October 1984; 39 years ago (3 October 1984)[6]
Renovated1997; 27 years ago (1997)[7]
Expanded2001; 23 years ago (2001)[8]
Construction cost£198,000[9]
Website
Official website

Daneside Theatre is a theatre in the town of Congleton, Cheshire, England.[10] It opened in 1984 and expanded in 2001. The theatre is used by several local dramatic and musical societies.[11]

History[edit]

Daneside Theatre was built in response to the closure of the Players Hall on Eaton’s bank that was used by the Congleton Players.[5] The Players Hall was closed to allow for the construction of the Mountbatten Way inner relief road.[5]

In 4 October 1980, the first sod was cut.[5] 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,[6] which led to the closure of the swimming baths.[5][11] The theatre cost £198,000 to build;[9] some funding came from local townspeople who paid to have a seat named after a family member.[11] The theatre officially opened on 3 October 1984 by the chairman of Congleton Inclosure trust, Jocelyn Solly.[12]

The first production at Daneside Theatre was Curtain Up which featured various amateur theatrical groups in and around Congleton.[5] In attendance were local members of parliament, mayors of both the Borough of Congleton and the town of Congleton, and other dignitaries.[6]

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.[6] The first movie to be screened at Daneside Theatre was Desperately Seeking Susan.[6] Among the audience that night were the mayor of Congleton Borough, councillor Joe Alcock, and Congleton town mayor councillor Mike Kitton.[6]

Refurbishment[edit]

Daneside Theatre was refurbished in 1997[7] at a cost of over £100,000.[13] The refurbishment added a foyer and disabled toilets to the theatre, with a large amount of money coming from the estate of Jocelyn Solly.[13]

Fire[edit]

The theatre was subject to an arson attack in 1998,[7] when two storage containers outside the theatre were set alight.[14] The props and scenery stored in the containers were destroyed.[14] Firefighters were able to prevent the fire spreading between the burning containers and the theatre.[7][15]

Expansion[edit]

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,[13] and some came though support other organisations, such as the Garfield Weston Foundation.[16] The expansion added new rehearsal rooms, a meeting room, and extra storage space.[8]

The expansion was opened by Ann Winterton, MP for Congleton, on 10 November 2001.[13]

Use by theatrical societies[edit]

The following theatrical societies use Daneside Theatre:

The Congleton Gang Show was formed in 1972.[26][27] The Congleton Gang Show performs one performance every two years at Daneside Theatre.[26]

The Congleton Gang Show was formed as part of the 1972 Congleton charter year celebrations.[26]

Awards[edit]

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)[32]
  • Mavis Stoner: Special Recognition Award (NODA District 8 2020 awards)[32]
  • Sheila Rowley: Special Recognition Award (NODA District 8 2020 awards)[32]

References[edit]

  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. ^ "Youth Theatre present 'Frozen Junior' musical". Congleton Chronicle. 18 April 2024. p. 2.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Daneside Theatre special feature". Congleton Chronicle. 21 September 1984. p. 27.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Hornsey, Brian (1997). Ninety Years of cinema in Congleton. p. 9. ISBN 1901425126.
  7. ^ a b c d "video Clue in Arson Blaze". Warrington Guardian. 19 February 1998. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Curtain rises on theatre extension". Warrington Guardian. 25 October 2001. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Sentinel Comment". Evening Sentinel. 28 September 1984. p. 12.
  10. ^ "Daneside Theatre". Congleton Town Council. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  11. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c d "M.P. opens Daneside Theatre extension". Congleton Chronicle. 16 November 2001. p. 35.
  14. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b c d "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. ^ 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.

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