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The Rossendale Players have been producing plays in the
Rossendale Valley for almost 70 years.
In 1936 members of the W.E.A. Dramatic Literature Class formed a drama section intent
on transferring plays from the page to the stage.
However the W.E.A.'s rules did not permit actual performances, so the enthusiasts broke
away calling themselves The Rossendale Players and rented a wooden hut on the bleak
hillside above Stacksteads.
Their first public performance, Somerset Maugham's "The Circle" was
performed in Waterfoot Conservative Club's Victoria Hall which was to be their home for
the next 14 years, rising from 2 to 4 productions a year. Even during the war continuity
was unbroken.
Following the 50th production however the Victoria Hall was converted
into a nightclub and the hunt was on for new premises, hopefully to become a permanent theatre.
Within 12 months they had leased and converted a large schoolroom, St. John's Cloughfold,
into a theatre with financial support from Rawtenstall Council, local businesses and
individuals.
Productions increased to 5 or 6 a year for 7 or 8 performances each, playing to a capacity
of 240 nightly.
The Society earned a growing reputation throughout the Northwest and gained successes in several
drama festivals.
In spite of this success and after 14 years in this building, negotiations to renew the lease
were unsuccessful, and, in 1964 a further move was unavoidable.
With scenery , props, lighting and costumes stored in various places, a long , nomadic existence
ensued with productions in numerous venues and often reduced to only 2 a year, but culminating
in a slightly more settled state at Bacup Leisure Hall. |
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The need for a more permanent hall launched the "First Stage Appeal" in 1990 in a determined
effort to raise funds whilst searching for a building to become a permanent theatre. By May 1994
enough had been raised to buy the former Bethel Baptist Lecture Hall in Waterfoot.
Intense fundraising continued while work proceeded to convert the building into an intimate
theatre. A new exciting chapter began with the opening of
THE NEW MILLENNIUM THEATRE in September
2000 ( appropriately with a revival of "The Circle" ) just a few hundred yards from the Victoria
Hall where the first production had played in 1936.
Since then the Society's success has continued with many acclaimed performances,
including the award winning " Someone Who'll Watch Over Me" which returned the Players to
Festival success, winning 3 major awards against national competition at Fleetwood in 2002.
As well as our own productions the Society regularly hosts visits by other drama groups
including plays from Todmorden, Burnley, Blackburn, Colne and Oswaldtwistle.
The Theatre Studies group at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School have valued our facilities
for their lessons and their annual productions.
Music and comedy nights of Jazz and Folk are enjoyed regularly by our audiences and the annual
Quiz Night is one of the theatre's social highlights.
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