Daneside Theatre

Daneside Theatre is a theatre in the town of Congleton, Cheshire, England.[9] It opened in 1984, and was expanded in 2001. The theatre is used by several local dramatic and musical societies.[10]

Daneside Theatre
Official logo of Daneside Theatre
Exterior of Daneside Theatre in March 2022
AddressCongleton
United Kingdom
OwnerDaneside Community Theatre Trust Limited[1]
TypeLocal
Capacity300[2][3]
Construction
Built1980-1984[4]
Opened3 October 1984 (3 October 1984)[5]
Renovated1997 (1997)[6]
Expanded2001 (2001)[7]
Construction cost£198,000[8]
Website
Official website

History

The need for a new theatre in Congleton came about because of the closure of the Players Hall on Eaton’s bank that was used as a "little theatre" by the Congleton Players.[4] The Players hall was closed because it was “Smack bang in the middle” of then new inner relief road Mountbatten Way.[4]

The theatre was built on top of the Congleton open-air swimming baths as part of the Daneside Leisure Development,[5] which led to the closure of the swimming baths.[10] It was built by Daneside Theatre Trust Ltd between 1980 and 1984.[4]

The ground breaking day for the theatre was 4 October 1980 when the first sod was cut.[4]

The theatre was officially opened on 3 October 1984 by the chairman of Congleton Inclosure trust Jocelyn Solly MC who cut a giant ribbon which had been placed across the stage.[11]

The theatre cost £198,000 to build;[8] some funding came from local townspeople who paid to have a seat named after a family member.[10]

The first production at Daneside Theatre was "Curtain up" which featured various amateur theatrical groups in and around Congleton.[4] In attendance were local members of parliament, mayors of both the Borough of Congleton and the town of Congleton, and other dignitaries.[5]

The founders of the theatre had always hoped to be able to screen films at the theatre, but there were no facilities for showing films[5] until the donation of a projector from Barclays Bank's training centre in Knutsford, which had recently switched to using video units for training.[5] The first movie to be screened at Daneside Theatre was Desperately Seeking Susan.[5] Among the audience that night were the mayor of Congleton Borough, councillor Joe Alcock, and Congleton town mayor councillor Mike Kitton.[5]

Daneside Theatre was refurbished in 1997 at a cost of £90,000.[6]

Fire

The theatre was subject to an arson attack in 1998,[6] when two storage containers outside the theatre were set alight.[12] The blaze sent smoke pouring into the theatre and the props and scenery stored in the containers were destroyed.[12] However, firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading by creating a "barrier of water" between the burning containers and the theatre.[6]

Expansion

The building was expanded at a total cost of £200,000 in 2001, of which £57,000 came as a grant from the Arts Council of England,[7] and some came though support other organisations, such as the Garfield Weston Foundation.[13] The three-storey expansion added new rehearsal rooms, a meeting room and extra storage space, and took three years of planning.[7]

Use by theatrical societies

The following theatrical societies use Daneside Theatre:

Awards

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)[27]
  • Mavis Stoner: Special Recognition Award (NODA District 8 2020 awards)[27]
  • Sheila Rowley: Special Recognition Award (NODA District 8 2020 awards)[27]

References
  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". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  4. "Daneside theatre special feature". Congleton Chronicle. 21 September 1984. p. 27.
  5. Hornsey, Brian (1997). Ninety Years of cinema in Congleton. p. 9. ISBN 1901425126.
  6. "video Clue in Arson Blaze". Warrington Guardian. 19 February 1998. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  7. "Curtain rises on theatre extension". Warrington Guardian. 25 October 2001. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  8. "Sentinel Comment". Evening Sentinel. 28 September 1984. p. 12.
  9. "Daneside Theatre". Congleton Town Council. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  10. Alcock, Joan P. (30 June 2003). History and Guide Congleton. Stroud: Tempus Publishing Ltd. p. 108. ISBN 0752429469.
  11. "History made as curtain goes up at the new Daneside theatre". Congleton Chronicle. 12 October 1984. p. 24.
  12. "Fingers Crossed for Me and My Girl". Warrington Guardian. 19 February 1998. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  13. "Grant Aid Makes Theatre Extension a Reality". Warrington Guardian. 19 April 2001. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  14. "Centre Stage Youth Theatre Company Information sheet". centrestageytc.co.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  15. "Boys wanted by youth theatre co". The Congleton Chronicle. 7 October 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  16. "Congleton Amateur Youth Theatre - NODA". www.noda.org.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  17. "HOME". congleton.cmt. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  18. "Congleton Musical Theatre - NODA". www.noda.org.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  19. Astbury, Michell; 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.
  20. "Lottery Boost for Theatre". Warrington Guardian. 9 November 2000. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  21. "About us". congletonplayers.com. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  22. "Stage groups in Staffordshire". 17 February 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  23. "Come and join Our Gang". Warrington Guardian. 15 November 2001. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  24. "2022 Season". Phoenixtheatrecomp. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  25. "Trinity Amateur Operatic Society » About the show". trinityaos.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  26. "Daneside Theatre announces Spring 2003 season". Warrington Guardian. 17 January 2003. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  27. "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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