'Family' theatre group marks 100 years on the stage

Members of an amateur dramatic society thought to be one of the oldest in the UK are celebrating the group's 100th anniversary.

The Green Room Theatre in Wilmslow, Cheshire, was founded in 1924, and has been described as "like family" for those who attend.

Over the years the society has rehearsed and performed in different venues, before moving into a dedicated base in the 1980s.

Vice president Belinda Coghlan said the group has brought many friends and contacts together.

David Reynolds, who is the president, and Ms Coghlan have both been involved with the group for 60 years - becoming good friends after meeting there in 1964.

“I moved to Wilmslow not knowing anybody and was advised to join here to make friends,” Ms Coghlan said.

“Both of us wanted to act but in those days there were very few drama colleges up here and you had to go down to London,” Mr Reynolds added.

Ms Coghlan said: “I joined the Green Room and got all the acting I ever wanted. Continuously in plays."

The group's current building is made up of a converted cottage, a purpose-built link building and a former shirt factory.

Over the years, they’ve put on productions by playwrights including Shakespeare, Agatha Christie, Arthur Miller, Michael Palin, Willy Russell and Oscar Wilde, among many others.

But the group said the people were just as important as the plays.

“Somebody said what is the one word I would use to describe the Green Room and I said friendship,” Mr Reynolds said.

“And I said family,” Ms Coghlan added.

The pair both said they would like to see more younger people involved.

Timothy Wren is playing the lead in their current production of Noel Coward’s Present Laughter. He is one of the younger members of the society.

“I’ve been doing shows here for nearly 10 years. I came back in my early 20s, and I knew about my local theatre and I just wanted to get involved,” he said.

He said the group also allowed people to learn extra skills including set design, costume to stage management.

“They’re opportunities that are available to anybody and that’s what I really like about theatres like this,” he said.

“People seem to see it as a closed circle, but it’s really not," he continued.

“I would say in certain circles in the arts there is a lot of elitism, but your local theatres are not like that at all.

“They’re always wanting new people in because the thing about working with new people is you learn things from everybody. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are.

“You learn a new skill and it’s a nice way of feeling part of a community and you’re investing in yourself because you’re learning new skills and having a good time while doing it.”

The theatre is celebrating its 100-year milestone with a season of shows, and the president paid tribute to the wide range of people who helped to make them possible.

Mr Reynolds said: "People don't realise the amount of work that goes into putting a play on, it's not just us people who are on the stage.

"It's the backstage crew, lighting, sound, the wardrobe people, people who man the box office and the bar, there are so many people involved in it."

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