Wednesday 18 November 2015

Are we the oldest amdram in the world? - we think we are!

In Leigh theatre had been flourishing for years, it's heart the Golden Lion Inn in Windymill Lane.  Macbeth had been staged there in February 1789 many more productions followed in those years of drudgery and discovery.  Then in 1840, the curtain first went up on St Joseph's Players, or did it?  The answer now lies forever lost in the cloudy mists of time,.  According to NODA  the national governing body of dramatic societies, St Joseph's is the oldest in Great Britain formed in 1840 just three years after the world's longest-established company, SIMLA ADC at the Gaiety Theatre in India.  No-one at the Leigh society can confirm or deny that 1990 was their 150th year.  The anniversary tit bit first came to light when, in 1987 there was some initial research into St Joseph's ADS history.  Long hours sifting through dusty parish magazines, many dating back to when Jesuits ruled the Leigh church, revealed a plethora of valuable information.  but there was nothing to take the society back beyond the mid-1850's.  The hidden truth behind those final 15 years has become a crusade for determined thespians eager to uncover their roots.  Intense research has fixed the earliest confirmed performance as a Christmas play Fabiola, which ran for three night in the old chapel in 1856.  The society was, more likely, born out of church and school offerings around 1840.   One thing is for certain, the St Joseph's Players of today are determined to carry on the tradition of providing top quality plays and pantomimes for many years to come.

Information obtained from a special feature in the Journal Showcase by David Hodgkinson

Thursday 12 November 2015

Dancers and rehearsals

Dancer's first rehearsal.


Pantomime season is upon us!

Award winning ST JOSEPH'S PLAYERS (LEIGH) are busy rehearsing for their next production which is their popular traditional Pantomime, which is SLEEPING BEAUTY TICKETS WILL BE ON SALE FROM 1ST DECEMBER 2015 from our box office:  Ratcliffes Cycles, Bardshawgate, Leigh.  (It is advisable to buy now as they do go very quickly)
Our new email address is stjosephsplayers1@gmail.com for enquiries only. 

 Group tickets are available: for each of ten tickets bought, one ticket is free. these need to be booked through the email address as soon as possible.

Dates are: Wed. 20/1/16 to 30/1/16 Sat.  each week comm. on Wednesdays.
               
  Evening Performances comm. 7-15pm Ticket price £8 adults 16yrs & under £4

                 Three matinees: 24th 25th & 30th 
                 Curtain up 2pm Adults £10 16yrs & under £4


N.B.  All tickets for the first Wed. & Thurs.  £4 only.

Friday 6 November 2015

Hello All

This is the brand new home and blog of St Joseph's Players.

We believe that we are the oldest amateur dramatics society in the world having been formed circa 1830.  

 We’re still going strong but we need plenty of support by you coming to see our shows or if you are interested in acting or backstage work you would be very welcome to join our society.
The group is run entirely by volunteers, without whom we could not survive. Our theatre is an exciting and vibrant place. If you have some time to spare and would like to become involved as a member, then please contact us at St. Joseph’s Hall: rehearsal nights are Mondays and Thursdays.