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29 May 2012
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You are in: Stoke & Staffordshire >Theatre & Culture > Am Dram
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A list of Staffordshire's local amateur drama societies, theatre groups, small theatres, fan sites, drama schools and stage support services - including classical music and choral groups

Not listed? Send us details of your group, or your web site (or both) by clicking here

Companies

Abbots Bromley Players
Founded in 1985, in the back room of one of the local pubs, the group has performed two plays every year. Highlights of the group's history include a multi-media production of Dennis Potter's Son of Man in the local church to mark 1,000 years of Christianity in the village, and productions of classics like The Ghost Train, and Dry Rot.
Contact David Walton
Aldridge Musical Comedy Society
 With over twenty years of productions at the Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock, this is a company with an enviable tradition
Contact: 01922 684315
Alsager Community Theatre
Founded in 1973, ACT performs two plays each year in Alsager Civic Centre and an outdoor production at Little Moreton Hall, near Congleton, 2004 being the 30th.
Winners of NSDA 'Most Adventurous approach to Theatre' on several occasions. New members always welcome. Meetings in Alsager Library Wednesdays 7.45.
See website www.alsagercommunitytheatre.org.uk
Barlaston Proscenium Players
North Staffordshire company now in existence for over 50 years!
Contact: 01782 372517
Backstreet Theatre Company - Musical Theatre
Great Wyrley, Staffordshire
BackstreetTC@aol.com; 01543 450302
Bella Musica is a new company of Singers, all solo performers in their own right. All have performed lead roles throughout the Midlands including Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Lichfield, Stafford and Cannock. Shows to their credit include the popular G & S operettas, Rodgers & Hammerstein favourites, and Lerner and Loewe blockbusters. All have created their own audience following across the County and with this in mind they’ve pooled their talents and are also inviting singers from across the voice range to make contact. Auditions can be arranged to suit.
Contact: 01543 451427; e-mail dimaxuk@aol.com
Borderlines - based at New Vic Theatre, Newcastle
Award winning theatre project which holds workshops with some of Stoke on Trent's most disadvantaged people.
Borderlines carry out a lot of work with people, giving them the opportunity to produce theatre that reflects their everyday lives.
Contact: Julia Barton 01782 717954 ext 309. E-mail: jbarton@newvictheatre.org.uk or borderlines@newvictheatre.org.uk OR New Vic Theatre, Etruria Road, Newcastle, Staffs
Website: www.newvictheatre.org.uk/border.html
Cannock Chase Drama Society
Contact: Secretary Colin Cooper - 01543 503615
Cannock Wood & Gentleshaw Musical Society (CWAGMS)
CWAGMS (pronounced CWAGUMS) was formed in 1977. In those days it numbered about 35 on stage, plus another 10-12 friends and relatives working backstage, front of house etc. The first show, performed in the local Village Hall, was a little known musical/operetta called "Dick Turpin" (pictures of the show are in the Shows Picture Gallery Link!).
They now perform two complete stage musicals each year; one in December and one in May with an annual travelling variety show musical show, which begins in September, and then is performed throughout the year, earning lots of money for various charities. In December 1998 it raised £1000 for the local Air Ambulance, the previous year, £1000 for the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute), and in 1999, £1200 for the Cannock branch of the St. John Ambulance.
CWAGMS also go Carol Singing each Christmas, and all of the money raised is given to local charities. They all dress up in Dickension Costumes, and look as if they have stepped off a Christmas Card!
Email address: kevinfearn12@hotmail.com
Contact: 01543 684209 (Terry or Sharron)
Website http://www.geocities.com/cwagms
Chadsmoor Choral Society - Contact Ian Davies on 07976890401
Cheadle Amateur Theatrical Society (CATS) based in Staffs Moorlands.
They produce one play and one panto per year and accept people of all ages. They also enter the Stoke-on-Trent one act festival each year.
Contact: 01538-751173; publicity@cheadle-cats.org.uk or boxoffice@cheadle-cats.org.uk
Website: www.cheadle-cats.co.uk
Centre Stage Theatre Company - an amateur group who were founded in 1998 and are based in Leek where we rehearse and perform but have many members from all over the North Staffs area. Contact: secretary@centrestage-leek.org.uk.
Ticket info- 01538 382546 or tickets@centrestage-leek.org.uk
Chesterton Players
Newcastle
01782 852564; chestertonplayers@yahoo.com
City of Stoke-on-Trent Amateur Operatic Society - Youth Section - the youth section stage one major production a year in the autumn at the Mitchell Memorial Theatre (as 2004 was the Youth Section's 25th anniversary year they put on a celebration show at the Stoke Rep). Young people aged 11 to 18 learn here all about musical theatre with workshops in acting, singing and stage dancing/movement from November to February. Then, there are pre-audition workshops for the annual major production.
See web site www.stokeyouth.org; email stokeyouth@aol.com
Day-Star - small professional touring theatre company based in Audlem on the Cheshire/Staffordshire border (touring the canals for 23 years and primary schools for 20 years) who have extended work into village halls and small theatres.
D.E. Caversmill Theatre Company
As a company it has been around for about 12 or 13 years now, and throughout its existence has been bestowed with many awards.
They concentrate on the youth section, being a youth theatre group, so 14 years old is an ideal age to join.
Endon Drama Soc
Very friendly, though small, society.
Contacts: Pam (01782) 412641, June (01782) 503269 or Eve (01538)388166.
Edensor High School Drama Society based in Longton, SoT.
Has been running for 25 years. Plays take place in the schools studio theatre and also at Stoke Repertory Theatre
Website: http://edensorhigh.stoke.sch.uk/drama/drama.htm
Contact: Mr B Hadley, 01782 233933 at Edensor High School
Encore Theatre Group
Stone, Staffordshire
0709 2157060; uslot@encoregroup.co.uk
Etruria Cafe Theatre
Part-funded by Stoke Community Chest to involve local people in professional theatre and to attract new audiences. They do the latter by using Community Halls, the cafe element and low ticket prices. They also take professional writing/acting workshops into communities.
Contact number: 01785 256554
Five Towns Theatre
Stoke On Trent
Tel: 01782 321666; email enquiries@fivetownstheatre.org.
Web address - www.fivetownstheatre.org
FrontLine Dance - renowned semi-professional company based in Stoke on trent with a company compsoed of both able-bodied and disabled dancers. Email: frontlinedance@btopenworld.com
Website www.frontlinedance.org.uk
Gatehouse Youth Theatre - talented youngsters reach for the stars with this Stafford group, which has been going for many years, based at the town's theatre. Under their belts are many shows - including Macbeth and Dream Date!
GEMS Youth Theatre Company - based in Stone.
G.E.M.S. is a voluntary organisation, a member of Stone Youth & Community, which is open to young people from 8 to 18 years of age, who perform three musicals a year. GEMS rehearsals take place at the Roof Top Studios Theatre.
For info: 01785 761233 or e-mail comments@rooftopstudios.co.uk Website: http://www.rooftopstudios.co.uk
Harlequin Players Northwich, South Cheshire
Harlequin produce six plays a year which take place in their own teeny 96 seated Harlequin Theatre. They produce a diverse range of plays, everything from John Godber to William Shakespeare.
Contact: lou@5barrymore.freeserve.co.uk
Box office: 01606 41597 or email: harlequin@danarts.demon.co.uk Website: www.harlequinplayers.co.uk
Journeyman Theatre Company
Professional but a non profit making youth theatre company resident at the Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton
Claire Elliot - Aministrative Director, 01283 530703/07940 310876
E-mail: journeymantheatre@yahoo.co.uk
Leek Players
Plays performed at least twice a year, ranging from one man monologues to full cast comedies. New members welcome. Plays usually performed at St. Edward's Middle School but also at The Swan Hotel, Westwood High, Trinity Church and even Alton Towers!
Email Judy at: njudyherbert@westwoodleek.freeserve.co.uk
Liberty Theatre Company
Stoke On Trent
07904 111466; micklocket@tiscali.co.uk
Lichfield Operatic Society
Lichfield
01543 481294; enquiries@lichfieldoperatic.org.uk
Lichfield Players
Lichfield Cathedral Choir - see its award-winning web site!
Lichfield Girls Choir - www.lichfieldgirlschoir.co.uk
Little Theatre Company
They perform at least three productions a year at the Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-on-Trent.
Contact: ltcperform@aol.com or PO BOX 263 Burton, DE15 9ZS. Phone - 01283 542446. Website: www.little-theatre.co.uk
Longsdon Amateur Dramatic Society
Their website details the activities of the society, which is based near Leek, together with archives of past productions, photographs of recent productions and a history of the society.
Lookout Theatre based in Rugeley.
This theatre group often has performances which take place outdoors. Plays take place at the Rugeley Rose Theatre, with outdoor performances at The Temple Garden, Bishton Hall near Wolseley Bridge, Rugeley. Thriving youth branch too.
Contact: Julia 01889 881021 or stagedoor@lookout-theatre.org.uk
Lymelighters
Newcastle Under Lyme
lymelighters.theatre@mcmail.net
The Mellow Dramatics
Burton On Trent
info@mellow-dramatics.org
MiG Productions
Stafford
migsp@compuserve.com
Millennium Youth Theatre Company - a musical theatre group based in Newcastle producing one production a year, and now in its tenth year!
Email enquiries@mytc.org.uk; website www.mytc.org.uk; tickets 01782 643733 or 01782 411321 or see website
Mow Cop Players
Specialises in comedy, farce, pantomime and the occasional musical, with over thirty years behind them. Recent productions include Home is Where your Clothes Are - which was voted Best Play in the "2004 Stoke on Trent Full Length Play Festival", Inspector Drake's Last Case and The Extraordinary Revelations of Orca The Goldfish which received the Adjudicators Trophy and Runners-up Trophy in the 61st Stoke One Act Festival.
Over the past few years the players have become one of the country's leading exponents of the work of comedy playwright David Tristram and have staged many of his plays including the world premiere of Sex, Drugs and Rick and Noel in 2003.
They are however also accomplished at presenting the manic frenzied world of a Ray Cooney farce and have in the past staged sell out productions of his work.
Junior, Youth and Adult troupes meets at Milton Youth & Adult Centre.
Contact: mowcopplayers@yahoo.co.uk
Nantwich Players
The Players have been entertaining audiences since 1931! They stage five plays a year at The Players Theatre as well as holding regular play readings. They also have a youth theatre.
Contact: nantwich.players@virgin.net
Website: http://www.nantwichplayers.org.uk
Negative Equity theatre group
Contact: Rebecca Fortune 01827 69082
Newcastle Players
... present drama, comedy and thrillers each spring & autumn at the Mitchell Memorial Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent. We build our own sets in our Workshop. Willing hands always welcome. We have a active social calender as well.
For details of activities please contact the company or go to newcastleplayers.org.uk
Newcastle Amateur Operatic Society presents musicals once or twice a year at venues in or around Stoke on Trent.
Tel: 01782 565873 or e-mail jbott@youngandco.com
New Era Light Opera Group
Burton-on-Trent
07808 734 331; epritchard@nep.co.uk
North Staffs Operatic Society based in Stoke On Trent
North Staffs are a well established Musical Theatre company that employs professional Directors and Musical Directors to work with talented local performers. Productions are usually twice a year. They hold open auditions for singers, dancers and actors for each production. In 2006, productions include the regional premiere of 'Witches of Eastwick'.
Contact: orourkes@talktalk.net / 01782 395134 or 611312
Website: www.northstaffsopsoc.org.uk / www.hello.to/northstaffs
The Porthill Players
Newcastle Under Lyme
Contact: 01782 632110; jscawley@denry10.fsnet.co.uk
Website: www.porthillplayers.com
Potteries Theatre Company based in Burslem, Stoke On Trent
Website: tails?? It's www.porthillplayers.com
Contact: 01782 836979 or atrataylor@aol.com
Prince of Wales Youth Theatre Cannock
Contact: Hazel Hicks - 01543 275679
Rhythm Factory
Stoke on Trent's performing arts school and dance centre, providing all round education for performers, singers and dancers. They produce a shows which are featured at the Regent.
Our Kate went along to see them too (see article).
Website: http://www.danceloft.co.uk
The Rugeley Rose Theatre Taylor's Lane Rugeley. Tel: 01889 584036
S & J Productions
The company only presents shows, usually musicals, that have never been performed in North staffordshire before. Previously they have presented last musical written by Richard Rodgers, “I Remember Mama” in 2002; Rodgers and Hammerstein’s third stage collaboration “Allegro” in 2003; “Bye Bye Birdie” in 2004; and Rodgers and Hart's “A Connecticut Yankee”. Shows take place at the Rep, Stoke
Contact: Stephen Hearson
The Shannon Irish Dancers - based in Crewe. Contact Mark on 07796 245278
Shoebox Theatre Company Tamworth
A professionally run theatre company serving older generations in and around Tamworth, promoting intergenerational exchange between volunteers of the 3rd age and primary school pupils and offering schools a Living History resource from 1930s.
Website: www.shoeboxtheatre.co.uk
Stafford Players
The Players have been going strong since 1943 and many of their productions take place at the Stafford Gatehouse Theatre. The company is supported by Stafford District Arts Council.
Contact: richard.s.halsall@theflatabove.netscapeonline.co.uk or info@staffordplayers.com
Website: www.staffordplayers.com
Stafford & District Operatic Society

Stafford and District Operatic Society now has over 100 shows under its belt. The first recorded meeting of the Society was held on Tuesday 21st November 1922 when twenty enthusiasts appeared at the Sheridan Hotel and on the 6th to 9th February 1924 the Society staged their first production at Stafford’s Borough Hall (now the Gatehouse Theatre). Since then all but two shows have been presented at The Gatehouse Theatre.

The main base for their rehearsals is John Wheeldon Primary School in Stafford.

Over the years the society has gone from strength to strength and always welcomes new members. Building on their successful production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘Mikado’ and a sell out production of ‘My Fair Lady’ in 2005, they are now well under way with their 2006 programme.

Visit their website and see what they have in store for 2006. www.staffordoperatic.org.uk
Contact: clairebeggs@f2s.com

Stoke Amateur Theatre Society S.A.T.s produce one show a year - usually a pantomime at Christmas.
Contact: Val Ogden 01782 518523
Stoke On Trent Repertory Theatre
Stone Little Theatre
Stone Revellers
Formed in 1978 after a number of people had got together to perform a Variety show for the Stone Festival. They perfom everything from panto, variety, musicals, comedy and drama. Contact: E-mail
Website: Stone Revellers
Stretton Theatre and Revue Society (STARS)
Burton On Trent
01283 543638; stars78@btinternet.com
Theatre Funk - enthusiastic group based in Burton, courageously trying out new things; and offering their expertise to others too.
United Kingdom Dance and Drama Federation
North Staffordshire-based. Also puts on shows at the Mitchell Memorial Theatre in Hanley. For more information email Sarah


Festivals
Barton Music & Art Festival Every autumn the small town of Barton under Needwood near Burton hosts a number of events

Penkhull Festival - major classical and choral festival in September in the village of Penkhull near Newcastle, based on Penkhull Church. See website: www.geocities.com/bedfordsingers


Schools
Ashley Music School AMS provides tuition in piano & all keyboard, woodwind, brass, voice, violin, guitar(electric & acoustic), drum kit, recorder, theory etc. There are groups offered to the students (also open to interested musicians from the community). The main teaching studios are located in Maer, Staffs, but tuition is also available in Nantwich and Audlem in S. Cheshire. Broughton Parish Room is used for instrumental/choral/recorder group practices.
Affiliated with AMS is the well renowned choral group "Ashley Voices & Music Consort" and they also promote a community music festival (see www.amsfestival.co.uk).
Contact: 01630/672546 or see www.ashleymusic.co.uk for info

Burslem STARS - an award winning Saturday morning theatre school in Stoke on Trent covering dancing, drama and singing. It runs during term time including GCSE Drama, which anyone over 13 can take. They have won awards for the best actor under 16, best presentation,and best youth Group in the One Act Play Festival at the Mitchell Memorial Theatre.
Contact Val Ogden on 01782 518523

Diane Jones Academy for Dance and Performing Arts for beginners to Professionals with 2 studios, based in Newcastle and within the Queens Theatre, Burslem. Mail Diane Jones

Stagecoach
Nationwide franchise running classes for 4-16 year olds in singing, dance and drama. Schools: Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stafford (Tel 01782 811611), Newcastle-under-Lyme (Clayton, on 01785 811611), Stoke (Trentham, on 01386 429429), Stoke-on-Trent (01386 4294290) and Congleton & Macclesfield (01782 777345).
The emphasis is on training, they don't do big "shows" but do put on a presentation at the end of the term which are designed so everyone has a chance to shine, no-one need be at the back of the chorus.


Shops & Services
Stafford Arts Council Community Wardrobe
They can help you kit yourself out! Contact: Jane
Cameo Designs Theatrical Make Up Woodbridge Road Newcastle Tel: 01782 660415
Chameleon Fancy Dress Hire Newport Road Stafford ST16 2EZ.
Tel: 01785 214141

Local promotional sites
BBC Staffordshire Amateur Drama News pages

Creative Stoke lists many of the organisations making theatre in North Staffs - as well as scriptwriters, costume & production companies, and lighting folk

Radio show featuring am-dram BBC Radio Stoke's afternoon show, hosted by Tim Wedgwood includes interviews with, and radio notices for, drama societies. Societies can contact Tim by e-mail (mark your e-mail "FAO Drama"). For profile of Tim, click here

National organisations
All England Theatre Festival which organises the national festival of amateur one-act plays, including the Tamworth Festival (contact 01827 69082) and Stoke on Trent Festival (contact 0116 277 5499)

Other weblinks
For local professional-theatre, dance and classical music weblinks, see our Performing Arts Links page
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