Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company

Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company was formed in 2008, following months of serious discussion between the members and general committees of Colne Operatic Society and St. John’s Great Marsden Operatic and Dramatic Society. The two groups, with a collective history of over 140 years, made the decision to disband in order to combine resources and form a new organisation dedicated to meeting the challenges facing amateur theatre in the 21st Century. Additionally, with an increasing number of young members progressing through the ranks of the Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre into the adult societies, it was felt that there should not be a dilemma over which society to join.

Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company’s first musical, in April 2008, was Jekyll and Hyde. Since then, there have been 3 or 4 productions each year, which have included musicals, plays and revues. As a society, we aim to offer diversity to our audiences through a mix of traditional and modern musical theatre.

Past productions

Jekyll & Hyde The Musical - April 2008
42nd Street - October 2008
Kiss Me, Kate - March 2009
Don't Dress For Dinner (Play) - June 2009
The Scarlet Pimpernel - Sep/Oct 2009
A Little Night Music - January 2010
Crazy For You - March 2010
Fawlty Towers - June 2010
Copacabana - September 2010
The Producers - March/April 2011
Hi-De-Hi! - June 2011
The Baker's Wife - Sep/Oct 2011
Silver Spectacular - Celebrating 25 years of Pendle Hippodrome Theatre - Jan 2012
The Sound Of Music - March 2012
Fawlty Towers - June 2012
The Full Monty - September 2012
Singin' In The Rain - March 2013
Dad's Army - June 2013
Sweeney Todd - September 2013
Hello, Dolly! - March 2014
Allo!, Allo! - June 2014
Jesus Christ Superstar - October 2014
Sweet Charity - March 2015
The Vicar Of Dibley - June 2015
The Wedding Singer - September 2015
Grease - March 2016
Blackadder - June 2016
Diamonds & Pearls - A Theatrical Review - September 2016
The Pajama Game - March 2017
It's A Wonderful Life - A Live Radio Play - June 2017
Rent - September 2017
Monty Python's Spamalot - March 2018
Guys & Dolls - September 2018
Our House - March 2019
Oklahoma! - September 2019
My Fair Lady - March 2022
The Vicar of Dibley - June 2022
Oliver! - September 2022
Made in Dagenham - March 2023
The Railway Children - June 2023
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - September 2023
Mack & Mabel - March 2024
Sunset Boulevard - September 2024

 

Rehearsals

These take place twice-weekly, from 7.30 – 10.00pm, on Monday and Thursday evenings. There are occasional Sunday afternoon or evening rehearsals in the run up to show week, plus band calls, technical and dress rehearsals. A call sheet is usually provided by the current show’s producer so that cast know which rehearsals they are needed for.

Currently our rehearsals are held at the Pendle Hippodrome Theatre, New Market St. Colne.

Show week

Musicals
Sunday begins the week, with what is usually a full day for the Technical Rehearsal. This takes place at the theatre and allows stage staff to work with the cast to familiarise them with scenery, sound and lighting for the show. Dress Rehearsal begins at 7.30pm on Monday evening. Performances begin on Tuesday evening and run through to Saturday. Curtain up is at 7.30pm for evening performances and 2.00pm for the Saturday matinee. Cast and crew sign in at the stage door from 6pm onwards for the evening performances. Cast make their way to their allocated dressing rooms, and from there to Make-Up. Principal cast members usually have stage microphones fitted. Performances usually finish before 10.00pm, after which many cast, orchestra and stage staff make their way front-of-house to socialise or meet friends and relatives in the theatre bar. Friday evening of show week is usually party night for the cast and crew, in the bar!

Plays
These tend to follow a similar format, although plays run from Wednesday to Saturday, with Dress Rehearsal on Monday.

Social activities

Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company has a lively social calendar for members. These include video evenings, summer treasure hunts and barbecues, trips to other amateur productions in the area, race nights, mediumship evenings, the annual dinner … and more!

Membership

Pendle Hippodrome Theatre is run and maintained by a team of dedicated volunteers. Members of the Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company are actively encouraged, even expected, to contribute to this process, in order to ensure that we continue to have a home in years to come. You may see members appearing on-stage in one production, assisting with wardrobe and make-up in the next, and working front-of-house as a steward or member of the bar staff in the next. Running and maintaining this fabulous theatre takes a lot of work, and so we are always looking for new members. It may be that the idea of performing on-stage fills you with horror, but you would like to help with sound, lighting, set-building, wardrobe, props or make-up. You may prefer to be involved in the social side of things, perhaps by making tea during rehearsals or selling raffle tickets and programmes, serving drinks behind the bar or stewarding during show week.

If you have the desire to either perform on-stage, or if you are interested in assisting in an off-stage capacity, we welcome you!

Membership fees
£25 per annum for those aged 19-60
£10 per annum for under-19s
£10 per annum for those aged 60+

Officials

Chairman
Stevan Manley

Vice Chairman
Joe Whittam

Secretary
Stephen Burrows

Treasurer
Helen Nelson

Auditor
Alison Watson

Physiotherapist
Jill Alexander

Committee
Leisa Chadwick
David Smith
Richard Sanderson
Karl Pilkington
Lisa Manley
Marilyn McGinty
Ian Pilkington
Catherine Cox
Paul Thompson
Alice Birt

Contact