Posted by Dusan Popratnjak, 11/1/08 at 10:24:50 PM.

Aldridge Manor House

Dusan Popratnjak is Currently writing a book called "The History of Aldridge Manor House Youth Centre,if you have any old photographs of events or activities please let him know on 07790 - 446670

Youthful Productions continue over decades.

Celebrations start of theatres 60 years.

A theatre group dedicated to enriching young lives is to start its 60th birthday celebrations this year.Some former Aldridge Youth Theatre members have gone  on to a successful on acting career,including Robert Mountford who featured in Eastenders,Casualty,Doctors and Londons Burning.He is also a Shakespearian actor playing Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing and Solanio in Merchant of Venice.

Other former members include Ted Clayton ,who played Stan in Crossroads and Martin Adams,who used costume design skills for films including Braveheart,The Mummy Returns and Elizabeth.

Today the theatre has about 80 members aged between nine and 21 and stages four productions a year.Retired teacher,Neville Ellis writes the scripts for productions including the one for pantomime RobinsonCrusoe,which starts on Friday.

Linda Symonds and husband,Dave both 59,organise shows and build sets.Mrs Symonds,who got involved 20 years ago when her daughter Becky,joined said "We have a fantastic set up,we have a wonderful theatre and a very strong member base.

"We have produced some wonderful productions over the years and some have gone on to continue their love of acting and theatre on the professional stage.It is just wonderful to see how the theatre has grown over the years to what it is today.

We received a lottery grant two years ago which enabled us to put in new seating and make other improvements.There are around 15 dedicated voluntees who help to build and paint sets,work lighting and help to provide the front of house facilities but we do need more people to come forward to help.

Many of the volunteers are getting older and we need new blood to come in and help in any way they can.It is so rewarding to see the young people on stage.The acting gives them so much confidence which they can take on to other areas of life.The group is a registered charity and is believed to be the only independently run theatre of its kind in the country.It was founded in 1950 and called Brownhills Travelling Theatre because it had no permanent base.It aimed to rouse interest in drama in area youth.

In 1957 it acquired a 10 year long lease on a derelict church school in Rushall and members began to work toconvert the building into a small theatre.In 1961 Sylvia Cartwright,who founded the original group,realised her dream for a permanent base when Dame Sybil Thorndike officially opened the theatre,which was renamed the Staffordshire County Youth Theatre.

In 1974 the name changed to Aldridge Youth Theatre and a grant was secured for a purpose built 158 seater theatre in Noddy Park Road.In October 1977 the new theatre was opened by actor and director Bernard Hopton.

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