THE OLD STOKE REP

Seventies Celebrations

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1970 marked the Golden Jubilee season for the Players which was an opportunity to both celebrate this milestone as well as secure their future.

In July 1972 the Welsh-born actor/playwright Emlyn Williams CBE accepted the Rep’s invitation to present his entertainment, 'Dylan Thomas Growing Up'. Williams was an established dramatist with impressive screenplays to his name which included Hitchcock’s film version of 'Jamaica Inn'. He often appeared on stage in his own plays, and was famous for his one-man-shows, with which he toured the world, initially playing Charles Dickens in an evening of excerpts from Dickens’ novels. In 1968 he recorded a spoken word double LP entitled 'A Boy Growing Up' which became his next touring show. The one evening event at the Rep raised funds for the Douglas Macmillan Hospice in Stoke-on-Trent.

In July 1976 the Players finally took the plunge and purchased the building that had been their home for over forty years. Previously the lease of the theatre had been in the hands of the four ‘trustees’. Once the theatre was acquired, a Limited Guarantee Company was formed for the purpose of holding the theatre site.

Continued success ensued with the established rhythm of a typical season consisting of five plays and a musical show in the summer. The mid to late Seventies were some of the most successful years for the Players up until that point.

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During this decade money was spent on improving the theatre interior which included new seats, a completely new lighting system, new stage curtains, a stage extension and a workshop/rehearsal room. The public were reminded that the Rep received no public subsidy and so every improvement to the building was the result of hours of hard work by the members and the generosity of local industrial companies.

In 1979 the Players used money from other sources, such as 'Christmas At The Rep', and a fashion show, to build a new toilet block.

During the 59th Season progress towards meeting the target required was communicated through a large seating plan at the back of the theatre that had seats crossed out in red. Each of these seats represented twenty pounds raised.

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The modern toilets were finally finished in time for the 1980-81 season which also happened to be the Players’ Diamond Jubilee.

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