Chorlton-cum-Hardy's Amateur Dramatic Societies another story from Tony Goulding

Chorlton-cum-Hardy is home to a large number of non-professional thespians with three thriving Amateur Dramatic Societies; Chorlton Players, Manchester Athenaeum Dramatic Society (M.A.D.S.) and Theatre M21, (Formerly Manchester Road Players).

A programme from April, 1978

The oldest of these but a relative newcomer to the district is M.A.D.S. which formed in the Athenaeum Club on Princess Street, Manchester in 1847.

The Athenaeum Club, Princess Street, Manchester

It lays claim to be the oldest society of its type in the world. 

However, the company only began performing shows in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in 1973, when Chorlton Players, who were then known as St. Werburgh’s Amateur Dramatic Society, offered to share the use of the church’s hall on St.Werburgh’s Road. 

The society which became Chorlton Players first entertained the local populace in 1963.

This leaves the clear winner as the longest surviving amateur theatre in Chorlton-cum- Hardy as the Theatre M21 / Manchester Road Players which has its origins in the group set up by the Methodist Church on Manchester Road in the 1930s. (1) 

Although their name has been altered, to distance themselves from its religious associations, they still produce all their shows in that church’s, old Sunday School. 

St. Werburgh's Church Hall

This building now houses the Edge Theatre which also hosts professional shows. In recent years the venue has seen a great deal of redevelopment.

From the 1930s until 1963, Manchester Road had a rival acting group operating from the Primitive Methodist Church on High Lane, Chorlton-cum-Hardy. For simplicity’s sake they were known as the High Lane Players. (2) Their venue is still standing and is now a Buddhist Centre.

During the 1950s both societies productions were regularly reviewed (on occasion not very kindly!) in the “amateur stage” column of the Manchester Evening News.

Ex-Church Hall of High Lane Primitive Methodist Church

There has in recent years been an addition to the three established societies. Chorlton Good Neighbours now regularly runs Drama Workshops. Several short plays have been presented, some of which have been performed on stage at Home, Manchester. 

This groups latest production will feature in this month’s Chorlton Arts Festival, at St. Ninians Church Hall, Wilbraham Road on Thursday 12th May, 2022. (Curtain up at 10-30)

Pictures: - All from the collection of Tony Goulding, except Manchester Athenaeum Club - By Stephen Richards, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21611722

Notes: -

1) I have a long-standing link with this group. A good friend, David, has both acted in and produced/directed many, many shows over half a century. Another friend, Paul has appeared in numerous productions, a one-time Secretary and still active on its committee. Also, my late brother, John, was credited as the Stage Manager for a number of shows during the 1980s.

2) My friend David’s father, Robert, was a member of this group and was responsible for at least one of its productions, “Mr. Pim Passes By” by A. A. Milne. A review in the Manchester Evening News of 3rd April, 1954, commended him for “a thoughtful and obviously well-rehearsed production”.