The Playhouse, in Pateley Bridge, is due to reopen this April after a 3-year refurbishment with a production of Phillip King’s ‘See How They Run’.

Fundraising for renovations began in 2020 with an initial aim to raise £75,000, but the eventual expenditure reached £120,000.

The theatre, which originated as a Methodist chapel over 160 years ago, required renovations to legally comply with building regulations and disability access.

Previously, it had no easy access for patrons or visitors with limited mobility.

To sort out these issues, the theatre launched multiple fundraising avenues, including the ‘Give the Playhouse A Lift’ campaign on Justgiving and a Local Lotto scheme.

1964: The building was originally a Methodist chapel

The money raised has funded a rebuild of the lower level of the auditorium – maximising the available space – as well as providing a lift for disabled audience members.

The expansion of the lower level will help people moving between the bar, foyer, and auditorium, and will ensure better ventilation.

The changes will also be in line with new covid regulations.

The new disabled lift (L) and renovated bar area (R)

Eileen Burgess, the most senior member of the Playhouse, said:

“We have long considered the need for improved disabled access and the enforced closure has given us the chance to tackle the issue.”

“It is a complex project, given the layout of our historic building, but we are determined to preserve the unique character of the Playhouse while achieving greater accessibility”.

The theatre still needs a further £20,000 to finish the work.

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The theatre’s renovation will be unveiled by Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society’s adaptation of ‘See How They Run’.

The play tells the comedic story of a paranoid spinster, who believes the wife of her beloved vicar is having an affair, and attempts to expose the infidelity.

The Society has promised attendees “a night of non-stop laughter”.

The performances will run from Monday 17 – Saturday 22 April at 7.30pm.

All tickets cost £10 and can be bought here.

A famous Nidderdale killer is to be subject of a new production by Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society in October.

The historical play, entitled ‘Eugene Aram’, will follow the life of one England’s most notorious murderers.

Born in Ramsgill in 1704, Eugene Aram was a self-taught scholar who set up a school in Knaresborough.  Yet, for more than a hundred years, he was better known in England for his crimes.

He was accused of the murder of a Knaresborough shoemaker, tried and convicted in York, and hanged at Tyburn on the Knavesmire.

The story of his life and trial has been written by Nidderdale writer Nevin Ward, whose previous local history plays ‘The Dam Play’ and ‘Gouthwaite Hall’ have been very popular.

Mr Ward said the play won’t be at the playhouse but in a local church:

“We love performing in the playhouse, but while it’s closed for renovation, St Cuthbert’s is the ideal location – the raised central dais in the church lends itself to a large cast play where 20 actors play over 40 characters”.

Nevin Ward is well known for the music he incorporates into his works, and ‘Eugene Aram’  will include several songs, many of them written for the production.

‘Eugene Aram’ will be staged in St Cuthbert’s Church in Pateley Bridge from Tuesday 11 October to Saturday 15 October at 7.30 pm, all tickets costing £9. Tickets are on sale now and bookings will be from the website www.pateleyplayhouse.co.uk

Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society returns next week with a play set in 1940 questioning the cause of the Second World War bombing of the Majestic Hotel.

‘The Stray’, a play written by Nidderdale playwright and member of the society Keith Burton, explores what might have happened in Harrogate during the week before the hotel was bombed on September 12, 1940.

The play begins on Sunday, September 8 when Buckingham Palace was bombed. This triggered The Coats Mission – a top secret plan for the evacuation of the royal family from London.

One of the proposed temporary homes was Newby Hall, Ripon, with Winston Churchill staying at Grove House across from Harrogate Fire Station.

On Thursday, September 12 the Majestic hotel was bombed by a ‘stray’ plane as part of a larger raid. This was the only bomb to fall on Harrogate during the war and questions have surrounded its motive ever since.

The play centres around one possible scenario with the added drama of love, betrayal, heroism and espionage during the Second World War.

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Writer and director Keith Burton said:

“The Stray was originally commissioned as part of North Yorkshire’s calendar of events to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe. These celebrations were massively disrupted by covid but it does mean that the second ever production of this play about the secrets of the Second World War in Harrogate will be by my local dramatic society – which thrills me enormously.”

During rehearsals

The play was previously performed by Harrogate Dramatic Society in November.

The play is being performed at Pateley Bridge Memorial Hall whilst renovations continue at the playhouse between Tuesday, June 14 and Saturday, June 18. Tickets can be booked here.

The scheduled autumn reopening of Pateley Playhouse has been delayed until next spring.

The theatre, in Pateley Bridge, has been undergoing major renovations, including work to the downstairs and foyer area and to install a lift.

But work has paused while Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society, which oversees the theatre and its productions, finds a new contractor to take on the works.

It means November’s performance of Educating Rita will take place in Pateley Bridge Memorial Hall instead.

The Playhouse has been closed throughout the pandemic.

Keith Burton, the society’s treasurer, said it was getting quotes from a number of local firms but he was expecting to have to raise more funds due to the delays:

“We are expecting to be affected by an uplift in building material costs due to shortages and the limited availability of builders due to current levels of demand for their services.

“We have cost overrun contingencies but only when we see the tender returns will we know if affordability issues will require another hard press on fundraising.

“We are continuing to seek donations as we know there will be pressures.”

He added work was expected to resume towards the end of the year.

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Disabled access

Renovating the historic 1930s Playhouse while retaining its character has been a complex project.

The first floor auditorium was only accessible via two steep staircases and a lift was needed to comply with disabled access regulations.

Despite the setbacks, the society is adamant it is “business as usual”.

After staging Educating Rita in the new venue, the Playhouse Juniors will also be performing at Brimham Rocks Adventure Park this weekend.

To support the Playhouse’s fundraising, click here.

Work to install a lift at Pateley Playhouse is underway as part of a £35,000 renovation project.

The theatre began a fundraising campaign in December to raise £20,000. It hopes to be eligible for grants to cover the remaining £15,000.

Donations to a crowdfunding page are now approaching £3,000 while further donations directly to the theatre have brought in £14,000.

Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society has begun the work before the appeal has finished so the renovations can be completed while the theatre is closed due to covid.

The lift will make the 1930s building fully accessible to disabled people. Currently the first floor auditorium is only accessible via two steep staircases.

So far, the bulk of work has been done on the lower level to knock down the walls separating the changing rooms and the foyer area to create the required space for the lift.

Works are continuing at Pateley Playhouse.

The work is scheduled to be completed by autumn when, it is hoped, covid restrictions will be lifted in time for performances to be staged before the end of the year.

The theatre has received two large donations from West Riding Masonic Charities Ltd and the Vale of Nidd Masonic Lodge, totalling £2,500.

Jerry Anderson, charity steward for the Vale of Nidd Masonic Lodge, said:

“The lodge have supported many good local causes, as well as national charities, and the Pateley Bridge Playhouse certainly holds a special place in the hearts of many in Nidderdale.

“We are incredibly proud to make a sizeable contribution to the continuing building works.”

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The dramatic society said the theatre is a social hub for the community and hoped to have it back up and running as soon as it is allowed. Members thanked all of those who have supported the renovations so far.

Ruth Dodsworth, president of the dramatic society, said:

“The community in the dale has pulled together and we have been humbled by the efforts of so many people to make contributions in these difficult economic times. We are grateful for all donations, whatever the amount.”

A £35,000 fundraising campaign is underway to install a lift for people with disabilities at the Pateley Playhouse.

Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society, which is based at the theatre, is coordinating efforts to raise the sum.

The society said it is eligible for a £15,000 grant and hopes to raise the additional £20,000 via a crowdfunding page.

Renovating the historic 1930s Playhouse will be a complex project but the society has said the character of the building will remain intact.

Currently the first floor auditorium is only accessible via two steep staircases and a lift is required to comply with building regulations regarding disabled access.

The lower floor, which includes the bar, foyer and actors’ changing rooms will be re-arranged to accommodate the lift. Depending on funding, work is scheduled to start early 2021.

The Playhouse can seat up to 73 spectators but is currently closed due to the pandemic.

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The society said it hoped that undertaking renovations during this period of covid-enforced closure would enable it to hit the ground running when it reopens next year.

Eileen Burgess, one of the founding members of The Playhouse in 1968, said:

“The Playhouse is such an important part of the community in Nidderdale and these renovations will make it even more inclusive for all members of the public.

“I can think of no better time to make these upgrades in the current circumstances and I hope the public will be enthused to pull together and raise the funds needed to start the process as soon as possible.”

To support the fundraising effort, click here.

Pateley Bridge is to offer some covid-safe outdoor theatre this month by staging Halloween ghost walks.

Actors from Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society will guide the audience through the Nidderdale town while telling haunted tales.

The walks will take place on October 30 and 31. Starting times will be staggered from 6pm to 8pm.

To comply with coronavirus regulations, each walk will be limited to five people.

Ruth Dodsworth, president of the society, which usually performs at the town’s Playhouse theatre, said:

“We have a proud history of innovation at the Playhouse and wanted to keep theatre alive in the safest way possible, while offering an original and dramatic experience.

“Ghost walks over Halloween weekend seemed a perfect way to do that.”

Complying with social distancing is difficult at the Playhouse, which will remain closed until at least the end of the year.

Tickets can be booked from Friday, October 23 here.

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The Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society has been hit hard financially by coronavirus – but the voluntary group remains hopeful for the future.

The amateur theatre company based in the Pateley Bridge Playhouse is set to miss out on a whole year’s revenue with the majority of funding coming from ticket sales and membership fees. The playhouse costs around £8,000 a year to run.

Inside the Pateley Bridge Playhouse

The president of the society, Ruth Dodsworth, told The Stray Ferret that it is a “very strange time”. She said:

“We are all volunteers and it is something we enjoy as a hobby. We get great support from the locals and it would be an awful shame to lose it.

It provides not only entertainment but it’s a great vehicle for everybody to socialise – it’s a companionship being involved in something like this.”

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Pateley Bridge Playhouse can seat 73 audience members, but with current social distancing measures the playhouse may only be able to seat a maximum of 12 people.

Since finishing the pantomime in February, the dramatic society has had to suspend all future performances with no set date to reopen. The company is eagerly awaiting government guidance on when it might be able to get back on the stage.