Theatre group Phoenix Players mark 70-year milestone with new show

IT’S double celebration time for a Rotherham theatre group as it celebrates a major milestone while putting on a Christmassy show next week.

Originally conceived as an offshoot of the Phoenix Operatic Society in 1948, the Players swiftly showed they could stand alone. 

With the backing of giant steel company Steel, Peach and Tozer’s Social Services, the first play Storm in Port was produced at the Assembly Rooms in January 1949. 

A production of Wait Until Dark in 1978

Seventy years later they are still going strong, although “Steeloes”, along with most of the steel industry, has passed into history.

Show director Julie Webb said: “As the longest serving member, I can look back to 1957 when I was first cast as a maid in Strike Happy — not your usual run of the mill maid but a fun part which I thoroughly enjoyed.

“A few of you will remember with me the first secretary Connie Charles, later Bateson, who, along with the Social Services manager Harry Taylor, worked so hard to get recognition for the newly formed group.

“The Assembly Rooms was notoriously a tough place to play, requiring players to run down a corridor if they needed to enter the stage from the opposite side but things looked up when the Civic Theatre opened in 1960.

“What a delight, dressing rooms and space all-round the stage and a raked auditorium — heaven.”

Phoenix’s first production in the new venue was Saturday Night at the Crown, a great success which was repeated to celebrate 25 years at the Civic. 

“Does anyone remember the prominent actors of those early years, Fred Cookson, Pat Brogan, Jack Walshaw, Connie Charles, Joan Hick and of course Barry Southwell who was not only a popular actor but chaired the company from 1963 to 1999?” said Julie.

“Looking back over all those years, it is amazing how many folk have ‘trodden the boards’ with us. 

“Many moved on but many stayed, moving from ‘young things’ to mature and experienced stalwarts of the group.”

Eight current members have almost 300 years of stage experience between them.

And they are always open to new members, so email chairman Neil Mather at [email protected] if you fancy joining their ranks.

Next week’s comedy Season’s Greetings takes place over three days from Christmas Eve onwards and features a row over violence on TV, a less-than-successful puppet show and a couple’s late-night helping of romance being thwarted by a troublesome cuddly toy.

Its at the Civic from next Monday to Friday at 7.15pm.

Tickets are available now priced at £9.50 from the Civic Theatre Box Office or at www.rotherhamtheatres.ticketsolve.com/shows.