65 Years of Carlisle’s Green Room Club
A local theatre group is celebrating 65 years of keeping theatre alive in Carlisle.
An amateur theatre group, The Green Room Club, based in West Walls in Carlisle has been entertaining Carlisle since 1952. For the past 65 years, the club has been the only consistent voice, unwaveringly supporting drama in the city, keeping an interest in live theatre thriving.
Made up entirely of volunteers, The Green Room Club is dedicated to providing opportunities and encouraging those with an interest in any field of theatrical and production management to be a part of something special. The actors may bask in the glory of applause on stage but there is a whole team who work tirelessly to ensure the theatre is a friendly and accessible place to visit. From the backstage team to the front of house members, the volunteers come from all walks of life, but one thing they all have in common; their love of theatre.
Beginning life above ‘The Milk Bar’ on the top floor of 20 Devonshire Street in Carlisle, the opening ceremony was held on 17 March 1952. However, in April 1954 the Club secured new premises on West Walls; in the beautiful 17th century building where the theatre is still housed today. The debut production in the new theatre was ‘A Match For the Devil’, written by Norman Nicholson for the Edinburgh Festival, which was not even published at the time. Norman Nicholson himself praised the first ever production of his play on the stage.
In 1985 the Club became a member of the Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain, successfully passing its very stringent production quality regime. This membership was celebrated with the production of the World Amateur Premiere of The Hired Man by Melvyn Bragg.
Today The Green Room Club is recognised as an amateur theatre group that produces professional standard productions. Their production of ‘A Chorus of Disapproval’ by Alan Ayckbourn last year, directed by John Metcalfe was nominated for three National Operatic and Dramatic Association awards. John Metcalfe, one of the longest standing members of the club was nominated for Best Director of a Drama. Last year’s production of ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’ was also awarded the runner up prize in the NODA Drama Festival for all plays entered in 2016.
Kath Paterson, Publicity Officer for The Green Room Club said: “I have only been actively involved in the Club since I appeared in the Pantomime in 2014. Since then it has been a pleasure and a privilege to be part of The Green Room Club.
“As Publicity Officer I can proudly promote the first class productions and amazing performances and will continue to do so to fill every seat in the auditorium.”
The Green Room Club continues to prosper, currently producing a varied programme of shows, to bring to the audiences of Carlisle. Through their ever changing programme, they hope to attract audiences from non-traditional demographics and create theatre for everyone.
Kath said: “To celebrate 65 years is a huge achievement which is only made possible by the support of loyal customers and members and also the dedicated commitment of all the volunteers in their various roles.”
Jeeves and Wooster – In Perfect Nonsense 8 – 13 May
The Green Room Club present a new play by The Goodale Brothers, adapted from the works of P.G. Woodhouse and directed by James Issitt.
When a country house weekend takes a turn for the worse, Bertie Wooster is unwittingly called on to play matchmaker, but also to steal a silver cow creamer from Totleigh Towers. Naturally, the ever dependable Jeeves is there to prevent Bertie from making a fool of himself in front of a cast of Woodhouse’s finest characters.
Enjoy an evening of raucous comedy in the company of Gussie Fink-Nottle, Madeline Bassett, Sir Watkin Bassett, Dahlia Travers, Roderick Spode and Constable Oates.
What’s On?
Blithe Spirit -26 June – 1 July 2017
Sleuth – 21 – 26 August 2017
The Thrill of Love -9 – 14 October 2017
Pantomime – December 2017
My first role, as Asmoday in Tobias and the Angel, was in 1954 production by the embryo youth theatre at the age of 12. I went on play in Antigone and Rookery Nook. Later, I was fortunate to appear in a number of plays directed by Norman Johnson. Afore Night Come by David Rudkin and One More River by Beverley Cross, The Long and the Short and the Tall by Keith Waterhouse. I remember Tony O’Hara, Jack Strother, Elfrida Nelson, E Noel Coward and many more. As I am 80 in 2022 l plan to visit Carlisle my home for 21 years l would like to pay a visit to the Club and perhaps attend a performance.