John Peel Theatre

The Little Theatre at the Heart of Wigton

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Our Next Production:
Murder is (Festively) Served


Tickets available online

Book now
or by phoning 01697 424624
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President: Melvyn Bragg

2017 WINNER

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Our Facilities:

Proscenium arch theatre

90 raked seats

Wheelchair access

Induction loop

Licensed bar

Real coffee

Ice cream & snacks

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Registered Charity No: 1178881

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I

1958
If you have any photos of past productions or stories you can share with us, please contact us.
Alternatively, you can send photos and show details to archive@wigtontheatre.org.
Special thanks to Phil Martin (son of founder member and past chair Jack Martin) for all archive material and notes.

Grand National Night
March 1958

Gaslight
April 1958

“Gaslight”. Wigton Theatre Clubs’s April 1958 production - the last to be performed in the Secondary School Hall. A Victorian melodrama lit by Calor Gas! I note the gas was only borrowed. Hope they got it back in the canister without loss. Also - posh costumes from Leeds. A first I think.
Phil Martin

Deep are the Roots
October 1958

Here’s the one you have all been waiting for - “Deep Are The Roots” performed in October 1958. This was the first production at the Parish Rooms. This was a rather strange choice of play for Wigton and the photo shows some unusual aspects including questionable make up, Norrie Glaister’s toy gun and a dodgy moustache for Donald Penrice. Sorry but I only have the newspaper cutting of the photo.

The mention of the new lighting in the report revives vivid memories of my dad building all the lighting kit at home to use in the club’s new venue. He used Carr’s biscuit tins, painted matte black and fixed together into various banks for footlights, overhead spot lights etc., coloured perspex(?) sheets for the effects, and a whole stack of switches, dimmers and other equipment sourced from Strand Electrics. The first photo shows him with Tom Hadwin and John Housby demonstrating the new control panel.
Phil Martin

As Long as They're Happy
December 1958