A Grand Affair

If you’ve not yet visited The Wilmslow Green Room Theatre and enjoyed one of their award-winning productions, read on and find out more about one of Cheshire’s longest surviving local amateur theatres.

Formed way back in 1924, the Wilmslow Green Room Society – to give it its full title – is now a successful amateur dramatic theatre that not only produces plays during the September to June theatre season but also provides its members with a local social outlet too. The Green Room is used by a weekly singing group, a tai chi class, a youth theatre group, monthly film shows and an annual brass band concert to name just a few of the facilities.

Scene from a recent production

Its own success and huge development since the last century however mean it is now in urgent need of additional storage space. After a wide consultation process with members, neighbours, the town council and the local authority, a planning application has been granted to build a single storey building at the rear of the theatre which will provide much needed storage space and an updated workshop facility. Rather than having to dispense with single-use props and so on, this will enable the theatre to store and then reuse and recycle existing props and sets – to bring it in line with its longer-term goals of being more environmentally sound. It will also help reduce the costs of productions and by having the additional storage available, the theatre will be able to encourage greater use of the building, allowing the community at large to use the building more extensively. The costs for all the work required is estimated at £160,000 and the theatre aims to raise £50,000 by July 2021 with the remainder being raised by 2024. There are several fun and interesting fundraising initiatives scheduled starting with a Black-Tie Spring Garden Party in September, date TBC within the beautiful grounds of one of the Green Room member’s garden. A string quartet will play, food and drinks will be served, a plant sale and a Pledge Auction will take place. Tickets for this are £30 per person or £50 for a couple. This Garden Party Launch Event will be open to all and everyone will be encouraged to attend, numbers are however restricted to 150 because of the size of the garden. The activities proposed will be available to all and they will, in addition to the entertainment, be able to sign up to many fund-raising schemes such as ‘Buy a Brick’, ‘Buy a Roof Tile’, £1 and £2 coin pots and many others, all can be gift aided. The party is intended to be a community-based activity, encouraging everyone who attends to assist in the fundraising for the new build at the Green Room.

If you would be interested in getting more involved with such a project, please contact Ian Cole at ian.ashton.cole@gmail.com

If you’d just like more information on the Wilmslow Green Room Theatre and its local activities, go to www.wgrsoc.org.uk