Port Sunlight / Community / Events

ONE of the borough's flagship theatres is to get thousands of pounds in lottery cash to help secure its future. The Gladstone Theatre in Port Sunlight will be making full use of the £45,000 grant from the North West Arts Board to install new dressing rooms, toilet facilities, showers, a stair lift and brand new equipment. This is the second phase of the theatre's facelift programme, coupled with a drive to include a broader mix of professional and amateur productions on the playbill, reflected in such diverse forthcoming attractions as a production of Frankenstein and an Abba Gold gig. Calls have been made to save the theatre since last autumn, when the planned improvements were announced. These will eventually include a new public entrance and box office, a studio-cum-rehearsal area which will encourage community arts projects and seminars, enlarged orchestra pit and improved sound and lighting facilities.

Project leader Sheila Jones, of the Gladstone Theatre Trust, said at the time of the appeal launch: "Although the theatre is run entirely by unpaid volunteers, it is one of the busiest small theatres in the country. "If it is to remain open to serve Wirral properly, these essential improvements must be carried out." Since that launch, support has been impressive, culminating in a fundraising night at the theatre itself headlined by local comedienne Pauline Daniels. The Gladstone's fortunes are now brighter. The St Patrick's weekend "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" show saw the theatre record its first full house, with many late bookings having to be turned away from the extravaganza starring Jimmy Cricket and the Nolans. The theatre was one of four Merseyside projects benefiting from the £766,767 allocated to arts in the North West.

A five- hour fund-raising "laughterthon" took place at the Gladstone Theatre in Port Sunlight last week when Ken Dodd took to the stage for SAM. In front of a sell-out performance, it was a classic performance from Doddy who shared everything from the women of Bebington to Big Brother - not to mention a few swipes at the tax man.With his trusty tickling stick in tow, Ken, launched into a marathon of joke-telling and music which carried on for five hours. Ken and his guest stars all gave their time for free, meaning that every penny raised on the night went straight into the pot to buy Wirral Hospital a vital RMI scanner. The whole event raised more than £8000 for the appeal taking the total to over £800,000

Margaret Simpson of Irby said: "I've never seen Doddy live on stage before but when I read he was performing for SAM I thought, why not? Quite simply he was fantastic. I have never laughed so much in years. I don't know where he gets his energy from. I was exhausted and all I did was watch.At the end of the show, Ken was presented with a special paque honouring the £10,000 he has raised for SAM to date. Elizabeth Morris, SAM Appeal manager, told the audience: "The best way to raise money for a good cause is through laughter. Not only did Ken take time out from a national tour to perform here in Wirral tonight, but only he could give our appeal such a huge boost."Ken's plaque will now be displayed along with others on the Wirral Thousand Memorial ar Arrowe Park Hospital.

Get in touch with SAM
To support the SAM Appeal,
please call Elizabeth, Penny or Chris on 0151 -604-7469

Article April 2001

GLADSTONE THEATRE'S WEBSITE can be found
AT www.gladstone.uk.com

	[ GLADSTONE THEATRE ] [ FACELIFT ]
.	ONE of the borough's flagship theatres is to get thousands of pounds in lottery cash to help secure its future. The Gladstone Theatre in Port Sunlight will be making full use of the £45,000 grant from the North West Arts Board to install new dressing rooms, toilet facilities, showers, a stair lift and brand new equipment. This is the second phase of the theatre's facelift programme, coupled with a drive to include a broader mix of professional and amateur productions on the playbill, reflected in such diverse forthcoming attractions as a production of Frankenstein and an Abba Gold gig. Calls have been made to save the theatre since last autumn, when the planned improvements were announced. These will eventually include a new public entrance and box office, a studio-cum-rehearsal area which will encourage community arts projects and seminars, enlarged orchestra pit and improved sound and lighting facilities. Project leader Sheila Jones, of the Gladstone Theatre Trust, said at the time of the appeal launch: "Although the theatre is run entirely by unpaid volunteers, it is one of the busiest small theatres in the country. "If it is to remain open to serve Wirral properly, these essential improvements must be carried out." Since that launch, support has been impressive, culminating in a fundraising night at the theatre itself headlined by local comedienne Pauline Daniels. The Gladstone's fortunes are now brighter. The St Patrick's weekend "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" show saw the theatre record its first full house, with many late bookings having to be turned away from the extravaganza starring Jimmy Cricket and the Nolans. The theatre was one of four Merseyside projects benefiting from the £766,767 allocated to arts in the North West. A five- hour fund-raising "laughterthon" took place at the Gladstone Theatre in Port Sunlight last week when Ken Dodd took to the stage for SAM. In front of a sell-out performance, it was a classic performance from Doddy who shared everything from the women of Bebington to Big Brother - not to mention a few swipes at the tax man.With his trusty tickling stick in tow, Ken, launched into a marathon of joke-telling and music which carried on for five hours. Ken and his guest stars all gave their time for free, meaning that every penny raised on the night went straight into the pot to buy Wirral Hospital a vital RMI scanner. The whole event raised more than £8000 for the appeal taking the total to over £800,000 Margaret Simpson of Irby said: "I've never seen Doddy live on stage before but when I read he was performing for SAM I thought, why not? Quite simply he was fantastic. I have never laughed so much in years. I don't know where he gets his energy from. I was exhausted and all I did was watch.At the end of the show, Ken was presented with a special paque honouring the £10,000 he has raised for SAM to date. Elizabeth Morris, SAM Appeal manager, told the audience: "The best way to raise money for a good cause is through laughter. Not only did Ken take time out from a national tour to perform here in Wirral tonight, but only he could give our appeal such a huge boost."Ken's plaque will now be displayed along with others on the Wirral Thousand Memorial ar Arrowe Park Hospital. Get in touch with SAM To support the SAM Appeal, please call Elizabeth, Penny or Chris on 0151 -604-7469 Article April 2001 GLADSTONE THEATRE'S WEBSITE can be found AT www.gladstone.uk.com