Members old and new gathered at the Theatre on Sunday 19th October 2025 to celebrate our Centenary. The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Janet Emsley and her consort Ken Emsley also attended.
With everyone arriving in the wonderfully decorated foyer we enjoyed a free drink from the bar. It was soon apparent that all the warm greetings and smiles signalled that it was going to be a very enjoyable and special day. After a time to catch up we then enjoyed a superb buffet sourced from Park Farm, Walmersley.
Everyone then made their way to the auditorium for the onstage celebration.
MC’ d by our resident wordsmith, Peter Fitton, we heard speeches spanning the past, present and a look to the future as well as anecdotes from several members recalling memories of past productions. A humerous recreation of the early meetings of the original founders of the Theatre and a series of extremely funny radio sketches then completed the entertainment.
Finally Mike Law led a moving toast to the Theatre with Damien Kavanagh leading a very heartfelt toast to absent friends.
It was then back to the foyer to enjoy the delicious desserts from the buffet and to continue catching up and exchanging memories.
Here’s Peter Fitton’s reflection of the day…
“ I was looking for significance, trying to epitomise ten decades of creativity in that place. But it all just sort of was. A lovely outpouring of nostalgia, fondness, imagination and fun. A big sentimental family gathering picking over our past doings and future prospects. Plus the buffet was lush. “
Photographs from the celebration – click on the photo above to see more