Places features

You are in: South Yorkshire > Places > Places features > £1m makeover for Goldthorpe's theatre

The New Dearne Playhouse

£1m makeover for Goldthorpe's theatre

Dearne Valley Community Theatre was awarded £1m from the Arts Council to make the 450-seater venue fit for the 21st century. Discover the heritage and future hopes of a hidden dramatic gem - now The New Dearne Playhouse.

Goldthorpe: population 6400, a former mining village in the Dearne Valley which boasts two trains an hour (to Sheffield and Leeds), a modest high street, and a 450-seat theatre venue nestling in a suburban housing estate.

In Pics: Dearne Theatre's makeover >

The 450-seat theatre has now been given a £1m revamp, funded by the Arts Council, and is now known as The New Dearne Playhouse and it was opened by the Dearne's very own star of stage and screen Brian Blessed in July 2006.

Artistic ambitions

The venue, a former Miners Welfare Hall dating back to 1924, urgently needed investment in the fabric of the building in order to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), which came into full force in October 2004.

Iron gate at The New Dearne Playhouse

But the plans for the theatre went way beyond improving access for the audience. The theatre was treated to a full cosmetic overhaul of the auditorium, stage and balcony, together with extensions to rehearsal facilities and a refurbishment of the bar area.

The names of the last three pits to close - Barnbrough, Goldthorpe and Highgate - still adorn the iron gates at the front of the building.

Julie Medlam became Theatre Manager around the time of the restoration: "The theatres were fully refurbished cosmetically, but the old auditorium is a beautiful shape and size so we didn't do anything to the actual structure of the auditorium because it would spoil sound and sight of the stage."

Ken Dodd, Arthur Scargill and Brian Blessed

Before its revamp, the theatre survived on a diet of local dance school shows, rabbit shows and Ken Dodd whose famed stamina in front of an audience must have kept many a late-night taxi service in business.

Pantomimes have played an important part in the theatre's history and Brian Blessed is probably the most famous local boy to have trodden the boards here.

Brian Blessed as Richard IV in Blackadder

Brian Blessed in Blackadder

The acclaimed actor grew up in the village and is now a patron of the theatre, where he may once have shouted "He's behind you," whilst clad in a home-made costume. Actually, Brian may well have bellowed from the stage, as Ken Sanderson and other veterans recall that he was a big lad, even then!

Arthur Scargill definitely upped the volume when he used the stage for a rally during the miners' strike of 1984. Ken Sanderson recalls that he "made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck," when he gave a speech in the building, which was then in use as a soup-kitchen.

The mining connection explains both the theatre's curious location in a quiet village and its traditional role at the heart of a community. It was built in 1924 with donations from the coal owners and charity donations from all of the 12 local mines within a five-mile radius, whose employees were charged a compulsory penny subscription for the facility.

Fast forward

Now Theatre Manager Julie Medlam hopes to tempt audiences who might otherwise travel to other larger places for drama or classical music.

Julie Medlam, Manager of Dearne Community Theatre

Theatre Manager Julie Medlam

"I'd like people from the local area to come and use the theatre - and to perhaps see something they would have to go to Sheffield or Leeds to see," says Julie.

Similarly, they're using their partnership with Goldthorpe-based Fast Forward youth theatre to raise the profile of the venue.

Ken Sanderson is General Secretary of the Dearne Community Miners Welfare Scheme: "We are charged as custodians of the building with taking it into the next century," he says.

In pictures

Take a photo-tour of Dearne Community Theatre before and during its makeover - and see how it looks now, as The New Dearne Playhouse.

In Pics: Dearne Theatre's makeover >

last updated: 22/05/2008 at 11:55
created: 12/05/2005

Have Your Say

Ad Thomas
How about calling it: "The Brian Blessed and Dearne Scargill Miners Community Pit Theatre"?

Joyce Ann Goldthorpe Lorenz
I live in Tucson Arizona USA I am very happy to see this web site. I did not know there was a Goldthorpe anywere. But am proud to see there is. Goldthorpe Community Theatre would be my vote. PS my Grandfather Albert Goldthorpe was born on the Isle of Man around 1865? This may not be news to you but I wanted to shair it with someone. Thank you

MARIA NEWTON THURNSCOE
I THINK THAT MAYBE IT SHOULD BE CALLED THE PHEONIX THEATRE RISING FROM THE ASHES AFTER EVERYTHING THATS HAPPENED AND THE CLOSURE OF ALL THE PITS SOMETHING POSITIVE TO COME OUT OF THE AREA SOMETHING FOR THE FUTURE WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF AND TO PROMOTE OUR LOCAL AREA AND TALENT OR EVEN THE MILLENIUM THEATRE A THEATRE OF THE FUTURE STAGING FASHION SHOWS ROCK POP ETC

lucy mellor
spend it on something worth while!!!

Geoff Lyons
Having spent many hours watching my sister and her friends performing panto' in the 50's and 60's; and knowing Brian Blessed through his schooling with my brother Jack, I think that keeping the name Dearne, yet adding acknowledgement to Brian, would be a good combination, how about:- "THE BLESSED DEARNE THEATRE" I'm now living on Vancouver Island, Canada; but am coming over there at the end of October.. to relive a few memories... Good luck with the refurbishing. (and Hi to all the old friends in this location that meant so much to me)Geoff

Lee Jenkinson
What about Dearne Community "The Wheel House"... and have a Pit Wheel outside with all the names of the mines that contributed, and you could also have the wheel landscaped in the gardens to the front in a floral design!... Or What about the Dearne Community PIT!

Tony Pritchard
How about Pitstop, or The Vale, or Dearne Cavern, or DiGiT (Dearne Goldthorpe Theatre)

Christine Ashmoore
Gorden`s after the saxion who Goldthorpe is named as the town is on Gorden`s thorpe , but yet Dearn Vally Theatre is a lovley name so wy chaing a good memary

LAURA
I LIVE IN GOLDTHORPE IT IS ONLY A VERY BASIC VILLAGE THERE ARE NO BIG SHOPS, BARS, LIKE YOU FIND IN LARGER PLACES SO I THINK MAKING THIS MORE MODERN AND UP TO DATE WILL ENCOURAGE KIDS AND FAMILIES TO COME AND ENJOY THE THEATRE..

IAN
MINERS DRARNE THEATRE

Ian McDonnell
I lived not far from the Town Hall for years ,worked at the " Sludge " indeed voted in there at times......I now live in South Essex......Why not call it .... The Sludge Works......?

Patricia Miller
I think Goldthorpe Miners Theatre would show regard for the history. Looking at the pictures it would be hoped that refurbishing is the nature of the refit - those sadly worn seats should remain after a good restoration.

David Simpson
I am at the moment working in Russia, I have many happy memories of working at local collieries in South Yorkshire, It's nice to see interest like this in our local communities good look Julie and all concerned, wish I could think of a name but at the moment all blank I will keep thinking though Dave Simpson Barnsley

Local BBC Sites

Neighbouring Sites

Related BBC Sites

Places features