Newsletter: 2005
Oldbury Rep Playgoers
Welcome to our 66th Season
With our 2005/2006 Season now up and running I thought it would be a good idea to let you know about some changes, improvements and special events that we hope will be coming on stream during the season.
The 2005/2006 Season marks Oldbury Rep’s 50th anniversary in the Barlow Theatre and in recognition of that fact some major work is being planned for the Theatre. The hope is that it will all have been completed by March 2006 in time for the planned anniversary special events.
The main theatre building was originally a Methodist Chapel and dates from around 1879. Oldbury Rep moved to the Barlow Theatre, then called a Playhouse, in 1956. The opening ceremony was performed by Mrs. Jessie U. Barlow in the presence of Sir Barry Jackson, founder of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
Since that time the Theatre has expanded with some major work in the 1960s though disaster struck in August 1972 when the stage area roof was destroyed and the auditorium left blackened by a blaze started by an arsonist.
The late 70s and early 80s saw the Theatre taking on its current shape though continual improvement is still the order of the day as outlined below.
A special exhibition and Theatre Open Day to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Theatre will be held in March 2006.
Alan Wood
Drama Director
ORP Web-Site
We now have our own web site with an e-mail facility.
Log on at: http://www.oldburyrep.org
e-mail us at: info@olburyrep.org
We are unable to accept bookings using this facility but there is a wide range of information available about the theatre and the seasons' programmes both past and present. Take a look.....
Plans for the future
By the time you read this note refurbishment of the Dressing Rooms will have been completed.
Next on the programme will be a major facelift to the bar and coffee shop areas. The intention is to try and make it easier to move around in the two areas especially the coffee shop.
Also on the agenda is the total replacement of the seating in the Theatre auditorium.
The 2005/2006 Season will also see the appointment of Janet Hassell as the Theatre’s first professional Front of House Manager. This is a major first in the Theatre’s history.
The new manager’s responsibility will amongst other aspects be to ensure that safety requirements are complied with and that the needs of audience comfort are met wherever possible.
Finally from the start of the 2005/2006 Season the Theatre will be extending its NO SMOKING policy to include all areas of the building, including the bar and foyer.
Join us
Oldbury Rep is always looking for and welcomes new members with or without theatre experience. If you are interested in acting, front, of house duties, backstage work, lighting or sound then why not come along to one of our New Members Nights.
Copies of our 60th Anniversary Brochure are still available from the Box Office, price £2.50. Fully illustrated and tracing our story out from the dark days of World War II, there will not be another edition for at least 10 years so "get yours while stocks last".
BOX OFFICE: 0121 552 2761
Open every Monday 7-9pm also Fridays before opening night and each night of production (excluding Sundays)