Unprecedented rush to see popular play
THE return of popular amateur dramatics production The Dam Play prompted an unprecedented rush when tickets went on sale last weekend.
Many of the ten scheduled performances sold out within hours of going on sale with many theatre-goers queuing at the entrance to the Playhouse.
Members of the Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society said it was one of the busiest mornings they had ever witnessed for ticket sales, while others said they had expected a positive response following the success of the 2007 version of the same play.
Dramatic society chairman Sheila Smith said: “I've never seen anything like it, not even for our ever-popular pantomimes.
”Booking started at 2pm but a sizeable crowd had already gathered by 1 o'clock, so we opened the doors and organised a queuing system. By 2 o'clock, we had about 120 people waiting for tickets.
“Many people had seen the article in the previous day's Nidderdale Herald which had acted as a timely reminder."
Last week Mr Ward, who also composed the soundtrack to the play, said the society was expecting “a stampede” for tickets.
The Dam Play, a re-run of the tale of three Nidderdale reservoirs, was written by Nevin Ward and will be staged at the Playhouse throughout January and February.
He said he always expected the play, which uses drama, music, song, story-telling and old photographs to describe the building of Nidderdale's Gouthwaite, Angram and Scar reservoirs, to be popular.
And so it proved - the Playhouse only seats 73 people and prospective purchasers were queuing into the foyer at the foot of the stairs.
After two hours of solid booking in the Playhouse and by telephone, some evenings sold out completely, and there was limited availability for other performances.
There are still tickets available for some of the performances. Phone 07816 961854 from 2pm to 6pm Monday to Saturday.
Further details can be found on the PBDS website www.pateleyplayhouse.co.uk
l Performances will be from Tuesday, 20 to Saturday, 24 January at 7.30pm, and from Wednesday, 4 to Saturday, February 7 at 7.30pm, with a matinee on Sunday, February 8 at 2.30pm.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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