There was plenty to celebrate when The Three Towns gathered at Culcheth Village Club for their Annual Dinner and Awards Evening.
The evening came soon after the society’s production of The Yeomen of the Guard at St Joseph’s Hall in Leigh, and gave members a chance to recognise long service alongside a strong run of recent award success.
Long Service Awards, marking affiliation to the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA), were presented by Chair of The Three Towns, Ann Batchelor. Top of the list was Allen Christey-Casson, honoured for 60 years of treading the boards. Steve Brennan, Susan Bradley, and Ken and Gill Rees were all recognised for 50 years, with Elsie Murphy and Catherine Kay marking 45 years. Susan Shaw and Elsa McGhee were honoured for 30 years, Fran Davies for 25 years and Paul Dainton for 15 years.
The night was also a chance to look back on a run of recognition elsewhere. NODA named the society’s November 2025 concerts Best Concert, with Phil Boardman taking Best Musical Director. And for the society’s performance of Die Fledermaus at St Joseph’s Hall in May 2025, Pamela Heywood-Connor and John Matthias were named Best Comedy Duo for their roles as Rosalinda and Gabriel Eisenstein.
The Association of Community Theatre (ACT) added further honours, naming the society Most Accomplished Vocal Ensemble in Musical Comedy. Victoria Goulden was recognised as Most Accomplished Supporting Actress in Musical Comedy for her role as Adele, and Ken Rees as Most Accomplished Character Performance Actor in Musical Comedy for his role as Frank.
Attention now turns to the society’s annual concerts, which take place on Friday, 20 November (evening) and Saturday, 21 November (matinee) at St Joseph’s Hall, Leigh. You can expect a relaxed cabaret setting and a varied programme of songs from the shows, along with Broadway, West End, popular and classical music.
Tickets will be available soon – in the meantime, save the dates!