Arcade Players

History

In the late 1930s and with war looming, Louis and Connie Pattison, with considerable assistance from the Long Eaton Co-operative Society, founded a choir. this society consisting totally of Co-op members performed many concerts in the Co-op owned People's Hall Long Eaton. To add to the variety they would occasionally introduce short sketches or a one-act play into the Proqramme. Thus, the Arcade Players came into being.

It was from these small beginnings that the Arcade Players grew. The rehearsal venue was in a room above the Co-op ARCADE in the marketplace. For the first 39 years of the Arcade players existence all productions were staged at the People's Hall.

Following a brief but successful period at the local Baptist Hall the Arcade Players in 1985, moved to The Duchess Theatre at the Chatsworth Centre. The first play being "Seasons Greetings" by Alan Ayckbourn. Over the years the group's reputation and ability has grown, and it was not uncommon to attract an audience in excess of 500 for a production.

From 1939 to the present day, we are privileged to have the support of the Co-operative group, Central & Eastern Region. The Arcade Players present 3, Three act plays per season and have done so with little exception since 1939 to the present day.

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Photo Gallery

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