ITC to perform Cinderella

Ilkeston Theatre Company celebrate 25 years of shows when it performs its latest production - Cinderella - later this year.
Ilkeston Theatre Company's cast for CinderellaIlkeston Theatre Company's cast for Cinderella
Ilkeston Theatre Company's cast for Cinderella

This year’s pantomime rehearsals are well under way.

The show will be performed inside the large marquee at the Seven Oaks Inn at Stanton-by-Dale on November 28-30 and December 5-6, with shows starring at 7.30pm and matinee performances on November 30 at 4pm and December 6 at 2.30pm.

Tickets are £9 for adults, £7.50 concessions and discounts are available for school or club groups.

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There is also a family ticket priced at £30 for two adults/two children or one adult/three children.

For more details or to purchase tickets please call the Seven Oaks on 0115 932 3189 or the box office number 0115 925 6439.

See www.ilkestontheatrecompany.co.uk for more information on the forthcoming production or you can follow the group on Facebook.

In 1988 two local couples - Nick and Carolyn Duncan, Pete and Toni Smith - discussed the idea of forming a new musical theatre company in Ilkeston.

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They had been members of other companies for many years, but at that time all amateur theatre and musical societies required auditions to be undertaken before any prospective candidate could become a member.

They realised that many people had a passion to be on stage but not the necessary skills. Ilkeston Theatre Company was formed with the sole aim of giving an opportunity to anyone who had this passion but not the confidence to face a daunting entrance audition, and this principal is still maintained in the company today.

In 1989, the newly formed company - Robert Lindsay as their new president - put on their first show Sweet Charity.

It was staged at the Ilkeston branch of the South East Derbyshire College with a cast of 22 people, two of whom are still with the company today, Sue Golds and Tracey Dean.

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The company continued to stage musical shows such as The Boyfriend, Oklahoma, Chicago and South Pacific, to name but a few, for the next 16 years.

In 1996 Cinderella became their first ever pantomime and they continue to perform a traditional pantomime each year. As a tribute to 2014 being their Silver Anniversary, they have chosen to perform Cinderella again, thus giving both the stalwarts and the new younger members of the company chance to appear in this favourite classic panto.

In 2006, with musical director Nick Duncan taking a backseat, the company turned their skills to staging farces and performed Are You Being Served and the very memorable Allo, Allo. In fact, in 2011 the whole company were asked to take Allo, Allo on tour to Holland with great success and acclaim.

And in the same year they started to stage variety shows that gave the chance for anyone and everyone in the company to perform a sketch or a song of their choice and therefore continuing the company’s aim of nurturing talent.