Harrogate Theatre125th Celebration
23 Hill End Lane by Alison Gilmour
On 25th July 2025 we celebrated Harrogate Theatre's 125th Anniversary alongside other 5 other local drama and musical groups. We preformed an abridged version of our award winning play '23 Hill End' written and directed by Alison Gilmour.
The play uses a narrator, a BSL signer and projected images making it accessible to the blind, partially sighted and deaf community. It is an uplifting piece of drama with themes of community and connection, enjoyable and accessible to an audience of all ages.
This piece of theatre which has inclusivity and diversity at its core was excellently performed by cast: Julie James, Howard Atkin, Keith Ledson, Matthew Lucock, and Nimmi D'Chuna with Alison Gilmour playing The Cat and Narrator and Russell Aldersson BSL Signer as The Dog. They were supported by stage manager Estella Ramsden, stage crew Louise McVey and Becky Bedford, prompt Sandra Smallwood who also appeared as trees and villagers. The music was devised and performed by Victoria Milne and our technical director was Anne-Marie Ledson.
The audience and our fellow groups where very appreciative of the performance which was greeted by received a rousing cheer at the curtain.
A Month of Sundays by Bob Larbey
June 2025
​This poignant comedy, set in a nursing home in 1986, masterly directed by Julie James produced laughter and tears in equal measure from our appreciative audiences at Harrogate Theatre Studio.​
The production featured great performances from Howard Atkin, Colin Smith, Pippa Bogle, Emily Anderson, Eleanor Harris and Oliver Snodgrass
Great photos by member Raelene Goddard
Great Reception for Our 2025 Fringe Production
In March we performed our Annual Fringe of 2 One Act Plays to Full Houses at St Roberts Club.
Act 1 saw Agatha Christie's 1948 radio Play 'Butter in a Lordly Dish' brought this gruesome murder mystery to life in a post war radio studio with the appropriate period sound effects.
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In Act 2 we presented 'Ruby of Elsinore' by Bruce Kane, a comedic reference to Shakespeare's Hamlet where the main characters visit the sassy hairdresser Ruby where they share their hopes, dreams and troubles but didn't necessarily get the right advice!
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A Christmas Carol November 2024
Our SOLD OUT production of A Christmas Carol was a resounding success.​
Our audiences thoroughly enjoyed this version of the classic tale adapted by our very own Howard Atkin. We saw some sterling performances from members old and new.​ The music elements were very well received so a big thank you to Peter Pozman for his performances and his guidance during rehearsals.​​ It was a great job by all the team who really enjoyed the experience
Nidderdale Festival 2024
AETF Report on Nidderdale Festival 2024 Frazer Theatre, Knaresborough. 6th April, Adjudicator Susan Doherty.
The evening began with 23 Hill End Lane, written and directed by Woodlands Drama Group playwright, Alison Gilmour. The play, a piece of visual storytelling describing the adventures of a man and a woman who decided to leave their cottage and village for the first time, was made accessible to a wide-ranging audience including those who are deaf by being signed by a BSL signer on the night and was a first for this festival. Woodlands Drama Group were awarded the trophy for stage decor for the set and projection. They were also awarded an AETF Heritage Award for its integrated signer, narration and projection.