Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 25th January, 2024)

To all you poets out there and on this auspicious day:
My love is like a red, red rose………..

Hello, 'From where I'm Sitting'.........if you are looking in at WW this morning, I can assure you I am not hiding behind any 'name'. I used to post comments as plain old Helen but at one time there was another Helen posting as well....so a Wigan Worlder said I should add Troy so as not to get comments mixed up. So thats what I did.....you yourself dont use your name....what are you hiding yourself for ??

why cant we use it probably paid by the tax pays of wigan

Reminds me of Armchair Theatre on a Sunday Night. Students are lucky to be able to ‘study’ acting in a college instead of amateur dramatics waiting to be ‘discovered’ if ever.

Helen of Troy, has someone been "having a go"?. If so ignore it....you are a valued contributor on p-a-d and I for one look forward to your comments which are always fair, polite and interesting. As for today's p-a-d, Good Luck to those students hoping to "tread the boards" in later life....I'm sure they will find their new "theatre" a good starting point.

Helen, I for do not believe for one second that you use multiple names and like myself and a few others are open with our real names, sometimes though I think to our detriment and wish we hadn’t.
Being anonymous can lead to speculation and allow the comments to be hurtful but I suppose that’s life.

I don’t think any of those names are imposters Helen. Somebody just ‘acting the ‘fool’ . Nothing better to do.

Looks like the audience at a Cliff Richard concert .

There are a couple of reasons why it isn’t open to the public, the first being that the Theatre is regularly used by students learning their various skills in theatre production such as Lighting Technicians, Sound Engineers etc.
Secondly although a wonderfully equipped theatre with finest equipment and retractable seating system the theatre was constructed in a existing space and the column that you see does impede on the viewing sight lines which is a pity and would not particularly be acceptable to a paying public.

A better chance of gaining fame would be from ‘Footlights’ at Cambridge. DD trumps again! I think it’s time Cliff hung his wi.. er… guitar up. Same with the other groups who look like they've just been ‘dug up’…sorry to the fans.

Helen of Troy, this person hiding under "from where I'm sitting" said the same about me too.
It does wind people up because they've not revealed their name.
They are the real fakes.
Great photo Colin, brings back memories from being a young child, going to the pictures Saturday mornings.

Helen, as the saying goes, the devil will always find work for idle hands.. and it is so true, try your best and ignore them..I’m on the WW boards as Momac, I get called Mo by everyone and Mac is what my Dad was known by,. I’ve been on WW since 2008 and have seen them come and go.. put your feet down firmly love and don’t let the so and so’s get you down.

I suppose if I'm have a bit of a grouse this morning I had better get it said. Perhaps someone can tell me when did drama , news reporting , dancing & various other studies etc become a university subjects ? Didn't those leaving school start as juniors at the bottom of the ladder in days that are not that long ago ? I myself started in floristy as a 'apprentice' that meant cleaning...I learnt how to scrub a floor for the first time in my life....dusting, fetching, carrying...all the lowly jobs before I was even allowed to touch a flower. When did it all change ?

Presumably because it's been created in an existing space, limiting the options, this is a very restricting performance space. I prefer theatre in the round (like the Royal Exchange in Manchester, or the Octagon in Bolton), or a 'thrust' stage, like the Swan at Stratford-upon-Avon, where the audience and actors seem to interplay more readily. Students taught only in a proscenium theatre space such as this will need to re-learn to work in those freer environments.
Obstructing pillars are a feature of many older theatres - the Swan at Stratford has them, as does the Palace in Manchester - you just pay less if your view is restricted by them.

Colin, you must have a good and honest face to enter into some of the places you go to yo get your brilliant photos..

Very true Helen never a better word said.
Every job was starting at the bottom and working your way up. Plus being kind to those when you were at the top and they were on their way up!

Helen, there is absolutely nothing wrong with with learning the basics at grass roots level, its a good grounding for anyone in any walk of life. But these days the technology involved in putting on a live performance in any form is akin to running a nuclear power station or air traffic control.
Just go into the control room at any Theatre, TV Studio or Major Arena and you would be astounded at the skill and complexity. Its like mission control at NASA!

Helen, when I first started work I was sent to the stores for a long stand…. It took a while but I got one!
I was also sent for a left handed screwdriver.
I couldn’t tell you some of the other things I was put through.
I was fifteen and as green as grass, but they had no pity in those days.
You just took it as part of growing up.

Rev Long, yes you are correct in that the column had restricted the design options. Personally I prefer a traditional arrangement with proscenium arch but thrust, theatre-in-the round and other configurations do provide many possibilities for both the performers and the audience, dependent on the type of production.
While at Rank in 1970's I worked on both The Royal Exchange and Alan Ayckbourn's Theatre in Scarborough, I think both venues stimulated a wider interest in this concept.
These days new build theatres large or small are often designed to be flexible to maximise theatrical possibilities, for this a much larger open floor space without obstructions is required to accommodate larger units of mobile retractable seating. I have worked on these in many parts of the world over the years. The new Co-oP Live arena in Manchester will accommodate over 20,000 people many of which will be on a flexible portable, retractable seating system to maximise seating arrangements, this flexibility will in turn will generate additional revenue.
A similar concept on a smaller scale could be used in the existing Market Hall, if only the powers that be had imagination.

Could it be instead of studying English Language and Literature Helen and this is a ‘short cut’? Just a thought. Omitting the lighting/sound skills etc

It seems to be an excellent facility that will permit students who want to work in theatre and TV to learn those 'behind the scenes' techniques, and to gain experiences and qualifications within that field.

PS Rev Long, as explained to Helen this facility is more to do with the technical skills required behind the scenes rather than performing skills.

Cliff’s concerts are packed with his loyal fans ! Why do you think he has lasted so long . I saw in the paper Marty Wilde is still going , how old must he be ? If you still can, Rock n’ Roll I say .

DTease, don’t overlook the Sky Hooks and Buckets of Gas. I started work just after my 14th birthday so have seen it all. Harmless fun and part of learning humour and social interaction.

PS DTease, those kinds of pranks and banter were fine at that age and time, but when you get to a certain time in life the humour has gone and it just becomes disrespectful.

Looks like a good set up and will help some people up the career ladder.

Cliff and rest of the oldies did provide entertainment at the time and did have their lovers and haters.
Bottom line, most are retired millionaires with mansion the UK and Villas in the Caribbean.
Where did I go wrong?

I would rather remember these former ‘stars’ when they were at their peak. Plus you can still listen to their music That will never die out. The Rolling Stones are something else - these days they look grotesque to me. They look a lot older than they really are with the lives they have led. Even Cliff looks stretched around his face and his hair is dyed black. He really is the ‘Peter Pan’ of Pop. What’s wrong with retiring gracefully as most of us do. Who really wants to see Cliff gyrating on stage and singing ‘Move it’…
( when he can’t really ’move it’! ) All the money they have and still wanting to be onstage…. It must be an addiction …. That’s my opinion anyway.

Looks like a good set up and will help some people up the career ladder.

Just a little bit more to add on to my last comment as perhaps I’m being a bit unfair to Cliff. I like to see the older end of these great entertainers on the chat shows. It can be interesting listening to their tales of the past. Not just the Rock and Pop ones. I liked seeing old film stars such as Bette Davies being interviewed by Michael Parkinson. You can catch them on ytube. The last one ever of Bette was very sad. She was practically wheeled on to the set. The poor thing was as imperious as ever but looked dreadful in her very old age. She was still very interesting to listen to though and was smoking her head off. She died very soon afterwards. You do have to admire them ….

Cliff’s concerts are packed with his loyal fans ! Why do you think he has lasted so long . I saw in the paper Marty Wilde is still going , how old must he be ? If you still can, Rock n’ Roll I say .