Back to index of Nerve 8 - Spring 2006

Dingle Community Theatre

By Helen Grey

Support for the proposed Dingle Community Theatre Project was clearly evident when over 50 people attended Toxteth Town Hall on 3 February.

The meeting was held to gauge public support for the idea of creating a permanent community theatre in the Dingle and L8 area of the city.

Dingle Community Theatre, formally known as Shorefields Drama Group, is determined to provide performance arts opportunities and regeneration for local audiences in the Dingle area.

Members of the meeting expressed the idea of using the acquired space for dance and cinema as well as theatre.
The establishment of a permanent theatre in the area has been a long-term aim of the association.

Tom McLennan, the co-ordinator of Dingle Community Theatre, said: “From our point of view, a community theatre in the area would be a dream come true. A place to showcase our work, train our members and other members of the community, and somewhere for our young members to cut their teeth.”

Paul Nicholson, of Kensington Fields Community Association, raised the idea of expanding the radius of the theatre’s scope. He talked of the theatre serving all working class people of Liverpool, not only those in Dingle.

The meeting concluded with a short scene taken from the Dingle Community Theatre’s forthcoming production that details the life and work of the local legend Billy Fury: ‘Like I’ve Never Been Gone’ by Alan Bower will be performed at the Unity Theatre on 11-13 April.