Brindley is the jewel in our crown (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Brindley is the jewel in our crown

10:07am Wednesday 8th October 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)

Among all the trials and tribulations of living in the industrial north west, Halton has taken the bold step of using some European money (as I understand) to put something back into the community and they have built the award-winning Brindley Theatre.

While other authorities in the county are tearing down theatre venues (Chester Gateway, Northwich Memorial Hall, Winsford Civic Hall – all due for demolition) Runcorn has become the cultural centre of Cheshire – sorry Crewe, lots of history and a smashing theatre but the Lyceum’s a bit jaded!

I had the pleasure of watching Chester Musicals, an amateur society, put on that timeless classic, My Fair Lady at the Brindley. Top price tickets for my wife and I, a programme, drinks at half-time (I think theatre-goers call it ‘the interval’) and free parking to boot and I still spent less than the price of a single ticket to see a professional show at Liverpool or Manchester, or half a ticket in London! And there’s more – drinks at the interval at a competitive price and served from a pump. Why is that amazing?

Well, you have to visit our nearby cities to experience the overpriced lukewarm bottles they have on offer.

And I haven’t even got to the performance.

I know My Fair Lady is legendary as far as musical theatre is concerned, but it’s never actually been my favourite – I may have to reconsider. In the film, Rex Harrison, who had a vocal range of two notes, growled his way through his numbers, and you would forget that the part can also be played by someone with a fantastic voice – and it was!

I have seen a professional production of ‘MFL’ in Manchester. Was the Brindley performance as good? To be perfectly honest, no – it was much better!

Add to the principal performances, an energetic, harmonised chorus and a fantastic live orchestra (I’ve never seen so many audience members stay behind to listen after the curtain closed) and to think all this on our doorstep, a full evening’s entertainment for a reasonable outlay and a memory that will be with me for ever.

Maybe Halton IS now the cultural centre of the county. Perhaps Chester would like an incinerator instead?

Jon Silcock Runcorn

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)