Patrons boost open air plays

A record number of Lancashire businesses are putting themselves in the spotlight by backing the 2017 outdoor theatre season at Lytham Hall.

Twenty two locally-based firms are lending their support to this year’s four play summer programme which opens with Chapterhouse Theatre’s production of Great Expectations on Sunday June 11.

Green Drive Golf Club and Giggles Day Nursery in Lytham are the latest to join the ranks of Patrons which began with just five for the outdoor theatre’s first season in 2010.

Ailsa Pemberton, partner at Pembertons Dairies, a Patron from the beginning, feels that the success of open air summer events, including the outdoor theatre shows, are keeping Lytham in the spotlight.

“The open air theatre at Lytham Hall has built up a strong following and I am not surprised that so many local businesses are very happy to lend their support to a success story,” said Ailsa. “It’s an excellent way of keeping your name in the public eye and helping a most worthwhile community event”.

Julian Wilde, organiser of the plays at Lytham Hall, added:

“The steady increase in the number and range of top quality well-established firms, both large and small, supporting the programme has been very encouraging, particularly in the present economic climate. It’s very heartening to have so much goodwill and support from business and commerce here on the Fylde Coast.

We have been able over the past seven years to donate £25,000 to the Lytham Hall restoration fund, as well as providing four entertaining and diverse plays each summer.”

Ian Stewart (shown on the right), secretary of the Green Drive Golf Club had no hesitation in accepting the invitation to become a Patron for the 2017 season.

“We are very pleased to support the open air theatre season at Lytham Hall. Lytham is very much an outdoor place in the summer months and it is excellent for our Club to be associated with such a popular venture,” he said.

Three shows by Illyria will make up the summer season which has the Lancashire Post's sister paper the Lytham St. Annes Express as one of the Patrons - The Lost World on July 9, The Mikado on August 20 and The Emperor’s New Clothes on August 27.

Tickets for all four shows are on sale now from seven local outlets and on-line from www.chapterhouse.org www.illyria.uk.com