'We're a family here' - Performers come together in sadness and defiance for one last show at Cannock theatre

Seven of the district's leading performing groups were joining forces to say their goodbyes to the theatre, following news that it was put at risk of permanent closure due to Cannock Chase Council's budget measures aimed at protecting essential frontline services.

Some of the groups have been performing at the theatre since it opened in 1984.

Ahead of the big show on Saturday, groups including Backstreet Theatre Company and Brownhills Musical Theatre Company were going through their routines and rehearsing their big numbers inside the theatre.

While the mood among those on stage seemed good, with the sounds of "Jesus Christ Superstar" ringing throughout the 400-seat theatre from the Brownhills group, there was a feeling of sadness and disappointment among those present at the loss of a theatre many of them had grown up with.

Carrie-Anne Collins from Backstreet said she had been a part of the theatre for years, both as a performer and helping out with running shows.

She said that the loss of the theatre was very disheartening as it left her group and other groups without a venue to perform at, but also expressed hope that the theatre could be resurrected one day.

She said: "We're a family here, and it doesn't matter if you're in one society or another, we are a community and this is going to affect us all as we live and breathe musical there, whether it's a hobby or a job itself.

"It affects us all as now we've got nowhere to go to perform upcoming shows and so we're all struggling to find somewhere to carry on our living, our dream and our hope.

"Emotions are going to run high here tonight because we're hoping that it's not the final curtain and once it's closed, there's some amazing people who are fighting for us and the community has got behind us as well."

The feeling of loss, but also that hope that something could be done to bring the theatre back, was one being expressed by Jamie Norgrove.

Mr Norgrove, who is a member of Brownhills Musical Theatre Company and also a trustee of the Cannock Chase Theatre Trust, said he and the other trustees were looking at ways to rescue the theatre.

He said: "When I found out that the theatre was closing, I was devastated as we've used this theatre for 10 years as a company, coming here once a year, and a lot of our colleagues come here twice a year, so it's a big venue for people and it was a real shock the way we heard it was going to close.

"We galvanised a group quite quickly after the initial announcement, so there's a group that's been convened and registered as a charity called Cannock Chase Theatre Trust, with five trustees.

"We're working quite closely with the council, really positively in terms of looking at taking this on as a community ownership and an asset for the community for future generations."

The sentiments of Jamie Norgrove and Carrie-Anne Collins were also echoed by Backstreet member Craig Smart and deputy theatre manager Lauren Draper, both of whom said they were still struggling with the news of the closure.

Lauren said: "It was awful and heartbreaking as we spend our lives here, as have a lot of people, from a very early age, so it's soul-destroying as people use this as a means of an outlet in terms of experiencing that joy of theatre.

"I've been coming here since I was five years old, performing and dancing, then coming here at 15 and 16 to do work experience, so it's been a huge part of my life for 30 years and I can't see what day-to-day life will be like without it.

"It's a lifeline to a lot of people and it's a real wrench that it's closing."

Craig said: "I had never even sung on karaoke until I started in theatre, but I got brought in here by these wonderful people and, for me, it's been a dream and a platform for me to be something incredible.

"This theatre has made me who I am today and given me confidence and made me a better person as you get to share time with people and learn about people and you become a family.

"It will affect the schools as much as anything as there are schools which have great theatres and put on great shows and this is the next level, so they will struggle as they won't have that next level to go to and you'll find people walking away from theatre, which is just a shame."