AROUND TOWN MEETS
Gondeliers 1961
Childrens theatre
Cinderella
meets Roger Walton
There’s no business like show business, and there’s no business about show business in Barnsley that Roger Walton doesn’t know.
For over 60 years, Roger has dedicated his life to amateur and professional theatre in his hometown, playing every role in his enduring monologue from actor to set builder, producer to publicity manager.
A chorus of stage performances, inspiring young people into theatre, fundraising to open new theatrical venues, and even rubbing shoulders with Hollywood stars; Roger has seen it all.
New York 4
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk
Like most children, Roger had his first taste of theatre at a family pantomime, going to the Theatre Royal on Wellington Street with his mother in 1949, later, visiting theatres in Bradford, Sheffield,
Junior Operatics Committee Leeds and Blackpool.
Around the same time, Roger made his first appearance on stage in a Gang Show at St Paul’s Church, Old Town. While a schoolboy at Wilthorpe School, Roger attended the cubs with many of his friends. Based on Ralph Reader’s original idea, they would put on annual variety shows, with Roger performing with 60 other scouts and cubs.
Yet it wasn’t until he reached Holgate Grammar School that Roger became fully interested in the magic of theatre, encourage by his English teacher.
Roger would go onto appear at St Paul’s Church again many times over the years, performing in variety shows and pantomimes, setting the stage for continuous involvement in Barnsley’s entertainment scene up until this day.
In 1960, Roger played one of Cinderella’s Ugly Sisters, Ermyntrude, alongside his own sisters Susan and Deidre plus two Barnsley girls who went onto the bright lights of stardom. His cousin, Josephine Jackson, would one day become a Tiller Girl dancer, while Victoria Nixon became an international supermodel. Victoria’s
“I explained the two involved were a Glaswegian and a Londoner and so it was never going to be a match made in heaven.”
“My English Literature teacher was the late Peter Dews who went onto become an internationally acclaimed director. Instead of us reading out Shakespeare’s plays, he had us act them out in class which was far more interesting. “Mr Dews left Holgate to join the BBC where he created An Age of Kings, the first televised production of Shakespeare’s history plays for which he won a BAFTA and later a Tony Award on Broadway.”
brother, Nicholas, designed and painted the sets with Roger. Roger also appeared with Barnsley Junior Operatic Society in many Gilbert and Sullivan operas at the old Boys Club on Westgate, before reaching the ripe old age of 21 when he was deemed no longer a junior.
He moved into senior
productions with various guises, such as the Barnsley Playgoers, YMCA Operatic Society and
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