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BARTON THEATRE COMPANY
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The home of fantastic theatre from Eccles

OUR LATEST SHOWS
Here we present our new shows and future productions


RED The Panto
by Gillian M Coley & Julie Salmon

The story of Three Little Pigs and Red Riding Hood
 
The birds are singing in Bluebell Woods, Red Riding Hood carries a basket of goodies to Grandma Glad’s cottage, the Three Little Pigs are talking to a property developer about building houses - and The Big Bad Wolf is secretly watching every one of them.
Will Wolf’s hunger get the better of him or can SuperPig save the day ? 
This can mean only one thing… 

IT’S PANTO TIME ! 
and Barton Theatre Company’s back with its 2026 Pantomime

Venue
Salford Lowry Theatre - The Aldridge Studio

Dates
  • Friday 23rd January 2026 at 7:30PM
  • Saturday 24th January 2026 at 3:00PM and 7:30PM
  • Sunday 25th January 2026 at 11AM and 3:00PM
Tickets  (see Lowry Website for details)
  • £15 
  • £12.00 concessions
  • £44 Family ticket for 4 people inc at least one child
The easiest and quickest way to book tickets is online at thelowry.com 
You can also book tickets by phone
  • call 0161 876 2000  
  • groups call 0161 876 2003  
  • access call 0161 876 2183
You can also book tickets at The Lowry Box Office located at The Lowry Entrance. 
The Lowry is at Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ









The background image included is for example purposes only. It is not free-for-use or royalty-free; please be sure to replace it with an image that you hold the rights to.
What we do
Barton Theatre Company is a non-profit making organisation.
 
We pride ourselves on producing highly professional plays for our local community and enjoy ourselves in the process.
The group has been around since the early 1970's and a lot of people have come and gone in that time.
We normally produce about 3 or 4 productions in a season usually culminating in a seasonal play or pantomime.

Our season runs from January 1st to December 31st.

We meet on Mondays and Thursdays at 7:45PM in our rehearsal rooms at Eccles Congregational Church, Wellington Road, Eccles M30 9AL. 
 
Eccles railway station is adjacent.


Please note 
We do not accept unsolicited scripts by email,
nor have any jobs, internships, apprenticeships.
We do not facilitate/source actors for media/student projects/tv/film/rent a crowd as we are an amateur theatre group.
HAVE A LOOK ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR OUR LATEST INFORMATION
The background image included is for example purposes only. It is not free-for-use or royalty-free; please be sure to replace it with an image that you hold the rights to.
Meet some of the team
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
George Stitt is the go to guy when anything is needed. "I have done all sorts from acting, set design, lighting and sound. I have even helped out with makeup and hair."
George Stitt
SED UT PERSPICIATIS UNDE SIT VOLUPTATEM ACCUSANTIUM
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HISTORY
In the 1960s and 1970s 
We were known as "St Catherines" based adjacent to the monastery at Barton during this period and our records start from 1977 even though we we formed much earlier.
We also changed our name to Barton Players at this time and many people still refer to us as such even though we changed our name to Barton Theatre Company in 1989. 
 
We have been Barton Theatre Company longer than we were ever Barton Players but it's funny how people remember us.

1980s
This decade saw us visit the Edinburgh Fringe festival twice and our name changed from Barton Players to Barton Theatre Company. 
 
January 1988 also saw us perform our last show at Salford Playhouse. A lot of amateur groups in Salford were no longer able to play at the Playhouse due to it going professional. However we moved around for a while performing Up and Under at various locations until we made St. Michaels our rehearsal home. For a few years it was also our performance location too.

1990s 
During this decade we had the distinction of performing the worlds first amateur production of The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice in 1997. 
 
We also went on the move again and performed at the old Buile Hill High School in Salford.
SPACER
2000s 
This decade saw a lot of varied productions and we even managed to get a Mini Metro into St. Mikes for the show "Just Between Ourselves" during this period. If you have seen the entrance doors at St Mikes you'll know just how difficult that is! 
 
We opened the decade performing at a Church on Weaste Lane in Salford. This has since been demolished - not of our making! 
 
We then went on to do many productions at the Robert Powell Theatre at Salford University before returning back to Salford Arts Theatre.

2010s 
We performed many shows at Salford Arts Theatre and various festivals. We also took part in the Royal Shakespeare Company's festival to celebrate the 2012 World Shakespeare Festival. Our production was Macbeth. We performed this play in many locations including The Contact Theatre in Manchester.

Productions at The Lowry located in Salford Quays, Manchester Central Library, The Theatre Royal Wakefield and Eccles Town Hall (ECHO) have broadened our audience.

During 2018/2019 we moved from our rehearsal venue of many years, above Smiths Restaurant in Eccles, to Eccles Congregrational Church just over the way.

2020s
We are now well into the third decade of the 21st century bringing fine theatre to the masses.
We started with a celebration of our 50th year of operation with a panto written by wife/husband team our own Tasha Raso and Dan Chadwick.
The next show was the Shakespearian comedy Twelfth Night. We even did 'Allo Allo' which was a rip roaring success.
With many more shows like this the '20s are sure to be another good one.
SPACER
Here is a list of our shows. Apologies to any author we have not mentioned
SPACER
If you want to contact us please enter your email address and your comment
Year  Month Title Type Author(s)
1977 September Robin Redbreast Play John Bowen
         
1978 February
 		Owl and the Pussycat Comedy Bill Manhoff
  May Vigil Play Emlyn Williams
  September Double Time Comedy  
         
1979 January Hans, The Witch and the Gobin        Family play Alan Cullen
  March Sound Of Murder Play William Fairchild
  June On Monday Next Comedy Philip King
  September Suddenly At Home Play Francis Durbridge
         
1980 January Jacks Crackerjack Christmas Family play Chris Webb
  April Trespass Ghost story        Emlyn Williams
  July See How They Run Farce Philip King
 
Salford Festival Family BTC
  September Habeus Corpus Play Alan Bennett
         
1981 January Devil and the Bag O' Nails Family play Chris Webb
  April Hale Festival   BTC
    Pools Paradise Farce Philip King
  May Edinburgh Fringe Festival   BTC
  June She Stoops To Conquer Comedy Oliver Goldsmith
  September Robin Redbreast Play John Bowen
         
1982 January Jubilee Road Family play Chris Webb
  March The Magistrate Farce A.W. Pinero
  June Real Inspector Hound Play Tom Stoppard
  September   Born In The Gardens Play Peter Nichols
         
1983 January
 		Bubbles Family play Mike Briscoe
  March What The Butler Saw Black Comedy  Joe Orton
  June Abigail's Party Play Mike Leigh
  October Sweeney Todd Melodrama George Dibdin Pitt 
         
1984 January The Incredible Vanishing!!! Family play Denise Coffey
  March A Little Love Besides Play ALan Plater
  June Rattle Of A Simple Man Play Charles Dyer
  October Elementary, My Dear Mystery  
         
1985 January Hit City Radio Family play Brian Morris
  March
 		Bazarre and Rummage Comedy Sue Townsend
  June Outside Edge Comedy Richard Harris
  October Children of the Wolf Play Yvonne Mitchell
         
1986 January Geva's Gold Family play Elaine McCann
  March How The Other Half Loves    
  June Trouble and Strife (A collage
of 1 act plays 		   
    Annie Kennie   Alan Plater
    The Vicar   George Melly
    A Mans Best Friend
 		  James Saunders
    The Lawyer   George Melly
    Norma   Alun Owen
    The Dock Brief 
 		  John Mortimer
  October Educating Rita Play Willy Russell
         
1987 January The Snatching of Horrible Harold Family play John Gardiner and
Fiz Coleman
  March Enter A Free Man Comedy Tom Stoppard
  June Animal Farm Fable George Orwell
adapted by
Peter Hall
  October Frankenstein Play Mary Shelley 
adapted by Tim
Kelly
         
1988 January Powers Of Seven
(AKA Prowess Of Sven) 		Family play Elaine McCann
  March Up 'N' Under Comedy John Godber
  June Shakers Comedy John Godber and Jane Thornton
  September Accrington Pals Play Peter Whelan
         
1989 January A Christmas Carol Family play Charles Dickens
  March Friends and Neighbours Play Austin Steele
  June Ag Nik Comedy Jayne Hollinson
  July Open NIght 1989 Family BTC
  September The Travails of Sancho Panza
(Don Quixote)
 		Fable Cervantes - adapted by James 
Saunders
  October Groping For Words Comedy Sue Townsend
         
1990 January Scarecrow And The Golden Heart Family play Dean Sumner
Adapted by Elaine McCann
  April Round And Round The Garden Comedy Alan Ayckbourn
  July Bouncers Comedy John Godber 
  October The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate
Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery 		Comedy David McGillivray and
Walter Zerlin Jnr.
         
1991
 		January Hijack Over Hygenia Family play David Wood
  April Local Murder Thriller Peter Whalley
  July A Night On The Tiles Comedy Frank Vickery
  October Open Night 1991 Family BTC
         
1992 January The Trouble With Thunder Family play Elaine McCann 
Songs and Music by Dean Sumner
  April Billy Liar Comedy Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall
  September  Pack Of Lies Play Hugh Whitemore
         
1993 January           Tails in Mouse Meadow! Family play James Pye 
Songs and Music by Dean Sumner
  April Bazaar and Rummage Comedy Sue Townsend
  September  Salt of the Earth Play John Godber
         
1994 January After Three ... Family play Elaine McCann
  May I Thought I Heard A Rustling Play Alan Plater
  September  The Art of Coarse Acting Comedy Michael Green
         
1995 January Geva's Gold Family play Elaine McCann
  April Outside Edge Play Richard Harris
  July All My Sons Drama Arthur Miller
         
1996 January Cinderella Family play Elaine McCann
  March September in the Rain Play John Godber
  July Love on the dole Drama Ronald Gow and Walter Greenwood
  December Pinnocchio Family play John Morley
         
1997 April Killers Play Adam Pernak
  July The Rise and Fall of Little Voice Play Jim Cartwright
  September Little Brother, Little Sister One act play David Campton
  December Scarecrow And The Golden Heart Family play Dean Sumner - adapted by Elaine McCann
         
1998 March God's Favorite - A New Comedy Comedy Neil Simon
  June One For The Road Comedy Willy Russell
  September Blithe Spirit Comedy Noel Coward
  December Over The Moon Family Play Michael Buchanan-Smith
         
1999 May Hobson's Choice   Harold Brighouse
  September The Odd Couple   Neil Simon
         
2000 May Talking Heads Drama Alan Bennett
         
2001 January Jack and the Beanstalk Family play BTC
  April Just Between Ourselves Comedy Alan Ayckbourn
  June California Suite at the Hale Festival One act play Neil Simon
  September Misery Drama Stephen King Adapted by Simon Moore
  December Puss In Boots Family play Terry Doyle
         
2002 April Pass The Butler Comedy Eric Idle
  September The Importance Of Being Earnest Comedy Oscar Wilde
  December Sleeping Beauty Family play Elaine McCann and Alan Titley
         
2003 April Love On The Dole Drama Ronald Gow and Walter Greenwood
  August Sunday Scenes comprising: 
Wakes Week 
Blitz 
Choppers and Chippers 		Series of One Act Plays Elaine McCann
         
2004 January Mother Goose Family play John Morley
  June Steel Magnolias Comedy Robert Harling
  November Frankenstein.. The Panto Family play David Swan
         
2005 June Kindertransport Drama Diane Samuels
         
2006 January A Basinful Of The Briny Comedy Lesley Sands
  May Gosforth's Fete Comedy Alan Ayckbourn
    Jack And The Beanstalk Family play tlc Creative
         
2007 March Be My Baby Drama Amanda Whittington
  June Where’s George? One act play Gary Diamond & Ray Lawrence
  December Aladdin Family play tlc Creative
         
2008 May/June This is a chair One act play Caryl Churchill
  December Cinderella Family play Tracy Rogers and Helen Dunn
         
2009 March Ladies Day Comedy Amanda Whittington
  May, June, July and September Blitz Drama Elaine McCann
  December Snow White Family play Alfred Howard
         
2010 May Good Things Drama Liz Lochhead
  September Freccles Station Open Day Historical Elaine McCann
  December Trouble With Thunder Family play Elaine McCann 
Songs and Music by Dean Sumner
         
2011 February A to Z of the Bridgewater Canal for 250th anniversary opening event. Historical Elaine McCann
  May Ladies Down Under Comedy Amanda Whittington
  July Monton Festival 2011 An A to Z of the Bridgewater Canal - To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Bridgewater Canal Historical Elaine McCann
  July Worsley Festival 2011 - A Right Royal Regatta Historical Elaine McCann
  September Eccles Festival 2011 - A Right Royal Regatta Historical Elaine McCann
  December Rapunzel Family play Joan Breen
         
2012 May Macbeth - In conjunction with Royal Shakesphere Company Open Stages 2012 Tragedy William Shakespeare
  July Murder at Monton Grange Radio Play (Comedy) Elaine McCann
  December Pinocchio Family play Joan Breen
         
2013 May Iron Drama Rona Munro
  September That's Entertainment Sketches Joan Breen and Brian Cogswell
  December Babes In The Wood Family play Elaine McCann
         
2014 May Shakers Restirred 
performed at: 
Salford Arts Theatre 
Wakefield Drama Festival 2014 (Winner) 		Comedy John Godber and Jane Thornton
  June/August
 All The Kings Men  
performed at:  
Spirit of Salford picnic  
Wilmslow Guild Festival (Winner) 
Irlam and Cadishead Festival 
Ordsall Hall Poppy Day 		Historical Joan Breen
  December Aladdin Family play Joan Breen
         
2015 May Touch And Go 
performed at: 
Salford Arts Theatre 
Wakefield Drama Festival 2015 		Comedy Derek Benfield
  June/July
Heavy Breathing 
performed at: 
WIlmslow Guild Festival Of One Act Plays 
Preston One Act Festival 
Manchester Fringe Festival 		Comedy Joan Breen
  December Cinderella Family play Joan Breen
         
2016 April/May Dracula 
Performed at Salford Arts Theatre 
Wakefield Drama Festival 2016 (Winner best supporting actress for Elly Hayton) 		Drama Liz Lochhead
  May/June/July
Like There's No One Looking 
performed at:  
Chorlton Arts Festival  
WIlmslow Guild Festival Of One Act Plays (Winner of best production and winner of best overall actor - Val Ridings) 
Manchester Fringe Festival, Alberts Chophouse  
Smiths Restaurant, Eccles 		Drama Elaine McCann
  September Up Your Street as part of Love Eccles Festival 2016 Community Elaine McCann and Joan Breen
  December Beauty And The Beast Family play  
         
2017 May The Thrill Of Love Drama Amanda Whittington
  July Waiting for Elvis Drama Joan Breen
  July Maybe Tomorrow Drama Elaine McCann
  September Eccles Festival Community  Elaine McCann, Joan Breen and Javier Hinojo
         
2018 January Mother Goose at the Lowry Family play Joan Breen
    Mother Goose at Sedgley Tigers RUFC Family play Joan Breen
  May Arabian Nights Drama Dominic Cooke
  June
iMa 
Double award winning at the Wilmslow Guild Festival of One Act Plays 
The Syd Mence Cup for a Piece of Theatre Magic went to our own Caroline Jones for Molly a Calico cat in iMa 
Best Senior Individual Performance went to Marit Schep as Mamas in iMa 		Single act play Joan Breen
  July Waves Single act play Elaine McCann
  September Funny Money Farce Ray Cooney
         
2019 January Snow White
 		Family play
 		Joan Breen
  May A Basinful Of The Briny Comedy Leslie Sands
  July Wouldn't It Be Loverly Variety  
  September Here I Belong Drama Matt Hartley
         
2020 January Peter Pan and the Panto League Panto Daniel Chadwick and Natasha Raso
  May Twelfth Night (CANCELLED BECAUSE OF COVID-19) Comedy William Shakespeare
2022 January
 		Jack and the Beanstalk Panto Elaine McCann
  June A Bunch Of Amateurs Comedy Ian Hislop and Nick Newman
  September Dickies Lucky Pigeon Show 
 		Comedy Cabaret BTC members
2023 January Musketeers The Panto Panto Dan Chadwick and Natasha Raso
  June Twelfth Night Comedy William Shakespeare
  September Irreverent Cabaret Comedy Cabaret BTC Members
2024 January GingerBread Man the Panto Panto Siobhan and Aaron Triplett
  May/June 'Allo 'Allo Comedy Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft
2025 January Treasure Island Family Sam Davies
  May Under Milk Wood Drama Dylan thomas
         
2026 January RED - The Panto Panto Gillian M Coley and Julie Salmon
         
         
GALLERY
We have a FLickR site where we host some pictures of our previous productions. Feel free to have a look around by clicking the logo.

We are aware that Flickr has now become a "paid for" model. The free photo hosting now is limited to only 1000 photos so some of ours will dissappear.

LINKS
Drama Groups Register
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