Priestley Players Amateur Dramatic Society

Priestley Players Amateur Dramatic Society formerly of Worsley Road Methodist Church and now St James' Church, Hope 

History

The Priestley Players Amateur Dramatic Society (PPADS) in their current incarnation were formed in 1970.  An earlier Society with the same name had been run by the Social Club of the British Oxygen Company but had ceased operations some years earlier.  However it's reputation had been good and when members of the Social Club and Worsley Road Methodist Church came together to form a joint society  there seemed a number of good reasons to retain the name.  Joseph Priestley was of course the person who first isolated and identified Oxygen and J B Priestley is a well known novelist and dramatist.  In addition, although it would be spelt differently a name with the word "priest" in it seemed appropriate for a society based at a church. The society went from strength to strength performing first one play a year, then two, then three and finally three plus an annual one act play as part of the church's Christmas Fair entertainment.  In addition for a number of years there was a Junior section producing at least one play a year. At its height the PPADS were performing each play for five nights to sell-out audiences of 150+.  Several members of the society have gone on to have professional success in live theatre and on television. In recent years as the competition from professional groups and the proliferation of television channels has increased, audiences have fallen.  However, unlike many of the plethora of amateur societies existing in the "glory years" of the 60s, 70s and 80s the PPADS are still here. The Society faced its biggest challenge when Worsley Road Church closed in 2014.  However, after a lot of searching and researching they were welcomed to St James' Church, Hope and after nearly twelve months renovating and improving the stage there, the first production in their new home - "Caramba's Revenge" was put on for three nights in October 2015.  Further productions have followed and new members have brought new life to the society.  There is much more on the society's facebook page.