Basingstoke news and sport from the Basingstoke Gazette

Emotional farewells mark end of an era

From the archive, first published Tuesday 30th Jan 2007.

THE final curtain has fallen on the last performance at Basingstoke's Haymarket Theatre - and now the stage goes dark for eight months before the venue reopens under new management.

After members of Basingstoke Amateur Operatic Society (BAOS) took their final bows to rapturous applause following Saturday evening's performance of Fiddler on the Roof, BAOS chairman Caroline Price gave a short, emotional speech about her sadness at what was the end of an era in the theatre's history.

Speaking of the company's "privilege" to be the final group on stage, she said: "We have performed at this theatre for many years and every year it is like coming home to friends and family."

The audience then got to their feet to join the cast in a heartfelt rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

Tearful performers and members of the audience filled the theatre bars following the show, which had seen every seat in the auditorium filled and extra chairs squeezed in at the back to allow theatre volunteers, assisting with the final show, to sit in and watch.

John Randall, 72, who has worked on the back door at the theatre for the past eight years, said: "Normally people go home quite quickly after performances, but tonight it is like no one wants to leave. I don't want to go either."

A decision by Arts Council England, South East (ACESE) to scrap vital funding for the theatre led Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to plan the temporary closure and management shake-up at the Haymarket.

The theatre is due to reopen in September under the management of The Anvil Trust, which will take over from the Basingstoke Theatre Trust.

The closure has resulted in the loss of jobs for more than 30 staff at the theatre.

The Haymakers, the volunteer organisation which has helped look after the facility for 30 years, has also disbanded, with members uncertain as to what the future holds for those wanting to help keep the magic of theatre in Basingstoke alive.

As the weary cast appeared from backstage to mingle with the audience and be congratulated on their run of sell-out performances, Tracey Sherwood-Page, joint front of house manager at the Wote Street theatre, reflected on her time at the Haymarket.

Close to tears, Mrs Sherwood-Page said: "It is going to be very difficult tonight once everybody has gone and it's just me and the back door staff here locking up. That is when it will hit me that there will be no more shows.

"It is a wonderful theatre and I have loved every second that I have worked here. I really don't want to leave."