Celebrating 40 Years of The Octagon Theatre

‘Bolton audiences are great. Having worked all over the country I found Bolton audiences to be up for it... willing to take a chance, have fun and enjoy themselves. The Octagon’s theatre space is unique, it’s gorgeous, it’s interesting - it can be used in the round, as a thrust stage or an end stage. Robin Pemberton-Billing should be knighted for his work on designing that fantastic and highly adaptable theatre. The trouble is now you wouldn’t be allowed to build a theatre like the Octagon. There'll never be another one built like it again’
John Adams, Artistic Director at The Octagon Theatre (1984 - 1987)

‘I grew up in Accrington, a little market town not dissimilar to Bolton, except that Accy doesn't have a theatre! When I first visited the Octagon in my teens I couldn't believe that such exciting theatre was being produced in a little northern town like my own. I saw a promenade production of ‘Road’, directed by Andy Hay, starring amongst many others, Michelle Holmes, Malcolm Hebden and Dean Sullivan. It was a life-changing experience, seeing theatre about people like me and my friends and family, in a town like Bolton, rather than in London or in Manchester City Centre. It was theatre written and performed for the audience it hoped to reach. From then on I became a firm fan of the Octagon’
Julie Hesmondhalgh, Actor and Octagon Patron.

‘The Octagon has been part of my life for a long time ....acting, directing and being an audience member at some very fine plays and concerts. When I played Maggie Hobson in ‘Hobson's Choice’ I'd just learnt to drive, finally { ! } passed my test and acquired a Morris Traveller. Miss Maggie's independence matched my own! The Octagon has always encouraged young people's involvement in theatre and around that time I was interviewed by a young Darren Southworth for one of his GCE projects. We've kept in touch and now Darren is in London starring in ‘Spamalot’ in the West End. The Octagon's tentacles stretch far and wide. Thank You...The Octagon....Here's to the next 40 years!’
Noreen Kershaw, Actor, Director and Octagon Patron.

‘I have played The Octagon Theatre, with two performances of my science show, ‘The Magic of Chemistry’. It was a brave Wilfred Harrison who allowed some pretty dangerous chemicals into his theatre during the pantomime season. I had some interesting scenery and the theatre was ‘in the round’, so I felt quite dizzy when I finished each show. There was a difficult patch when funding was a major problem, I lobbied those who held the purse strings…the ‘Save the Octagon’ campaign succeeded and the Octagon thrives today’
Dr Brian Iddon, MP, Patron.

Many thanks to Andy Mosley and the picture desk at The Bolton News, for their assistance and editorial support. For more information on the Octagon's history, please visit The Bolton News website.