In the summer of 1999 I had a call from my agent asking me if I would be interested in attending an interview for the post of Resident Director…I came for the interview, which was only really for three shows and they offered me the job. I have a suspicion that somewhere along the way someone forgot to ask me to leave as nearly eight years and thirty four shows later I find myself in the position of still being at the artistic helm at the start of the theatre’s 40th Year.

I’m immensely proud to have been the Artistic Director over a time of enormous transition and change. The challenges that my colleagues and I set ourselves at the beginning are now bearing fruit in what is a very ambitious season for us. When I first started here the average cast size was four and even slipped down to two at one stage. Now we are in the unique position of being able to perform works with up to 19 actors on stage. A remarkable journey. Working here has instilled in me values that I will never forget and confirms my belief that theatre still matters in our lives be it as an artist, a spectator, or a participant. What keeps me here is the overwhelming feeling that this theatre belongs to Bolton and that it somehow matters’
Mark Babych, Artistic Director 1999 - 2009

‘I am full of admiration for the management and staff of the company whose resilience, commitment and hard work have seen the theatre through some difficult times. The Octagon continues that proud tradition of a regional rep: to serve its community with a consistently varied and high quality artistic programme. And it has given me two of my most treasured acting experiences: “My Children! My Africa!” in the Studio in 1995 and “ I Just Stopped By To See The Man” in the main house ten years later’
Wyllie Longmore, Actor, Director and Octagon Patron

‘I got a call from Ian Tabbron at the then North West Arts Board in September 2000 saying “the Octagon have a bit of a crisis – the Executive Director has walked out, the Chair of the Finance Committee has resigned, the staff are unhappy and they haven’t submitted any plans for further funding from The Theatre Review (which was about to distribute £25m of new money). Do you want to take it on?” I said “Ok. I’ll have a look.” I met the Chair, Les Harvey and the Senior Management Team. I said “Is this the Senior Management Team”. They said “Yes.” I said “how often have you met?” They said “never.” So I said “well this is the first meeting then.” I accepted the offer of a consultancy to see what I could do. When I arrived, I found a note on the back of an envelope from the departed Executive Director with five bullet points:

• The money raised by Sue Hodgkiss to maintain the Octagon’s ability to produce plays runs out the end of next year.

• The activ8 money from the lottery runs out in 6 months

• The café and bar (a separate company) have lost £30k and are continuing to lose money hand over fist

• The new lottery funded heating and ventilation system doesn’t work

• Good luck

We drew up a business plan in a week which we submitted just in time for the Theatre Review by the Arts Council who awarded us an additional £200k to retain our producing status and continue the work of activ8’.
John Blackmore, Executive Director, 2000 - present

‘A good producing theatre is a sign that a city or town is a proper, civilised community and not just a conglomeration of people. It's a key element along with schools, colleges, libraries, playing fields — a way of talking to each other about things that matter, a workshop and a shop window where we can try to make sense of a weird and sometimes frightening world’
Alan Plater, Writer (Blonde Bombshells Of 1943 produced by The Octagon Theatre, Bolton and subsequent UK tour. Winner Best Production, Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards 2006).

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.