• ACT
  • Administration
    • Agents
    • Gods
    • Management
    • Youth
  • About
  • Contact
    • Secretary
    • Press Office
    • Webmaster
• Services
• Information
  • Insurance
  • Summer Schools
  • Links Theatrical
  • Rights Holders
• Newsletters
  • Latest Newsletter
• Rights Holders
  • Addresses
• Home

MAUREEN THOMAS

61 Years service to Amateur Theatre

(In conversation with Fred Plant – one of the ACT Gods)

“I have known Maureen as a Dear friend, Stage Dancing Partner,  and fellow Principal  in Musicals and Plays, and during my time as a Society Secretary and Chairman, she was a dedicated Treasurer of Prestwich ADOS (PADOS).   I was asked to prepare this account of her more than 60 years involvement in Amateur Theatre and to recall many memories.”

Maureen’s love of performing began when she was about 5 years of age,  living in Blackburn when she started tap-dancing lessons.   She recalled that like most Dance Schools there was an annual display.   She cannot remember what she actually did on stage (it all becomes a blur) but she told me that she certainly remembers waiting  ‘in the wings’ to actually make her entrance.   Some four years later Maureen recalled that her parents moved to Radcliffe and a chance meeting with a Minister from the local church resulted in attending Sunday School .   Churches in those days had a Music and Drama Group and this one was no exception.   They produced Plays,  Pantomimes and Musicals.   Amusingly Maureen told me that she remembers her Mum telling someone that Maureen was to play the role of ‘Man Friday’ in a production of ‘Robinson Crusoe’ ;  the lady was horrified and said she would not have allowed her daughter to play that character  (So unladylike !!).   Mrs Thomas pointed out rather wearily that  “Maureen doesn’t care what she does so long as she is on stage !”  “Times have not changed you Maureen –FP).

At fourteen years of age Maureen was promoted to a Dancer in her first musical – ‘Betty’.   Someone spotted her potential as the following year she had her first small but listed role in ‘A Waltz Dream’.   Some years later during a Play rehearsal someone told Maureen that their brother was to appear in ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ for PADOS who played in a real Theatre – ‘The Devonshire’ Higher Broughton (now sadly demolished) AND they hired a Wardrobe from professional costumiers ( Watt’s I recall – FP).   She remembers saying how much she would like to be in a show like that.   The next rehearsal she learnt that PADOS were short of one or two ladies for the Chorus (How things have changed today !  FP)  and would she be interested !!!!

Maureen nostalgically recalls that ever since -  PADOS has been the centre of her life saying modestly that she has been lucky to have some wonderful parts in Plays and Musicals.   (Fred says “Luck has nothing to do with it !  Maureen has exceptional talent and had she been prepared to take invitations from other Societies would have shone in their productions as well,  but apart from one or two excursions she has been totally loyal to PADOS – an attribute that the modern ‘journeymen’ do not sadly subscribe to).    Maureen points out that her role as ‘Eliza’ in ‘My Fair Lady’ at The Victoria Theatre was for her the highlight but the interviewer recalls being on stage with her when she had major principal roles in ‘Oklahoma !’,  ‘Bianca’ in ‘Kiss Me Kate’,  ‘Ellie’ in ‘Showboat’,  ‘Carrie’ in ‘Carousel’,  ‘Gladys’ in ‘Pajama Game’, ‘Smitty’ in ‘How to Succeed……’, ‘Nicky’ in ‘Sweet Charity’ and playing opposite her in her role as Frln Schnieder in ‘Cabaret’ and so many others.

One of Maureen’s rare excursions ‘abroad’ she told me about when the Director of a Show who was a teacher at a High School which staged productions featuring Staff, Students and Guest Players invited her to be ‘Anita’ in ‘West Side Story’ it was an inspired choice and stands out in Maureen memory.

As time and many more productions came and went Maureen became more involved in the administration aspect of PADOS and took on the ‘Office’ of Treasurer in 1978.   She says “Finally hanging up her ‘Pen’ and ‘Calculator’ in 2011 and was immediately installed as Honorary President of PADOS a position she is still proud to hold.  (An honour she richly deserved  - FP).  In closing our chat of memories Maureen tells me that she has seen PADOS with a 95 year long tradition evolve over the years and was delighted when they courageously acquired the former local library some 35 years ago and converted this into a lovely Studio Theatre where all their Plays and Revues are currently staged.  

Fred Plant