Hosting their next show in the Autumn at Melton Theatre the Melton Musical Theatre Company will be presenting The Pajama Game. The Pajama Game is a romantic comedy set in America in the 1950s at a pajama factory where the workers want a pay rise and includes a number of popular songs such as Hey There and Once a Year Day. Tickets go on sale at the end of this month.
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Feature in the Melton Times
FEARS have been raised for the future of one of Melton’s oldest community groups, the Melton Musical Theatre Company, due to spiralling costs and a drop in income.
The group, originally called the Melton Mowbray Amateur Operatic Society, is in its 92nd year and presents two high quality stage musicals each year at Melton Theatre.
The company is currently busy rehearsing for its next production, The Pajama Game (October 4 to 8) but the cost of putting on a show is around £16,000. This, combined with other contributory factors including a drop in membership and lack of sponsorship, are making it increasingly hard for the group to continue.
The group’s first-ever show, Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience, was performed in 1920 with the renowned Dr (later Sir) Malcolm Sargent as both musical director and producer while former members who have made careers on stage and screen include Adrian Scarborough, Clive Standen, Laura and George Tebbutt, John Hurton, Jeff Bennet and Holly Chapman.
Company chairman Margaret Dorn said: “We like to put on professional shows but it costs an awful lot of money.
“We took a loss on our last couple of shows but we’re in the process of applying for an Arts Council grant, we’re raising money ourselves, we’re appealing to businesses for sponsorship and we’ve been trying to costume it as much as we can ourselves to cut costs.
“The problem if we cut back is that our productions would become very amateur and wouldn’t be to the same high standard people are used to.”
Long-standing group member Marilyn Pepper added: “Personally this society has given me so much over the last 47 years. We try to put on as professional a performance as we can but all the costs have gone up. We need all the income we can get and without sponsorship it just gets harder and harder to carry on.”
Group members are taking part in a sponsored walk around Melton Country Park – in their pajamas – on Sunday, August 21 to raise funds. The group will also have a bric-a-brac stall at Old Dalby Day.
The main company currently comprises of about 30 members from as young as 14 and new members are always welcome. An active youth group helps bring a lot of young talent through.
The company has rehearsals on Tuesday nights at the Cove community centre and on Thursday nights in the Samworth Centre.
l For more information call chairman Margaret Dorn on (01664) 823670 or contact a group member via www.tmmtc.co.uk
The Pajama Game is a romantic comedy set in America in the 1950s at a pajama factory where the workers want a pay rise and includes a number of popular songs such as Hey There and Once a Year Day. Tickets go on sale at the end of this month.
About the Company
The Melton Musical Theatre Company (TMMTC) has around 75 members and currently presents two shows each year, spring and autumn, at Melton Theatre. Members of all ages are welcomed and bring with them a wealth of different experiences. It does not matter whether this is your first show or your 100th. Musical expertise is not a requirement, just a willingness to learn and bags of enthusiasm! Everyone is welcome. We have a special youth group for younger members and then the famous adult theatre group. And if you are a Producer, Choreographer or Musical Director you can also get involved. If you are interested in joining us, then just click the link at the side of the page, we would love to hear from you.
