HistoryThe close knit area of Idle & Thackley to the north of Bradford has had an Operatic Society since 1928, a fact not widely known, even though we are in our 93rd year.
The Society was started by a group of music lovers whose enthusiasm outweighed their ambition or their charitable resolve, and also, in those days before television provided an opportunity for the irrepressible Yorkshire character who couldn’t manage a brass band instrument, to let his (or her) hair down and make the rafters ring. |
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In those 93 years, Idle & Thackley progressed from being simply enthusiastic amateurs, to a group who undertook formidable musical scores, led by very efficient professional musicians, choreographers, and theatre directors, who shared the same interests. They have sung music as varied as the Savoy Opera – Faust, and concerts of modern music, and one Christmas a special request by a small boy in Morrison’s supermarket “Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer”.
In the best traditions of the wandering minstrels, they have also had a variety of homes to rehearse in, and venues to perform in. From their inception in Idle Parish Church schoolroom the Upper Chapel, Fisher’s Mill canteen, The Baptist church, the Methodists Church and various other church halls , and also Idle Cricket Club, with performances at a church in Greengates followed by a move to Victoria Hall in Saltaire, from there to the Library Theatre in Bradford until it was closed down. A move to St. Georges Hall followed, and then a move to Bingley Arts centre, before deciding to stage their shows in their “home” The Little Theatre, which is located on the upper floor of Idle & Thackley Conservative Club, in Malt Shovel Yard, Westfield Lane, Idle.
For over 20 years now they have rented the top floor of the Conservative Club, where over the years enthusiastic members past and present, have built a stage, sound and lighting box, dressing rooms, decorated and re-decorated rooms, put down a new floor, installed a new lighting system, built a new kitchen, and made many more improvements, to make“The Little Theatre” a pleasant place for audiences to visit.
To bring Idle & Thackley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society more up to date a name change as also taken place, now known as Idle & Thackley Theatre Group they are now presenting plays most recently “Billy Liar”, “‘Allo ‘Allo”, “Blithe Spirit”, "The Odd Couple", three episodes of the "Blackadder" canon and "The Vicar of Dibley".
There is also a thriving junior section, The IT Kids Academy of Performing Arts (usually abbreviated to the ITKids), where the children have lessons in dancing, singing, drama, and stagecraft. They are also an integral part of the annual pantomime, and present their own show annually.
In the best traditions of the wandering minstrels, they have also had a variety of homes to rehearse in, and venues to perform in. From their inception in Idle Parish Church schoolroom the Upper Chapel, Fisher’s Mill canteen, The Baptist church, the Methodists Church and various other church halls , and also Idle Cricket Club, with performances at a church in Greengates followed by a move to Victoria Hall in Saltaire, from there to the Library Theatre in Bradford until it was closed down. A move to St. Georges Hall followed, and then a move to Bingley Arts centre, before deciding to stage their shows in their “home” The Little Theatre, which is located on the upper floor of Idle & Thackley Conservative Club, in Malt Shovel Yard, Westfield Lane, Idle.
For over 20 years now they have rented the top floor of the Conservative Club, where over the years enthusiastic members past and present, have built a stage, sound and lighting box, dressing rooms, decorated and re-decorated rooms, put down a new floor, installed a new lighting system, built a new kitchen, and made many more improvements, to make“The Little Theatre” a pleasant place for audiences to visit.
To bring Idle & Thackley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society more up to date a name change as also taken place, now known as Idle & Thackley Theatre Group they are now presenting plays most recently “Billy Liar”, “‘Allo ‘Allo”, “Blithe Spirit”, "The Odd Couple", three episodes of the "Blackadder" canon and "The Vicar of Dibley".
There is also a thriving junior section, The IT Kids Academy of Performing Arts (usually abbreviated to the ITKids), where the children have lessons in dancing, singing, drama, and stagecraft. They are also an integral part of the annual pantomime, and present their own show annually.
