'A good night's entertainment'- Play to raise vital funds for St Leondard's Church in Walton-le-Dale

A church community in South Ribble is putting on a play to raise vital funds for their Grade II listed church.

Four years ago, St Leonard’s Church in Walton-le-Dale launched a fundraising project to restore and replace several of its listed stained-glass windows.

Organised by the Friends of St Leonard’s, the project, appropriately named ‘Shining Through’, is hoping to raise £60,000 for the restoration.

So far funds have been raised through a variety of community events including a series of plays that have been put on by touring theatre company owner Dean Taylor, who lives next door to the church.

Preston born Dean, who also attends St Leonard’s, said: “They approached me in 2022 and we’ve done six plays so far that have managed to raise over £10,000. It's a work in progress but everything goes towards this Shining Through project.

“These marvelous listed windows really are quite fantastic. I'm looking at them now. They've managed to get four commissioned and retreated- I think one's replaced, and it looks super.

“I hope the sort of thing that the Friends have set up here could be an inspiration to other churches that need to raise money to mend their roof, or whatever it is, as it's a good way of doing it.”

The latest play will be on Saturday May 23 and 70-year-old Dean promises it is to be one of the best yet.

Written by Scottish dramatist John Cargill Thompson ‘The Actor’s Apology’ tells the true tale of 18th century English actor George Frederick Cook who was ordered by theatre owners to apologise to his injured audiences after his drinking and offending overshadowed his acting.

Dean, who has worked across theatres in and around Preston since the 1980s, said: “I've managed to get an experienced actor from Penwortham, John Ellis, and a choir so it should have a bit of texture and an extra dimension to it, sort of filling in as a Greek choir might do, commenting or prefacing action to come.

“The play itself, I rewrote because I wanted more light and shade and I wanted to add some modern music. But it's a true story as well, a cautionary tale, so it's good theatre. I hope that John Cargill Thompson would approve of it.”

Tickets for the show are £15, which includes a free drink, and they are available to purchase by phoning Hilary Anslow on 07734267764 or Audrey Jackson on 07986632219.

Refreshments will also be available to purchase on the night, with all funds going towards the Shining Through project.

Encouraging people to come along, Dean said: “The good cause is reason alone but there is also a nice glass of wine included and lots of very good people to talk to. It should be a lively informal night and a lot, a lot of fun. There will be some pathos and dark moments too. The acoustics are also very good at the church which makes a fine theater. So it's a good night's entertainment.”

The Actor's Apology takes place at St Leonard's Church on Church Brow in Walton le Dale on Saturday, May 23.

Presented by Dean Taylor Productions, the show starts at 7:00pm with doors opening half an hour before.