Bolton Little Theatre is a registered charity located at Hanover Street, Bolton

Bolton

Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...

 BL1 4TG and has a small car park available. It was established in 1931. The theatre is a Member of The Bolton Amateur Theatre Societies, The Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain, which it joined in 1947 and The Greater Manchester Drama Federation. Bolton is the envy of many towns as it has the largest amateur theatre network in the UK.

The theatres Patron is Sir Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen

Sir Ian Murray McKellen, CH, CBE is an English actor. He has received a Tony Award, two Academy Award nominations, and five Emmy Award nominations. His work has spanned genres from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction...

 and this is where this famous British actor started his career shorlty after attending Bolton School

Bolton School

Bolton School is an independent day school in Bolton, in the North-West of England. It comprises a co-educational Nursery and Infant School and single sex Junior and Senior Schools . With almost 2,400 pupils it is one of the largest independent day schools in the country.-History:Bolton School...

 (Boys Division).

“Bolton Little Theatre is a very important part of Bolton ...if you wanted to see plays well done you came down to see the amateurs rather than a professional company... the Little Theatre is full of people with real enthusiasm” Sir Ian McKellen, CBE, CofH, September 2006

The theatres main proscenium arch auditorium seats 165 in traditional rows and the Forge, an intimate theatre in the round has seating for 60. The theatre also has a comfortable bar and exhibition area where one can enjoy a pre-performance drink, or mingle with the cast after the show. The theatre runs theatre workshops and have a Youth group for people interested in training in theatre. Members also provide touring productions at outside venues.

Alumni

Past and present famous actors that been associated with Bolton Little Theatre:

• Sir Ian McKellen, CBE, CofH
  Ian McKellen
  Sir Ian Murray McKellen, CH, CBE is an English actor. He has received a Tony Award, two Academy Award nominations, and five Emmy Award nominations. His work has spanned genres from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction...
  
  
• Doris Speed
  Doris Speed
  Doris Speed, MBE was an English actress, best known for her role as snooty Rovers Return landlady Annie Walker on Coronation Street, a role she played from 1960 to 1983.-Early life and career:...
  
  
• Brian Pringle
• Geoffrey Whitehead
  Geoffrey Whitehead
  Geoffrey Whitehead is an English actor. He has appeared in a huge range of television, film and radio roles. In the theatre, he has played at the Shakespeare Globe, St...
  
  
• Simon Trinder
• Eric Bentley
  Eric Bentley
  Eric Bentley is a critic, playwright, singer, editor and translator. He became an American citizen in 1948, and currently lives in New York City...