South Yorkshire Times, May 30th, 1970
“It Was Great Fun”
Curtain-up took the Smoke Room by storm at Mexborough’s Albion Hotel on Saturday. A Sheffield Playhouse Theatre group were staging their first-ever pub performance to a packed house…with such success that they now plan to repeat their experiment at the invitation of other pubs, clubs and works in Sheffield and South Yorkshire.
A good-humoured helping of North Country song and patter – “Close the Coalhouse Door” – was an immediate hit with the Albion regulars, who crammed every available cranny for a view of the playhouse unit, Theatre Vanguard.
Afterwards Vanguard director Glen Walford, declared” it was great fun. We had visited the Albion informally before and had loved the place. Now we would like to hear from any pubs, clubs or works where they would like us to play.
Performing like this is in no way a mission,” she added “It is theatre in its own right, just as valid as wrestling…or the World Cup.”
Albion Licensee Mr. Charlie Wilber reported near record capacity for his pub…and beer sales too were tops.
“I would like to say how grateful I am to everyone for co-operating – particularly in drinking up on time – on what was a very hectic night. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the night,” he said.
“As far as I know it’s the first time there’s been anything like this in a public house round here, and I personally thought it was great.”
Regular customer Mr. Frank Fallon shared his view. He told me, “It’s a long time since I have enjoyed a night as much. They’re a smashing bunch Vanguard, and all in all it was first class.”
This Friday lunchtime, Glen and the Vanguard group repeat “Coalhouse Door” at the Playhouse itself, with admission free to miners and steel workers. Their second pub show is also this week-end, at an hotel in Abbeydale, Sheffield.
Tomorrow (Saturday) Vanguard return to Mexborough…. this time to the Rockingham Theatre, Schofield Street, with two short plays, National Union of Students’ festival winner, “From Out of a Box” and “Typists.”
Mrs. Cynthia Wilber, landlady of the Albion Inn, joins with David Atkinson (on the drums).
A good-humoured helping of north country song and patter