When the cast of Anything Goes leave the stage in Shrewsbury after the final performance on October 18 it will be a sad experience.
And for one performer it will mark the end of an era. Dave Cookson will have performed on stage at Shrewsbury Music Hall more than 430 times when the curtain falls - and this show will be his last. Anything Goes is his 40th show with Shrewsbury Amateur Operatic Society.
The musical is also the society’s last production at the Music Hall before the town’s new theatre opens in Frank- well. It runs from October 14 to 18.
In addition to 40 operatic society shows, which started with Charlie Girl in 1974, Mr Cookson took part in 10 successive pantomimes at the venue between 1969 and 1978, making a total of 120 performances.
It was in a panto that he met the society’s former director Joan Pinnington who persuaded him to join for the show.
And Mr Cookson even named his dog, a great Dane, after his first society show.
He is now rehearsing the part of Elisha Witney, a wealthy New York businessman who is one of the passengers on board the SS American sailing from New York to London in Anything Goes.
It is in this role that he will make his final six appearances on the Music Hall stage.
Tickets are on sale at the box office on (01743) 281281, with prices for Tuesday night and Saturday matinee performances cut to £5.
Tickets for the other performances cost £10.
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