Shropshire Star

Shropshire theatre group in special show

The next play by Bridgnorth Musical Theatre Company will be especially poignant for its 97-year-old president Freda Spickernell.

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It will be Fiddler on the Roof – the same show in which Freda bowed out from acting after decades of treading the boards.

The pensioner has been president of theatre company since 1998 and still takes an active interest in the group, more than 60 years after she joined up.

Freda Spickernell has been involved in Bridgnorth theatre since 1952

She says she has fond memories of Fiddler on the Roof, which is being staged again in February.

She said: "The show is extra-special to me as we put on that show in 1987 and it was my final performance on stage. It was also the last show where I worked as wardrobe mistress.

"It is definitely my favourite show and I am thrilled that it is going to be staged again by the company."

Freda, who lives in Rosehill Drive, has been involved in the BMTC since its foundation in 1952.

The catalyst for the group's formation was when Arthur Fielder, well known as Uncle Arthur in the BBC's Children's Hour, put an advert in the press asking for anyone interested in reforming the Bridgnorth Choral and Operatic Society, which had launched in 1922 but disbanded in the 1930s.

Freda responded to his ad and at a well-attended public meeting on May 1, 1952 the new Bridgnorth Amateur Operatic Society was created. Freda became the honorary secretary and performed in the society's first show, Goodnight Vienna, staged in 1953.

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From those early days the group has gone from strength to strength and in 2010 won the National Operatic and Dramatic Association West Midlands best musical award for Lerner & Loewes' Brigadoon. They were nominees again in 2011 and 2012.

Freda was married to Graham, who passed away in 2002, and they had three children, Pat, 75, Peter, 69, and Robin, 65. She now has nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Freda is the fourth president of the society, which was renamed as the BMTC in 2007, with a new focus on involving more young people.

This led to the formation of the Bridgnorth Stage Academy in 2005, a junior company to the BMTC which caters for children aged five to 15. In 2013 the academy won the West Midlands NODA award for best youth production with Alice The Musical.

Mr Cinders in 1955 – Freda is centre stage in white

Freda said: "The creation of the children's group has been a huge benefit to the society, as they help to feed talent through to the main company.

"I really enjoy my role as president. I feel that the society has developed so much over the past two decades and is more popular than ever."

Freda's interest in performing and dancing means BBC's Strictly is one of the her favourite TV shows. She enjoys going out and will also be writing the president's address in the programme for the Fiddler on the Roof.

BMTC secretary Alison Pipe said: "We are privileged to have Freda as our president. She is truly committed to musical theatre and we are so fortunate she has been persuaded to continue with her valued presidency."

Freda had an interest in performing from an early age and attended dance classes when she was five.

She said:

"I remember the early days of the BMTC and the fact that we didn't have enough men for the roles. Men were always shy, especially back then and even today we still have more women in the group than men."

Fiddler on the Roof in 1987 – Freda is in a blue scarf

The BMTC production of Fiddler on the Roof will be staged at Bridgnorth Endowed Leisure Centre at 7.30pm on February 16 to 20, with matinee performances at 2.30pm on February 17 and 20. Tickets cost £15 and are available from the box office on (01746) 761541.

For more information visit bridgnorthmusicaltheatrecompany.co.uk or their Facebook page.

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