Audrey Gwynne
Joined 1978
I was press ganged into joining the Archway in 1978 by a friend who wanted
me to Prompt the last two nights of a Production she was Stage Managing.
That kind of thing would not happen now as Interviews for Membership are
standard procedure. I did listen in whilst the Play was in production for
a couple of nights but being thrown in to prompting was terrifying and.....I
even had to give a prompt one actor. Not only did I feel I was doing said
friend a huge favour but I had to pay £15 for the privilege of joining!
After that, however, I was hooked and went on to work backstage, Stage
Manage and act in many productions from then on to the early nineties. The
last acting role I did was in The Accrington Pals (1988) - a marvellous play
about a group of young men who went off to fight in World War I. For many
years I worked on the Bar and did flat washing and painting for the sets,
and for 13 years I managed the Box Office for the Pantomime. Now my
duties are less exciting but equally important in that I help with Box
Office, Bar, Coffee and occasional painting of the set. Nearly 30 years
have passed of my association with the Archway so I have seen many changes,
many faces come and go but the theatre is still a part of my life.