Christchurch founder retires after 100 shows
THE director and founder of a Loughborough amateur dramatics group has told the Echo he is to step down after working on almost 100 productions.
John Lewin, 66, of Christchurch Theatre Club, is retiring after more than 50 years of directing the group.
Mr Lewin formed the company in 1969 when rehearsals and performances were originally held at Christchurch Methodist Church in Shepshed.
The company moved performance venue to Hind Leys School in 1975 and then moved to Hind Leys College when it opened in 1977.
Christchurch performed there until 1992 but, due to the ticket demand, moved to Loughborough Town Hall and to this day still perform two shows a year.
Mr Lewin, who has had the honour of working alongside the late Danny la Rue and many other big names, has directed all but three of the 101 shows the company has presented and last year was granted special permission out of 400 applicants to stage Evita.
His last production, Gypsy, hit the stage last month and received great critical acclaim.
Mr Lewin told the Echo: “I’ve enjoyed it and I’ve loved it but it’s come to that point now where I have to have a bit of a break.
“I’ve been doing this for over 50 years and it’s been non-stop, at one point we were doing three shows a year too.
“When I started the company there were no opportunities for young people to engage in theatre in this area - there were no extra curricular theatre activities at school or local stage schools.
“I had to battle to do shows at Hind Leys, it was quite pioneering stuff at the time.
“There was no money and we had to make stuff from things out of the tips and we were dying blanket sheets for costumes, it was humble beginnings.”
He continued: “I’ve had so many local people support me over the years, in Shepshed in particular, and now Christchurch has become one of the most successful groups in the area.
“I’ve worked with some of the best people and people who have gone on to become stars and they never forget Christchurch.
“Christchurch is going to carry on but they may be re-branding as CTC. I don’t know who’s going to be directing but I’ll support them all the way.”