Welcome to the Dearne Playhouse, Goldthorpe


The Dearne Playhouse is based in Goldthorpe, South Yorkshire. The venue, a former Miners Welfare Hall dates back to 1924 with a capacity of around 380 the Playhouse has for over 80 years played an integral part in the local community.
Pantomimes have played an important part in the theatre's history and Brian Blessed is probably the most famous local boy to have trodden the boards here.
The acclaimed actor grew up in the village and is now a patron of the theatre, where he may once have shouted "He's behind you," whilst clad in a home-made costume. Actually, Brian may well have bellowed from the stage, as pantomime veterans recall that he was a big lad, even then!


Arthur Scargill definitely upped the volume when he used the stage for a rally during the miners' strike of 1984. Barnsley Mayor Ken Sanderson recalls that he "made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck," when he gave a speech in the building, which was then in use as a soup-kitchen.

The mining connection explains both the theatre's curious location in a quiet village and its traditional role at the heart of a community. It was built in 1924 with donations from the coal owners and charity donations from all of the 12 local mines within a five-mile radius, whose employees were charged a compulsory penny subscription for the facility.
In 2005 the Miners Welfare Hall was given a £1m revamp, funded by the Arts Council, and is now known as The Dearne Playhouse. It was re-opened by the Dearne's very own star of stage and screen Brian Blessed in July 2006.

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