On what would have been her 73rd birthday, Bowness-on-Windermere’s theatre has been renamed the Victoria Wood Theatre in honour of the actress, writer, and comedian.
The theatre is currently presenting Fourteen Again, a new musical staring Ria Jones and Sally Ann Triplett both of whom worked with Victoria Woods on Acorn Antiques, Triplett playing Miss Berta in the West End and Jones playing Mrs Overall in the first national tour. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’s Tom MacRae has written the book for the musical which features songs from Victoria Wood herself to mark the change from The Old Laundry Theatre to The Victoria Wood Theatre.
The change of name marks the long friendship and collaboration between Victoria and owners Charlotte Scott and Roger Glossop, who first worked together in 1978. Wood opened the pair’s World of Beatrix Potter attraction, in a former Edwardian laundry, in July 1991 with the Old Laundry Theatre being opened the following year by Sir Alan Ayckbourn.
Snell, who founded the theatre with her husband Roger Glossop, said:
With young families in tow (hers & ours) we followed Vic’s career as she toured up and down the country always returning to re-charge in The Lake District. Vic was always supportive – performing at The Old Laundry in her stand up, doing benefits in larger venues, and productions of her own shows Talent and Housewife 49 at the theatre. So now, 10 years after her death, it is a great delight to be putting on this show, and Vic’s name is on the theatre.
Fourteen Again runs at the Victoria Wood Theatre until Saturday 6 June, marking the official renaming of the theatre on Tuesday 19 June.
