Cost of living impacts 125-year-old theatre group

A 125‑year‑old amateur theatre group said rising living costs are hitting ticket sales and putting its future at risk.

Peterborough Operatic and Dramatic Society (PODS) is one of the longest-running amateur theatre societies in the UK and has about 100 members, ranging in age from 16 to 95.

The self-funded charity produces two shows annually, but has seen a decline in ticket sales.

Hannah Ogden, the group's fundraising manager, said: "We've just seen a drop this year in tickets, and we can only put that down to the cost of tickets and the cost of living, unfortunately."

She added: "We receive no government funding. We put on shows for the love of it. It's just a hobby for many of our people and our members.

"And, we just would like more community support and people to come watch us."

The theatre group is currently performing We Will Rock You at The Cresset Theatre, which cost about £84,000 to produce.

Members usually meet for rehearsals twice a week, and Ogden said they have people from all different backgrounds working on shows, including paramedics, teachers and nurses, with some of them having been involved for over 60 years.

"It keeps them going - it's such a key part of their life," she said.

"We have to support a local theatre. For so many of our members, it's an outlet.

"We've got people from all different walks of life, and we come together to create some magic on stage through the pure love of it."

Ogden said the group is calling on the community to support their shows and help keep it going.

"So the challenge at the moment, with cost of living, it's becoming more expensive to put shows on - we have to hire the theatre, costumes, props.

"As a consequence of that, for us to be sustainable and continue putting on these productions, we have to up the cost of our theatre tickets.

"We won't be able to continue to put on the standard of productions that we do, making loss after loss, unfortunately. And we try our best to keep our ticket prices as low as possible to make it as accessible to people.

"When we put on a production, as a committee, we have to basically sell the theatre out, essentially to break even."

Ogden said members of the community can also support the group by volunteering during shows and rehearsals.

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