Denton Variety Club History
The first objective of this page is to provide links to details of past DVC and Rising Stars productions, starting with the most recent.
Where available, the shows' programmes are provided. The coverage can also include -
- R - a Review.
- P - Photographs.
Previous Years’ DVC Productions
* - These productions were Reviews rather than Pantomimes.
- 2024 Space Wars - R, P
- 2023 Camelot the Panto - R, P
- 2022 No Show
- 2021 No Show
- 2020 Jack and the Beanstalk - R, P
- 2019 Cyder with Bertie - R, P
- 2018 Sun, Sand and a Nasty Little Serpent - R.
- 2017 The Three Musketeers - R, P.
- 2016 Denton Leaps* - R, P.
- 2015 Beauty and the Beast - R, P.
- 2014 Robin Hood Goes West - R.
- 2013 Mary Mary Quite Contrary - R, P.
- 2012 Aladdin - R, P.
- 2011 Hansel and Gretel Uncut - R.
- 2010 Sleeping Beauties - R.
- 2009 Cinderella - P.
- 2008 Midsummer Night’s Dream - R.
- 2007 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice - R.
- 2006 Treasure Island.
- 2005 Quasimodo’s Back - R.
- 2004 The Golden Goose - R.
- 2003 Rumplestiltskin - R.
- 2002 Ali Baba - R.
- 2001 The Princess & the Pea.
- 2000 Millenium Bug*. - R.
- 1999 Robin Hood. - R.
- 1998 The Train Now Standing*
- 1997 The Wizard of Oz - R.
- 1996 King Arthur.
- 1995 VE Day*.
- 1994 Little Red Riding Hood. - R.
- 1993 Snow White II.
- 1992 1992 and All That* - R.
- 1991 Cinderella.
- 1990 Abanazer’s Revenge - R, P.
- 1989 Aladdin.
- 1988 The Sleeping Beauty - R.
- 1987 Dick Whittington.
- 1986 Ali Baba - R.
- 1985 The Director’s Tale. It has been claimed by some people that, technically speaking, this was not a DVC production at all. Although everyone involved was a DVC member, it was organised by Barbara Spaul on a personal basis. Its presence in this list accounts for the continuing debate about exactly how many DVC productions there have been.
- 1984 Denton Goes West* - R.
- 1983 Somewhere in England* - R.
- 1982 Old Time Music Hall.
However, as you will see, the program has "Denton Variety Club" at the top and the Club logo on the back!
Broken Leg Award
As with every amdram production, it is the things that go wrong that sometimes create the greatest amusement. In recognition of this, DVC has a special trophy presented annually to the person (or in one case persons) who have contributed the most significant “disaster” to the year’s production.
The original trophy took the form of a complete leg plaster-cast on which the names of the recipients were recorded. In 2017 there was no space left for any more names so a new similarly styled, but rather less bulky, replacement was provided.
The “Winners”
- 2024 Karen Wilby
- 2023 Denise Grant
- 2020 Terry Fox
- 2019 Chris Hutton
- 2018 Caroline Hutton
- 2017 Peter Grant
- 2016 Michelle Nial
- 2015 Gary Nial
- 2014 Denise Grant
- 2013 Chris Whipps
- 2012 Pauline Townsend
- 2011 Nigel Seamans
- 2010 Margaret Parsons
- 2009 Adrian Hipwell
- 2008 Phil Morgan
- 2007 Pauline Townsend
- 2006 Eddie Winter
- 2005 George Porter and Nigel Seamans
- 2004 Chris Whipps
- 2003 Richard Wallace
- 2002 Roger Dove
- 2001 Richard Carden
- 2000 Karen Dove
- 1999 Denise Grant
- 1998 Margaret Parsons
- 1997 Phil Morgan
- 1996 Matt Smith
- 1995 Johnnie Carslake
- 1994 Ken Ashton
- 1993 Sally Barber
- 1992 Doris Battell
Best Supporting Role
A more recent addition to the awards handed out at the cast party that always follows the final performance of DVC productions is this, suitably shaped,trophy which recognises not the star of the show, they can always bathe in the recognition of their peers, but the person who has, on or off the stage, provided that essential support for the production as a whole.
The “Winners”
- 2023 Peter Grant
- 2020 Sara Fox
- 2019 Charlotte Valori
- 2018 Sue Altarelli
- 2017 Harry Norfolk
- 2016 Sarah Henderson
Rising Stars Shows
Where available programmes etc are held on separate pages (in blue).
- 2019 Snow White, Some Dwarfs & Some Crocodiles.
- 2018 A Round Tower in a Square Hole was performed at St Mary's Church Open Day on 24th October.
- 2017 The Four Seasons.
- 2013 The production took the form of an item during the Carol Service held at the church.
- 2012 Mind the Bugs Don’t Bite.
- 2011 Show Cancelled
- 2010 Hansel & Gretel.
- 2009 A Spoonful Of Sugar.
- 2008 No Room At The Inn.
- 2007 Everybody Loves Christmas.
- 2006 A Little Bit of Seasoning.
- 2005 A Christmas Carol.
- 2004 The Emperor’s New Clothes.
- 2003 Travel through a Spectrum
- 2002 Pinocchio
- 2001 Wind in the Willows
- 2000 Barny & Grandma’s Christmas Present.
- 1999 Jack and the Beanstalk.
- 1998 New Floor Cabaret
- 1997 Snow White And The 7.5 Dwarfs.
- 1996 Denton Daily Planet.
- 1995 Capital Kids.
- 1994 Timetrek.
- 1993 You’ve Been Framed!.
- 1992 Things That Go Bump In The Night.
- 1991 DVC TV.
- 1990 Rising Stars Circus.
- 1989 Forest Frolics AND Robin of Bogwood
- 1988 Seaside Special AND Tom & the Sea Serpent.
The Rising Stars Song
The Stars have their own special song which is normally sung, to the tune of the traditional Floral Dance, as the finale of each show.
