National Lottery Heritage Funding

Shrewsbury Musical Theatre Company (SMTC) is thrilled to announce the success of our application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to the incredible efforts of Karen Muxworthy. Her hard work and dedication have ensured that SMTC's rich history and legacy will be preserved for generations to come.

As the oldest amateur theatre group in town, no other organisation is as intimately connected to the 100-year history of Shrewsbury as we are. Through collaborative discussions with the Shropshire Archive and Shrewsbury Museum, we have solidified our plans for an ambitious History/Oral History project. This endeavour will not only safeguard our cherished memorabilia but also capture the invaluable verbal memories and anecdotes that offer profound insights into life and attitudes over the past century.

Thanks to our project, significant memorabilia will find a new home in the Shropshire Archive, ensuring their preservation and accessibility. Without this initiative, these items would remain hidden away until they are potentially lost forever. Additionally, our professionally digitised audio and video recordings will be available for future generations to explore through our website and the Shropshire Archives. With formal Oral History training, we aim to capture the memories of performers and audience members, preserving their stories for future researchers, academics, and schools.

Excitingly, Shrewsbury Museum has offered us exhibition space in the autumn of this year. This exhibition will provide a captivating visual journey through our illustrious history, incorporating audio and video projections of conversations, old footage, and photographs from past SMTC/SAOS shows.

We are also delighted to announce that, as part of our Centenary celebrations, a mini exhibition will also be showcased for a week at Theatre Severn from Friday, June 9th. This special display has been curated specifically for those attending SMTC’s Centenary concert on June 10th, offering them the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich history and legacy of Shrewsbury Musical Theatre Company.

We are immensely grateful to Karen Muxworthy and all those involved in making this project a reality. Together, we are writing the next chapter in the glorious history of Shrewsbury Musical Theatre Company.