A LONG-STANDING stalwart of the stage has bowed out gracefully from his role as stage manager at one of Teignbridge’s titular theatres.

Sunday, January 15, was the final showing of Newton Abbot and District Musical Comedy Society’s (NADMCS) production of Sleeping Beauty.

And it was a bittersweet affair for one of the society’s members, one whose work behind the scenes has, for many decades, ensured that show after show thrilled audiences to rounds of applause.

Rounding out a 54-year tenure, Bill Glennon stepped down as stage manager for NADMCS following the society’s showing of Sleeping Beauty.

Bill Glennon
After 54 years, it was time for 78 year old Bill Glennon to step down as stage manager (Bill Glennon)

‘It was 1966 when I joined NADMCS and in 1969 I took over as stage manager’ Bill said.

‘In 1978 the Alexandra underwent a major refurbishment and we got a couple extra dressing rooms out of that,’ he added.

 ‘1978 was a sort of pivotal year really as far as the theatre is concerned and I had quite a bit of input into that.

‘In the very early days nobody had microphones, that was unheard of - whereas now everybody has a microphone’ he added.

‘I’m 78 now and it gets to be a bit of strain sometimes, shifting stuff about and so on – 54 years of stage management is plenty!’ Bill said.

The society's production of Blitz graced the stage in 2007
The society's production of Blitz graced the stage in 2007 (Bill Glennon / NADMCS)

Ian Glennon, Bill and Margaret’s son, said: ‘I am not sure when dad formally started as stage manager for NADMCS, however, for my entire life living in Newton Abbot I can only remember him doing it. My brother and I helped out during shows, it was a complete family affair. 

‘Most of the long term friendships my parents formed in the town came via NADMCS.

‘Dad’s contributions were many: lighting, sound, scenery being the main ones. 

‘Organising the “get in” was a major logistical problem, since it involved lifting the cinema screen up into the roof (hard) and moving the old speaker box out through the market hall (very hard!).

‘Dad has invested much of his time in the Alex.

‘He knows it inside and out! Much of the interior has the remains of his signature.’

It was in 1996 when NADMCS put on their production of Cabaret
It was in 1996 when NADMCS put on their production of Cabaret (Bill Glennon / NADMCS)

Bill joined NADMCS in the 1960s where he met wife Margaret during his first show, South Pacific, in 1966; the pair have been serving the society ever since and both Bill and Margaret continue to sit on the committee. 

The 78-year -old has been involved with the Alexandra Theatre in another way also; as an advocate of preserving the Alexandra Theatre as a working theatre, Bill has spent much time among the ‘Save the Alex’ movement which sprung up in 2018 following Teignbridge District Council’s proposals.

2012 saw Dick Whittington take to the stage at the Alex.
2012 saw Dick Whittington take to the stage at the Alex. (Bill Glennon / NADMCS)

Bill said: ‘When I joined the society, the Alexandra could seat 500 in total which was the stalls and the circle whereas now, as far as the theatre is concerned, it seats 135 or thereabouts.

‘In the early 1970s, for pantomimes for example we would fill that up with punters.

‘When we found out they were thinking of ripping it out and doing away with the theatre altogether then that was not good so we got together and devised a plan to alter the inside of the theatre to make it all one again but with a raised seating arrangement, similar to that of the Palace Avenue in Paignton.’