AUDIENCES attending a popular village drama club will now have a much more comfortable experience after the theatre purchased new seats.

Gainford Drama Club has acquired 92 seats for the Academy Theatre, in Gainford, Teesdale, from Darlington Civic Theatre, which is currently being refurbished.

The thriving club, which was launched in the village’s former academy for young men in 1949, has held at least 150 productions since it began and boasts a famous connection as being the school where Stan Laurel was educated.

The club, which has about 50 members who put on at least two shows a year, have now finished installing the new red velvet seats.

The previous green seats, also from the Civic, were purchased thirty years ago, in 1986.

Committee member and former chairman, John Robinson, who has been a member of the club since 1957, said he hoped the seats would last another 30 year like the set before.

“The new seats are padded so a little more comfortable. I hope these will last another 30 years,” he said.

“When I first came in 1957, we had seats in that had come out of old railway carriages because our producer at the time worked for British Rail.

“I think they were from a 1920s railway carriage – they were hideous but comfortable with big cushions so we had them until 1986 when we replaced them.”

Fellow member, Iris Hillery, added: “I think they look great.”

Mrs Hillery said some people had already bought some of the seats with one buyer even continuing the seats’ theatrical journey by using them as part of their home cinema.

The new seats can be sponsored by patrons or in memoriam through the purchase of a plaque which will be affixed to a seat for £25.

Plaques from the old seats have been mounted in a frame which will be displayed in the theatre.

To sponsor a seat contact club chairman, John Lowery, on 01325-733138.

Visitors and new members are welcome to come along on club nights, normally Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7.30pm when a production is in preparation.

Members also enjoy social events and non-acting members are most welcome to get involved in the many activities required to run the club and produce a play.

The next production, Spring and Port Wine, is a comedy by Bill Naugton. Performances begin on November 23 and include a charity performance on Friday, November 25, in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance and a matinee on Saturday, November 26, at 2pm.

To find out more contact secretary, Veronica Lowery, by emailing secretary@gainforddramaclub.co.uk or visit gainforddramaclub.co.uk or their Facebook page.