Peter Kay, the well-known comedian, held three intimate fundraising shows at Bolton’s Octagon theatre. This was his first stage appearance in the town in 20 years, much to the delight of his fans. The 390-capacity theatre sold out within minutes of Kay’s show being announced to the venue’s members, patrons, and mailing list subscribers. He managed to raise £80,000 for the theatre.
Despite being one of Britain’s biggest comedy stars, he regards himself as “one of Bolton’s funniest comedians”. He started his career in the theatre, where he worked during the 1990s before being “let go”. Kay was overwhelmed by the response from his fans and expressed a strong preference for the smaller surroundings of the Octagon compared with his usual arena performances.
During the three shows, which were each two hours long, he entertained the Bolton crowds with a range of material, including his regular stand-up routines, and even dressed up as Santa Claus. He reminisced about other jobs he had in the town, including working at a local branch of Netto and a video shop called Rentertainment. Kay’s return to his hometown gave a significant boost to the much-loved venue.
Octagon’s CEO, Roddy Gauld, was grateful for Kay’s support both in terms of the money raised for the theatre as well as the recognition for the valued work they do. Gauld noted that running a theatre is particularly challenging right now, with rising costs and audience numbers declining. He hoped that Kay’s generosity would inspire more people to support the local arts scene and ensure that ticket prices remain accessible to everyone.
Bolton’s Octagon theatre has a close relationship with the community, nurturing local talent such as actress Maxine Peake and film director Danny Boyle. Kay’s performace will undoubtedly help keep the work of the theatre going and inspire future generations to follow in his footsteps
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