SUPPORTERS of Bromyard's Conquest Theatre celebrated its 10th birthday last weekend, remembering the old tin hut where its life began.

From those humble beginnings to a forthcoming first in films for the theatre, its decade of history is very much down to the determination and hard work of a team of voluntary helpers.

The town has a long history of theatrical exploits. Conquest Productions emerged in 1978 from the Bromyard Drama Group, which was formed during the 1930s. The group evolved when it fought against the odds to create its own home in a 1919 corrugated iron building, once home to the Royal British Legion and later a solicitor's office, on Old Road.

Conquest stage manager Graham Shortland said: "Its name was arrived at by long-time chairman Paul Spelman because it was a conquest to get that place up and running as a theatre."

Bought in 1978, the tin hut was nevertheless always going to be a temporary home, providing the drama group continued to thrive. During the late 1980s, work began to raise £250,000 through donations, subscriptions and gifts for a new theatre.

The site of Bromyard's old cattle market was chosen and brought from the town council for £20,000. Three years later, after burying a time capsule beneath it, the new 150-seat venue raised its curtain for the first time for Peter Gordon's Out of Focus on December 10, 1991.

Dorothy Pooley, Conquest chairman from 1996 to 2000, said: "Paul Spelman was the prime mover for the new theatre and without the help of Clive Richards I don't think we would have managed.

Mr Richards, a businessman, donated £35,000 as a gift and loaned another £65,000 from his charitable organisation. It was he who opened the theatre.

Mrs Pooley said: "Building the new theatre cost a lot of money and we were hoping that we would put on productions so that it would pay its own way. Through the years we have done this. We've put on a varied programme and increasingly we have professional performers."

Resident stage manager Graham Shortland said: "I started at the old tin hut. We've grown up since then. We're very much more a business now, we have this lovely building for everybody to use and we're going into films in March, which is a big leap forward.

"It's still a dedicated band of people who run the theatre, we are still all volunteers. It's always run successfully, any money goes straight back into the theatre to improve our facilities and bring in more expensive shows."

Town clerk Mike Cresswell said: "In the 10 years since opening, the theatre has played host to a multitude of events including travelling companies, professional ballet, an indoor falconry display, all types of bands and much, much more.

"It is, of course, well known for its own productions and regularly has sell-out performances. There is considerable talent within the company including backstage, lighting and costumes. All of this is supported by the many front-of-house volunteers. The theatre could not survive without such a dedicated group of people. It's only because of their continued support that it goes from strength to strength."