Veteran panto writer and actor Kenneth Alan Taylor set for a special night of reminiscence in Shaw

Kenneth Alan Taylor will celebrate 68 years as a professional actor at a very special show in Shaw in October

Hugely popular veteran panto writer and actor Kenneth Alan Taylor will celebrate a 68-year career in professional acting in October with a special show at the Playhouse 2 venue in Shaw.

Tickets are now on sale - priced at just £10 - for the event on Saturday, October 21 - 'An evening with Kenneth Alan Taylor'.

Kenneth is best known for having played the pantomime dame for thirty years in his own productions at Nottingham Playhouse.

However, he appeared at the famous old Oldham Coliseum Theatre numerous times too - featuring in an astonishing 320-plus productions at the iconic former Fairbottom Street venue since his first role there in 1959.

Kenneth became the Artistic Director at the Coliseum from 1978 to 1982, and returned as Chief Executive of the theatre from 1996 to 2002.

He started writing Pantoes in 1962 in Oldham, and then moved to the Nottingham Playhouse to write there for more than three decades.

He was artistic director of Nottingham Playhouse for seven years.

According to Nick Clark of The Stage magazine, "He is one of the UK’s foremost pantomime writers, directors and, until recently, dames."

Kenneth also played Cecil Newton in Coronation Street from 1987 to 1988, and again in 1990.

Born in 1937 in Canning Town, London, Kenneth now lives in Springhead with his wife Judith.

He was ‘thrilled to bits’ to receive a British Empire Medal in 2021, for services to theatre and pantomime.

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.