We celebrated fifty years since its opening last night, with a grand VIP preview of its “Standing Ovation” exhibition.

The new gallery hosts memorabilia and mementoes from five decades of arts in the community, featuring original playbills and film projectors, memorable costumes and rare photographs from every decade of the theatre’s existence.

Also featured are the original architectural drawings for the site and clothing belonging to Eric Morecambe, who performed his final show at The Roses in 1984. The beloved comic sadly suffered a heart attack backstage following his performance and passed away the next day.

“The Roses has an incredible story,” said Derek Bond, Director and CEO. “The Roses has always been a place that’s been really valued by the people of Tewkesbury and all of north Gloucestershire.

“It’s a place that people have really appreciated – and it’s still here because people have really valued it.”

With the theatre’s annual pantomime on its way – the curtain rises on 29 November, and the show runs until January 3 – The Roses is already forging forward into a vibrant future, Bond says.

“In the future, I want to see us make even more work here, as we do with our panto every year. We’re going to be doing more of that: putting on shows made in Tewkesbury, for Tewkesbury – and with which the people of Tewkesbury can really get involved!”

With a past that includes visits from Princess Anne and Michael Palin, Bill Bailey and of course Morecambe himself, the “Standing Ovation” exhibition offers visits a vision of a theatre with a storied history – and a vibrant future.

“When I got these drawings out, I saw them and thought, ‘Did I do that?’” says James Rendell, the local architect who designed and oversaw construction of the theatre back in the early 1970s.

“I did! And is the building still there, and is it still in use, and do people still like it? Yes. That’s the cherry on the cake.”

“This theatre has really been made by the community,” agrees Megan Dunford, the theatre’s Creative Health and Community Producer. “And it’s a really exciting time right now at The Roses – in the last few years, we’ve just sky-rocketed.”