Ethel Armitage

Ethel Armitage has been involved with drama since the tender age of six, when she was in a play at Riverside School in Wallasey. In the same play was Doris Houghton, the mother of Graham Warren, another of our members. Whilst at Somerville Secondary Modern School, Ethel was a member of the Wallasey Girls' Choir when they performed Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore. After leaving school at 15 she joined the Brougham Players at Seacombe Presbyterian (now United Reformed) Church. She has been a member of the Church there for over 45 years. Ethel left the Brougham Players when she married in 1961. She returned to "tread the boards" when she joined the Pantomaniacs" in 1968 and she stayed with them, playing a variety of roles, from the wicked witch to the back end of the pantomime horse, until the society closed. "I never seemed to get the glamour parts", she said, "my legs weren't long enough!".

Ethel has been with the Out and about Theatre Company since it's formation in 1992, and has taken part in every tour production. She is particularly happy when playing comedy parts, but will have a go at any role. Apart from the Out and About Theatre Company, Ethel is also involved with "The Seacombe Singers" as well as the drama group at Brougham Road Church.

In addition to acting and singing Ethel also writes her own comic rhymes. When she has time to spare (which isn't very often at the moment) she "relaxes" with a paint brush (not the artistic type) painting and decorating the house, as well as a little carpentry. Ethel has lived in Wallasey all her life and is widowed with four sons and four grandchildren.

The ‘Wirral Festival of One-Act Plays 2000’, was a resounding success, not only because of it’s support and the enthusiasm of both the adjudicator and the audience, but also because, once again, we were award winners. Ethel carried off the ‘Best Actress Award’ for her portrayal of Mother in the Roz Moruzzi play ‘Our James’. This was a long overdue honour as Ethel has consistently provided us with a variety of very professionally acted portrayals over many years; everything from comedy and down right farce to serious drama.

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