AN AMATEUR theatre group is celebrating Chester Gateway Theatre’s 40th birthday by keeping alive hopes it may be fully reopened.

Tip Top Productions has been using the studio theatre in the basement of the building even though the main auditorium has been stripped of its seats and equipment.

Tomorrow actors will be performing in the same building where 40 years ago the theatre opened on November 22, 1968.

Steve Davies of Tip Top said: “The first production in the newly named Forum Studio Theatre was on September 27, 2007, and since then the group has produced more than 20 plays, concerts, workshops or musicals and has a season of more than 10 further productions scheduled into 2009.

“Each production that the group has mounted has drawn a bigger and bigger audience, proving the hunger for theatre of this kind in the city and also proving its ability to satisfy the demand.”

He added: “There is no doubt that this team are capable of being a major stakeholder in the future of theatre in Chester.”

Tickets for all Tip Top’s productions can be bought at www. tiptoproductions.co.uk or from the box office on 01244 341296.