The story of the founding of Bingley Little Theatre in 1948 (after years of effort) and making the company's first production a reality, would do justice to J B Priestley's The Good Companions.

Sixty years ago when Bingley had its own Urban District Council and Bradford was another place seven trolley bus miles to the south, the sense of excitement in the town may be imagined.

The BLT building was formally opened on Monday, April 26, 1948, in the presence of councillors, magistrates and other civic figures. The Taming of the Shrew opened the following evening for a run of six performances including a Saturday matinee.

To celebrate the diamond jubilee of BLT next month the play is being reprised. The past will live on in the person of Louise Hodgson, who plays Bianca; she is the grand-daughter of the late Eric Bailey, who played Baptista in 1948.

And it will live on in the person of Mike Hoggard. He played the Page in the first production and will be in the audience at a special diamond jubilee gala performance on Sunday, December 2, to watch Mark Brown in the part.

Other gala guests will be the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Robin Owens, and the Lady Mayoress, Mrs Janet Owens; local councillors; life members; past chairmen and representatives of other organisations.

Shakespeare's comedy is directed by BLT chairman Jonathan Scott whose lifelong links with the company go back to his parents Frank and Ros. An experienced actor himself who made his stage debut at the age of 11, Jonathan has the additional on stage job of performing the part of Baptista.

"It's not been ideal," he said. "Baptista is not a massive part, but I would like to see the play, having directed it; but I won't be doing that in its entirety. But someone dropped out through ill-health with two weeks to go. I thought bringing someone else in would be unfair to the cast.

"Because I have been reading the play for the last 12 months, I discussed my doing Baptista with the cast and they agreed."

Kate and Petruchio are played by Allan Hollings and Anna Yeadon. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor played the parts as battling lovers in their film version. Kate is fiery and outspoken. As the eldest daughter of wealthy merchant Baptista she has to be married off before her sister, the more pliable Bianca, can marry.

Swaggering Petruchio, in need of a wife with plenty of money, vows to tame Kate and be her husband.

Modern interpretations of Shakespeare can tend towards political correctness - Othello is totally innocent, Shylock is a victim of anti-Semitism.

Similarly, Kate could be seen as a victim of male chauvanism. Is she really a shrew and is Petruchio a wife-beater?

Jonathan said: "While I was researching the play I heard of one production where Kate was brought back to Padua to die because he has starved and beaten her.

"What I am trying to do is to bring out all the positive sides of the play. There is a definite attraction between them. For Petruchio initially it's money and the thrill of the chase. For Kate, no man has ever spoken to her as Petruchio does.

"She has to be shown the error of her ways because she is spiteful, largely because of they way she has been treated by her father and his friends. I hope audiences will understand that."

In Shakespeare true love is sometimes concealed until the mettle of the lover has been tried and tested. In Much Ado About Nothing, for example, it is clear from the start that Beatrice and Benedick adore one another, but neither is prepared to give way and admit it too readily; so they quarrel and engage in wit battles.

Family involvement across the generations has been a constant source of strength to BLT. Father and son Graeme and Phil Holborough are Vincentio and Tranio. Phil's mum Joann is behind the scenes in wardrobe.

Another BLT regular, Julian Freeman, plays Grumio. And for those who missed the story in last week's T&A, a four-year-old Eldwick greyhound called Meg joins the cast of more than 20 for what will surely be a diamond occasion.

  • The Taming of the Shrew runs from December 3 to 8 at Bingley Arts Centre, starting at 7.30pm. The box office number is (01274) 432000.