Script Competition

Twenty-nine years ago, Stoke Rep Players packed up their props and left the church hall on Beresford Street for a shiny new home on Leek Road — a purpose-built theatre with big ambitions and even bigger responsibilities. Suddenly, we weren’t just putting on shows. We were hosting them. Musical theatre groups, dance schools, drama collectives and musicians rolled in — and our stage became a hub of creative chaos.

It was a lot. And it still is. But our gang of volunteers took it on with aplomb — and one of the brightest sparks in that crew was Malcolm Rushton.

Malcolm’s entrance was the final Beresford Street production, Journey’s End — roped in by the wonderful and much missed Ken Lowe — to help with the lights. That was it. He was hooked. From then on, he wasn’t just there — he was everywhere. Malcolm became the guy who helped made things happen. Unflappable, brilliant, with just enough mischief to keep us honest — the kind of presence that helps hold a place together without ever asking for credit.

He wasn’t just the lighting guy. He was the IT guru, the playful backstage fixer, the welcoming face for visiting companies and the unofficial mentor to anyone with a wild idea and a bit of nerve. Whether you wanted to write a play, start a drama group, or just try something new, Malcolm was your guy. Encouraging, generous and always up for the next challenge.

He gave so much to The Rep that his wife Glen, kids Matthew and Lyndsey all joined the crew just to spend time with him. That’s dedication.

Fast forward to the 2020s — Malcolm’s health took a hit, but he kept showing up. Kept doing his stuff. Kept the lights on. Still found time to wind us up and make us laugh.

March 2024 was a brutal month — it took Malcolm from us; and the gap he left was immediate. The whole theatre — indeed, much of Stoke-on-Trent’s theatrical world — felt it. Richard Masters, his long-time partner in crime, carried on with quiet resolve — though those who knew them both could sense the shift. It took a whole team to fill the space Malcolm once held solo.

Malcolm was never about standing still — he was all about rolling up his sleeves and cracking on. So, we’re honouring him the way he lived: with energy, purpose and a proper nod to the next generation. It’s not a memorial. It’s a launchpad.

This year we have launched The Stoke Rep Theatre Malcolm Rushton Prize For Playwriting in honour of a man who impacted so many of us.
We hope this will become an annual event. Watch this space…