'I'm nearly 90 and have just acted in my final play'

An 89-year-old actress has called time on her stage career after nearly 60 years of appearances for an amateur dramatics group.

Jean Dalby first performed with Ecclesfield Priory Players in 1967, and has since been cast in more than 100 productions.

Her last outing with the Sheffield theatre company was this month, when she played a member of a writing club who becomes caught up in a murder case in The Beginner's Guide to Murder.

Despite stepping down from stage roles, Jean will still help with set design and building alongside her husband, Bill.

Jean said: "We moved to Ecclesfield in 1963 and settled in. One day we got a leaflet through the door from Ecclesfield Priory Players advertising for new members. I'd always been interesting in acting."

After going along to a group meeting she said she was struck by the fact that there were people of all ages there.

"I went with a few of my neighbours and I joined that night, as did a few others, but I'm the only one still there."

Jean said she had always been a shy person away from acting.

"When you get up on that stage you're not you. So you're not shy and you can do the things that normally you wouldn't be able to do.

"It's the camaraderie between the cast, it's just wonderful, it's been the love of my life, really."

Bill has already retired from acting roles due to his health, though he still gives advice on prop-building behind the scenes.

Her final role saw her given a part in a pretend murder play.

"I play a bit of a Miss Marple-y character. She's a bit eccentric and they take a little bit of a dislike to her because she's not turned up on time."

Jean said she had never shaken off nerves ahead of a performance, despite her vast experience.

"Every night I feel nerves, but when I get up on the stage everything takes over and I just love it."

She and Bill have been married for 69 years, having met at a church youth club when she was 18.

Although she was tempted to carry on performing for another year to reach her 60th anniversary, Jean said that ultimately age was catching up with her as she approaches her 90th birthday.

"I have noticed I am starting to feel that a bit and standing a long time, I have to stand quite a bit in this play.

"And that's not good for me because I start getting backache and I thought, well, I can't keep on forever.

"And I'm going out on a really good part. And that's what I want to do."

She will also continue to serve as president of the group.

"I'm still going to take part and I'll help backstage and do whatever I can while I can."

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