Rooftop Theatre

Freshly reimagined theatre…

The Trouser Factory

Next on:

A play by Simon Bolton about the people and stories of
E. Walters (Ludlow) Ltd which from 1957 to 1997 made Ludlow “the trouser capital of Europe”.

3rd to 7th September 2025, 6.00pm

In the Secret Garden behind The Castle Bookshop, Ludlow

When Ed and Gladys Walters opened a trouser factory in Ludlow in the late 1950s, the lives of many people in the town were about to change for ever.

The Trouser Factory tells how hard work, good wages, enlightened management and a spirit of fun brought a community together and enriched the lives of all those involved in a business that made Ludlow the “Trouser Capital of Europe.”

The factory changed the nature of Ludlow bringing vibrancy and prosperity.

This fictionalised drama is stitched together from interviews with former trouser factory workers and managers whose colorful lives are presented with Rooftop’s usual dash of humour and verve.

From a review of last year’s Chain Girls: “A magnificent show last night. Very moving and inspiring.”