Over 50 years of history! 1972 - 2023
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Founded in 1972, Thorpe Players have performed more than 130 unique productions, including: hilarious comedies, farces, serious dramas, thrillers and pantomimes and since 1994 there have been many musicals. In 2012 we celebrated our 40th anniversary, through various events including a rather spectacular evening on the broads. We've also successfully staged two productions (Dad's Army & Jack the Ripper) at Norwich's famous Maddermarket Theatre.
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Dad's Army set at Maddermarket theatre
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Cast members from Khaotic - March 2017
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OUR EARLY HISTORY
There is evidence that a drama group performed in Thorpe in the 1950s and indeed there are some photos in existence of some of their productions. However, Thorpe Players as we know it today began in 1972 as Thorpe St. Andrew Parish Drama Group when the late Harold Birch, a lay-reader at the Parish Church, and someone who also had a great interest in drama, had the idea of staging a performance of the York Nativity Play (adapted from the York Mystery Cycle) as an act of worship in the Church. He gathered together over 30 parishioners in the cast and 15 plus behind the scenes who rehearsed and performed the work under the direction of Jean Palotai, and some of those involved were so ‘caught up’ in the process that they decided to stage a secular play. Pop Goes the Patient was staged in the same year and Murder in the Vicarage by Agatha Christie the following year. Quite what the rector of the time, Rev. Brian Pearson, thought of that was never disclosed! The play was performed at the Roxley Village Hall, which remains our home to this day.
This production saw the formation of a Committee, in which The Rector was President, Harold Birch was Chairman, Jannette Reed was Secretary and Keith Fuller was Treasurer. Annual subscription was 20p for adults and 10p for students!
Religious productions alternated with secular, with A Jinx at the Johnson’s, being staged at St. William’s School, House of Mary and The Blue Goose being performed in 1974, and The Garden and Travellers’ Joy being staged in 1975. Later that year saw the Parish Church dressed to emulate Canterbury Cathedral to stage T.S. Elliot’s verse drama Murder in the Cathedral complete with chain mail, broadswords and actors in and around the audience.
Rehearsals at this time were held in the Old Hall at the Good Shepherd Church (which we now share with the Guides for storage). Performances were mainly staged during the week as a long-standing Ballroom Dance Club used the Roxley on Friday evenings.
Interest grew and the group moved from staging two annual productions to three each year. Herod the Great (1979) was the final production to be staged in the Parish Church as health and safety regulations become more stringent.
1984 saw a change of name to the rather more manageable Thorpe Players, and the following year we attempted our first pantomime Sing a Song of Sixpence. This proved very popular and the production of pantos continued annually until we plucked up courage to attempt our first musical Oliver! in 1984. Pantos and musicals alternated biannually along with a whole range of dramas, comedies, thrillers – something for everyone.
Watching reruns on TV elicits memories of our productions of ‘Allo ‘Allo, Dad’s Army,The Vicar of Dibley and more recently Hi de Hi. In 2013 we took our production of Dad’s Army to the Maddermarket Theatre, and repeated this in 2015 with Jack the Ripper. These were occasions that all who were involved will treasure.
We have so far only repeated productions on a few occasions and to date have staged 138 shows.
Our main belief has always been that we should enjoy our rehearsal and preparations but ultimately must present something that our audiences will value and enjoy.
We have not confined ourselves, however, to plays, musicals and pantomimes. For many years we took part in the Lord Mayor’s Procession (which we won on a number of occasions!) and have supported Parish and Town Council events. Some members have travelled the county presenting talks and presentations about Thorpe Players to a variety of different groups.
We have had many members. Whilst some have stayed fleetingly, many have endured and whilst many founder members are no longer with us or able to take part, the memories of all of those who have been Players will always endure.
Each and every one has played their part in making Thorpe Players a welcoming, social and creative society and long may that continue.
There is evidence that a drama group performed in Thorpe in the 1950s and indeed there are some photos in existence of some of their productions. However, Thorpe Players as we know it today began in 1972 as Thorpe St. Andrew Parish Drama Group when the late Harold Birch, a lay-reader at the Parish Church, and someone who also had a great interest in drama, had the idea of staging a performance of the York Nativity Play (adapted from the York Mystery Cycle) as an act of worship in the Church. He gathered together over 30 parishioners in the cast and 15 plus behind the scenes who rehearsed and performed the work under the direction of Jean Palotai, and some of those involved were so ‘caught up’ in the process that they decided to stage a secular play. Pop Goes the Patient was staged in the same year and Murder in the Vicarage by Agatha Christie the following year. Quite what the rector of the time, Rev. Brian Pearson, thought of that was never disclosed! The play was performed at the Roxley Village Hall, which remains our home to this day.
This production saw the formation of a Committee, in which The Rector was President, Harold Birch was Chairman, Jannette Reed was Secretary and Keith Fuller was Treasurer. Annual subscription was 20p for adults and 10p for students!
Religious productions alternated with secular, with A Jinx at the Johnson’s, being staged at St. William’s School, House of Mary and The Blue Goose being performed in 1974, and The Garden and Travellers’ Joy being staged in 1975. Later that year saw the Parish Church dressed to emulate Canterbury Cathedral to stage T.S. Elliot’s verse drama Murder in the Cathedral complete with chain mail, broadswords and actors in and around the audience.
Rehearsals at this time were held in the Old Hall at the Good Shepherd Church (which we now share with the Guides for storage). Performances were mainly staged during the week as a long-standing Ballroom Dance Club used the Roxley on Friday evenings.
Interest grew and the group moved from staging two annual productions to three each year. Herod the Great (1979) was the final production to be staged in the Parish Church as health and safety regulations become more stringent.
1984 saw a change of name to the rather more manageable Thorpe Players, and the following year we attempted our first pantomime Sing a Song of Sixpence. This proved very popular and the production of pantos continued annually until we plucked up courage to attempt our first musical Oliver! in 1984. Pantos and musicals alternated biannually along with a whole range of dramas, comedies, thrillers – something for everyone.
Watching reruns on TV elicits memories of our productions of ‘Allo ‘Allo, Dad’s Army,The Vicar of Dibley and more recently Hi de Hi. In 2013 we took our production of Dad’s Army to the Maddermarket Theatre, and repeated this in 2015 with Jack the Ripper. These were occasions that all who were involved will treasure.
We have so far only repeated productions on a few occasions and to date have staged 138 shows.
Our main belief has always been that we should enjoy our rehearsal and preparations but ultimately must present something that our audiences will value and enjoy.
We have not confined ourselves, however, to plays, musicals and pantomimes. For many years we took part in the Lord Mayor’s Procession (which we won on a number of occasions!) and have supported Parish and Town Council events. Some members have travelled the county presenting talks and presentations about Thorpe Players to a variety of different groups.
We have had many members. Whilst some have stayed fleetingly, many have endured and whilst many founder members are no longer with us or able to take part, the memories of all of those who have been Players will always endure.
Each and every one has played their part in making Thorpe Players a welcoming, social and creative society and long may that continue.
