Leckhampton Players were formed in 1947, when an inaugural meeting was held at Leckhampton School on Friday 17th January that year! At this meeting, it was agreed that membership should be open primarily to those in the Village that were interested in music and drama. The subscription was fixed at 2/6d for juniors and 5/- for others.
The First production was staged on the 1st and 2nd of May 1947, This was a mixture of Revue with Irish and London scenes and two one act plays. The players were given the use of the hall for free for this first show. Seating was provided for 120 people (60 chairs hired), ticket prices were: 20 @ 3/- (reserved and numbered!), 60 @ 2/6d and 40 @ 1/6d. Twenty posters were printed and the production raised ‘a very satisfactory’ profit of over £9.00!!
Further plays followed in the October of that year and Dick Whittington was chosen as the Players first Pantomime, to be staged on 29th, 30th and 31st January 1948.
In the following years the Players soon found themselves following a regular pattern of producing three shows per year. Typically a pantomime in late January / early February, a musical show in Spring time and a play in October.
For many years the Musical show was normally a revue or Old Time Music Hall and the Plays were more often ones of comedy or farce nature.
This format continued, on the whole, for many years, until the society decided to produce their own Musical evening consisting of well known West End and Broadway hits. This was a new direction for the Leckhampton Players but one that proved very successful and one that laid to rest the old adage that the Players are not a ‘singing society’. Since then the society have gone on to produce scripted musical productions and chairity concerts.
The continuation of a comedy or farce play in Autumn and annual pantomime early each year remained a successful combination, and along with Musical productions each continue to provide one of our three productions each year.
If you are a past or current member or patron and have your own history or memories that you wish you share, we’d love to hear from you.