THE HOSPITAL PLAYERS: A POTTED HISTORY
Milestones
1943
We performed our first production, 'The Admirable Crichton' on 19th June.
1950
Having rehearsed at the hospital since our formation, we moved to a Nissen hut on East Common Lane.
1958
We performed ‘The Reluctant Debutante,’ our first production at the newly opened Civic Theatre.
1963
We moved to rehearsal rooms at the old Library on High Street East.
We performed 'Two and Two Make Sex' as part of a festival of plays marking the Civic Theatre's 20th birthday.
1979
We presented our 100th full-length production, ‘Canterbury Tales,’ directed by Phil Partridge. This year also marked the 21st anniversary of the opening of the Civic Theatre.

The Hospital Players mark their 100th production in 1979.
1983
We hosted a Drama Federation production of ‘Lark Rise’ to mark the 25th Anniversary of the opening of the Civic Theatre.
1993
Reg Mitchell O.B.E. directed Alan Ayckbourn’s ‘Season’s Greetings’ for our 50th anniversary production. We had previously performed the play in 1986.
Also this year, The Civic Theatre was renovated and renamed The Plowright Theatre.
1995
We marked our 150th full-length production by performing Noel Coward’s ‘Blithe Spirit.’ The play was previously performed by the Players in 1950 and 1962.
2000
We moved to our current rehearsal rooms at the Grange Farm Hobbies Centre.

The Hospital Players in 2003, the group's 60th anniversary year.
2003
Our 60th Anniversary season was marred when a fire destroyed most of our sets and costumes. Through the determination of our members and the prompt and generous help of our fellow groups and members of the public, we were able to carry on.
The following year we staged ‘The Importance of Being Earnest,’ directed by professional director, Roberta Morrell.
2008
We co-hosted a Drama Federation production of ‘Canterbury Tales’ to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of The Plowright Theatre.
2012
We marked our 200th full-length production by performing our first-ever Shakespeare play, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ adapted and directed by Jan Gregory.
2013
We celebrated our 70th Anniversary with a Platinum Ball (more details can be found here). We donated the proceeds of the Ball to the Hospital League of Friends and enlisted one of our original members from 1943, Keith Nuttall, to help present the cheque.

2018
Members of The Hospital Players took part in a Drama Federation production of "Underneath the Arches," directed by Darren Johnson, to mark 60 years of The Plowright Theatre.
2018-19