THE HOSPITAL PLAYERS 

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.

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

We celebrated our 75th anniversary by reprising 3 of our favourite costume plays from over the years: 'Charley's Aunt,' 'Blithe Spirit' and 'Post Horn Gallop.' In June 2019, we held a celebratory dinner.

2020

The Coronavirus pandemic and social distancing measures meant we had to cancel our planned April 2020 production, Who Dies Wins. This was the first time in our 77-year history that we had to cancel a production. We were subsequently unable to stage plays in September 2020 and January/April 2021. You can hear an interview about our history and how we were affected by lockdown here (from around the 26 minute mark).

2021

21 months after our last play, we finally returned to the Plowright Theatre in October with The Merry Widower.

Previous chapter:

Meeting places