Join

Joining the site allows you to contribute content to and access our email bulletins. Registration is free and takes just a few minutes.

Sign Up

Categories

Western Players

  • Cnv00050_gallery
  • Knife_gallery
  • Img_1875_gallery
  • Houseguest1_gallery
  • Img_1841_gallery
  • Amelienew2b_gallery
  • Daisypostersmall_gallery
  • Murdmys_gallery
  • Td_hposterjpg

Listed as: Non-Professional Theatre, Theatre Company

tonymanders [at] me.com

www.westernplayers.co.uk

Keywords:
western players, company, drama, comedy

The Western Players can trace its history directly to when it was formed in 1904 as the, then, Great Western Railway (Swindon) Mechanics Institute Amateur Theatrical Society (whew!). Over the years it has performed almost all forms of theatrical production including musicals, high drama, farce, comedy and revue.

Today the aims of the Western Players remain “to continue to provide good quality, affordable entertainment to the people of Swindon and the surrounding areas, and have good fun doing it!” Currently there are three productions a year – in March/April, in June/July and in November- all at the Swindon Arts Centre.

New members are always welcome – no experience necessary. We have no prima donnas and are an active, friendly and hardworking group. Contact us through our website www.westernplayers.co.uk

Forthcoming Events

Dangerous Corner by J B Priestley Produced by Western Players 07 Mar 10 Mar

Venue: Swindon Arts Centre
Full Price: £7.00
Concession Price: £6.00

Dangerousposter_thumb Dangerous Corner, the first play by J. B. Priestley, was premiered in May 1932 and has been entertaining audiences world-wide over the years. Robert and Freda Caplan are hostin...

Posted by Tony Manders | 22.01.12 | Categories: drama, priestley, classic, intrigue

Key Projects

Research into Western Players history

Ongoing research has revealed that the group was formed in april 1904 and has performed over 270 shows (identified to date!). Recently we found a photo of a poster dated 1858 which surprisingly, to us, seemd to suggest our group was around from as early as the 1850's. We are still researching. List of known productions is on our site, below:

Tracking down a copy of the script for our first show (1904)

Finally found a copy of "Checkmate" by A Halliday which we performed in April 1904. It's in a tatty state, but readable.

Key Personnel

Geoff Peace
President
Alan Wrixon
Chairman
Julia Edwards
Treasurer
John Fisher/Laura Keogh
Secretary

Organisation Info

  • Turnover: Amateur drama group. Essentially non-profit making (but not loss making either!)
  • Employees: 40 members
  • Year Established: 1904