Irchester Players - Est 1977

We are a small, friendly and professional community theatre group based in Irchester, on the east of the county of Northamptonshire, in-between Rushden and Wellingborough. Our membership represents a broad cross-section of society coming from all over the county; and our members range from young to old.

The group’s purpose is to further the work of the amateur dramatics arts in the UK.

We aim to stage three shows every year; a family pantomime in early to mid February, the a revue and play later on in the year – usually around May and October. In addition, we also like to get involved with the local community and do one-off shows/revues for other bodies in the village of Irchester. All of our shows are staged at Parsons Hall in the High Street, Irchester.

We rehearse every Wednesday night in the upper rooms of the Irchester Working Men’s Club, and closer to each show we rehearse on Sundays at Parsons Hall itself.

We also like to offer social events to our members, their family and friends. These include after show parties, BBQs, themed parties, annual Christmas and Halloween party and our Biannual Oscar Awards.

At Irchester Players our ethos is to provide our members with a second family and group of friends, and after a short time with the group members will certainly feel the strength of this ethos. As the group Chairman Dan Wainwright states: “Players is a family. It has a heart, and that’s why I have stayed a member for 22 years.”

The group’s official date of creation, as stated in our Constitution, is 28 January 1977, making the group 40 years old. However, the society was actually active a few years before this official date.

Players first began as a play reading group in the 1970s, which met on regular occasions to read plays of the members picking. A small group of members decided to move on to acting and set about staging shows and galas for the local community of Irchester and Wollaston – with a regular slot being dedicated to performing for a mother’s group. Between 1974 and 1975 this small group of actors was coached by the Royal Shakespeare Company, and went on to enter into various play competitions, at which a number of titles were won, including a county title in April 1975. Over this period the group was operating mainly from Wollaston Comprehensive School.

Then in 1977 the group moved its focus to Irchester and staged its first ever pantomime, Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp, which ran for two days – 28 and 29 January 1977.

Over its 40 year history the group has continued to operate from its custodial seat in Irchester, Northamptonshire – using venues and halls within the village to rehearse and stage its shows. The group has held long term residency at the Village Hall and moved to its current resident venue Parsons Hall some years ago.

As the years have gone on many people have shaped the group to make it what it is today. With each production that ticks by we always remember the efforts of those that went before us. As the group has grown from strength to strength it has always remained committed to its grass roots in Irchester – investing back into the village, communities and businesses within it.

If you know more about the history of Irchester Players we would love to hear from you. Use the contact form to get in touch.