About Thame Players

Thame Players Productions

Five shows a year

We put on five productions a year including High Drama, Musicals, Comedies, Shakespeare plays, and Pantomime. From time to time, we also put on additional productions such as a Murder Mystery, or a topical review.

You don’t have to be an actor

You don’t have to act to join Thame Players – there are plenty of other things to do. If you don’t want to be “on the stage”, there are plenty of backstage and supporting roles that need to be filled. Many of our members choose to take both acting and supporting roles as and when the opportunities arise.

Our Members

All kinds of people join in the fun at Thame Players. Membership of Thame Players is open to everyone. You don’t need any previous experience, just a wish to come along, join in, and have a go.

How much time does it take up?

Being a member of Thame Players is not usually something that takes your time every week unless you are involved in a show. Rehearsals take place every Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:45. Many members just choose to get involved with one show a year. It does get pretty busy during the show rehearsal and preparation time, but then when the play is finished, life goes back to normal.

How our shows work

It takes a long time to produce a show.

Choosing Our Program

Once a year, a request goes out to directors to submit a play they would like to put on as part of Thame Players program. After due consideration by the committee, the successful plays get allocated a slot in the calendar and this essentially fires the starting gun for the director.

Auditions

If you want to act in a show, auditions for parts in the play usually take place about three months before the date of the show. Those who are playing acting parts can then take the script and start learning their lines.

Gathering the supporting team

At about the same time, the director will start to gather the various teams who will help with set design and building, wardrobe, backstage crew, and technical. In due course, they will all come together to make the show happen.

Rehearsals

Rehearsals start around two to three months before the show and happen every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 7:30 to around 10pm. Initially, it’s mostly the acting cast involved in rehearsals, but as the show date gets closer, more and more of the supporting crew gets involved.

The final push

The theatre “goes dark” three weeks before the show, which means it is now dedicated entirely to the production of the show - this is when the hard work really starts. Set building begins at this point and all the other supporting crew bring their various skills to bear to bring the show to life.

Showtime

Most shows run for five performances, starting on a Tuesday with the last show being on the Saturday. Pantomime shows run for 12 performances with matinee performances at the weekends.

After the show

Immediately after the final performance, the cast and crew get together in the theatre for a party – to celebrate their success.
Once the party is over, the clearing up begins, and many of the cast will join with other Thame Players members on the Sunday morning to clear the stage, put the props back into storage, and get the theatre back to a state where it can once again welcome our many visiting shows.

Visiting Shows at the Players Theatre

At the Players Theatre, we host around 25 visiting shows every year. Our visitors include a wide variety of bands, singers, comedians, tribute acts, and many more. Members of Thame Players are often needed to support our visiting shows with Stage Management, Sound, Lighting, Streaming and always a Front of House team is required to run the bar, sell the tickets, and look after the audience.

Social Evenings

We hold a social evening for members on the third Wednesday evening of most months.