amdram.co.uk

Group Details

• Type: Musical
• Age Range: 16-116!!
• Rehearsals: Tuesdays

Location

• Town: Bermondsey
• County: London (SE1 & SE16)
• Region: London

Contact

• Email: hostmaster [at] quayplayers [dot] org [dot] uk
• Phone: 07736450475
• Website: http://www.QuayPlayers.org.uk

The Quay Players was established in 1997 by members of a disbanded Gilbert and Sullivan Group based in South London. Their first show was Oklahoma! in November 1997, and their most recent was the pantomime Fanto’s Monster Panto in December 2006. They currently perform two shows a year – a musical during the summer and a panto at Christmas.

They are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, and as part of their aim to continue raising the profile of the Group and to take on more ambitious projects they have selected Crazy for You to be performed in July 2007.

This is going to be their best show yet – they have a fantastic Musical Director who has been with them for about six years, two enthusiastic and innovative Directors, and it promises to be hard work but great fun. They are always looking for new members so please contact them at info [at] quayplayers [dot] org [dot] uk or 07736 450 475, particularly if you have any previous experience of dancing or singing.

The Quay Players’ summer shows are performed in the fantastic Edward Alleyn Theatre, Dulwich College, as they have struggled to find a suitable venue in Bermondsey. Recent shows include Me and My Girl, The Boyfriend and Anything Goes.

The pantomime has become a regular fixture in the church hall of St. Anne’s Bermondsey (where they rehearse every week) and they encourage those who are completely new to the stage to join them to try their hand at singing, dancing and acting. This year, their costume ladies offered to be in the chorus, not realising that they would end up as fairies, policemen, ghosts and cleaners! (Ah yes, only those who haven’t been in a show before would think that being in the chorus will be easy!)

The age range of the Quay Players is 16-70, and they have people from all walks of life and backgrounds – from nurses to actuaries and from teachers to students! They are a social bunch – many of whom go to the local hostelry (the Queen Vic) after rehearsals and there are social events arranged throughout the year, which are entirely optional and hugely popular – these include meals, parties, karaoke, quizzes and anything else they can think of to keep them off the streets!

Over the past year they have made positive steps in trying to develop their group. Last April they added another show to their already hectic schedule, putting on the musical revue “Mad About Musicals” as a fundraiser to their main shows. Additionally they now maintain a costume store at the site of their pantomimes and are building up an extensive collection of costumes from previous productions.

They have also successfully applied for a local government grant to reconstruct their website which now looks fantastic – please see for yourself.