Rowntree Players are back and ready to produce live theatre. 

What a year it has been! A year of live streamed theatre and professional actors, musicians, dancers, and crew looking for innovative and creative ways to keep theatre alive during this pandemic. Joseph Rowntree Theatre’s ‘virtual theatre’  shared a lot of the wonderful virtual events, enabling people to have their very own ‘home theatre’. It has been exciting to see all the projects that have been developed, and hopefully will continue, despite the challenges that the theatre industry has faced.  Theatre will come back stronger. The audiences are eager to get back into the theatre and the performers are eager to tread the boards once again.

Rowntree Players were hit by another devastating blow earlier last year, when fire engulfed its store, destroying sets and props. But the local community came together to support this amazing company, who are so grateful to everyone who offered support and went to the store to help with the cleanup.  After nearly a year and a half, the store is back up and running and the backstage crew is keen to start getting back together once the restrictions allow. 

The first project they will be embarking upon will be to design and build the set for Agatha Christie’s “Spider’s Web”, directed by Howard Ella. Once again, this is a large elaborate set that the backstage crew can’t wait to get started on, they love a challenge! This is the same team that is set the annual task of building the glitter filled panto set, including magic tricks, large water tanks for slapstick scenes and all the other amazing scenes during the festive season.

The committee has continued to meet during the past year to keep Rowntree Players going and to pull together the programme for 2021-2022.  It is delighted to be producing “Spider’s Web” in September, followed by another rollicking romp of a panto, “Dick Whittington”, in December.  Poster designs for these two shows have been taken on by a local graphic designer, Paul McNally, who is the father of one of the Players’ regular senior dancers. The little theatre community is continuing to grow.  

Following on from panto there will be a true community performance, with the production of a play adaptation of Ian Donaghy’s “The Missing Peace”.  All the proceeds will go to two local charities, St Leonards Hospice and Bereaved Children Support in York.  Local communities coming together to support each other is very important to Rowntree Players.  

If you want to be part of the Rowntree Players community whether that is on the stage or part of the backstage crew, please get in touch with info@rowntreeplayers.co.uk.