HISTORY
The Group was
originally formed in 1934 by Mr and Mrs William Webb and known as
“The Perrystanding Players”, but almost immediately
moved to the then new Kingstanding Community Centre, which is in
north Birmingham.
This area was
being used as part of the City’s slum clearance plan to house
people from the Aston area, mainly, of Birmingham, and was all new
modern housing (with electric lighting) and bathrooms!
It was also at the time when people had to make their own amusements,
though an Odeon cinema was established at an early point in the
area’s development.
The Drama Group
changed its name to “The Kingstanding Community Players”,
which name it kept until the early sixties, when “the Circle
Players” title was adopted in recognition of the local major
traffic island a hundred yards away.
Every year since
1934, several plays have been presented, and this practise continued
without a break throughout the war years, much to the delight of
the local supporters.
With the expansion
of the group, a number of younger people were attracted and the
group took the opportunity to enter “Festival” competitions.
This continued for many years, only stopping as the number of festivals
being run declined in more recent times, reflecting the demise of
so many amateur dramatic groups.
In 1990, the
Players moved venue to Aldridge Youth Theatre. This followed a number
of problems with licensing at Kingstanding, which, though tackled
vigorously, could not satisfactorily be overcome, and the Players
feel they have gone from strength to strength since.
However the time for set erection for a given production is limited
and the Players have now become streamlined in building practical
but effective and often imaginative sets, usually in the space of
two or three hours, from scratch!
A wide variety
of plays are presented, and, although comedy is by far the most
popular, dramas and farces are also well attended in the 160 seat,
purpose built auditorium, whilst the facilities, backstage are also
very good.
Our
history now covers well over 200 full length and innumerable one-act
plays.
The
Circle Players' back catalogue of plays, 1934 to present day is
Here.
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CURRENT
SEASON
[October
22nd – 25th 2008] ‘We Love You, Arthur’ By
Fiona Evans.
Before George Michael was gay, before Madonna was British,
before Bob Geldof fed the world, two teenage girls fell in love with Arthur
Scargill.
Julie and Lisa are two girls coming of age in a community being torn apart.
Growing up is never easy, especially in Easington Colliery during 1984. Achieving
"big hair" can be a problem, but how can you ever look like Cyndi
Lauper when your dad's out on strike and you can't afford food, never mind
a can of extra-hold, perm-welding Elnett?
[February,
2009 (Dates to be confirmed)] Stepping Out by Richard Harris
Stepping Out is set in an old church hall where a group of amateur tap-dancers
meet once a week to be cajoled and bullied by their evening class teacher,
ex-chorus girl Mavis, towards a stunning end-of-term performance
at a charity show. Each character has a personal story to tell, but the show
must go on .....
E-MAILING
LIST
Circle Players now operate a free e-mailing list to ensure supporters are given
about four weeks notice of an impending production. Should you wish to subscribe,
please send an email to the address below with 'subscribe' as the subject. list@thecircleplayers.org
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