Joining
the Players

Bampton Players are formed of a group of amateurs with an interest in all things theatrical. Our members take on every conceivable role necessary for a production to go ahead.

We put on up to three or sometimes four plays, pantomimes, play readings or supper theatres a year, either at the Riverside Hall in Bampton or on our open air stage at Sherwood, on the edge of Bampton.

Most but by no means all of our members live in or within fairly easy distance of Bampton itself. We are an entirely non profit organisation and every member is an unpaid volunteer.

We were established in 1976 as a registered charity, and in 2025 we formally upgraded our constitution to become a CIO (Charitable Independent Organisation).

Why Join Us?

The whole point of being part of the Players is to have fun.

The satisfaction and fulfilment you get from being involved in a play or pantomime in front of an appreciative audience is enormous.

There is great camaraderie within the Players and the value of being part of a lively and friendly local group of people of all ages cannot be overstated. Our social activities, such as BBQs, quiz nights and Christmas parties bring everyone together.

Do please come and join us and be part of something very special that has brought – and continues to bring – huge pleasure to members and audiences alike. See our contact details here.

This year’s Players Quiz Night. Fun as always. The winners are in the foreground!

Roles within The Players

As a member of the Players, you can learn about and contribute to the whole range of different skills involved in putting on a play or pantomime – and acting is just one of them.

We also need people to help in the roles of direction, production, music, making costumes, sourcing and organising props, stage management, set design, lighting, sound, publicity, make up, ticket sales – the list is endless.

Have a look at this graphic showing all the roles we identified as necessary to deliver just one pantomime! (click to enlarge)

Membership Fees

Our current membership fees are only £10 a year for adults and free for children aged 18 or under and in full time education.

Membership includes insurance to cover you while you are involved in any Players production.

Players Committee

The management of the Players is the responsibility of the committee, whose members are effectively the trustees of the charity. We have a Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Membership Secretary and various other members with different responsibilities. The committee members are elected or re-elected every year at the AGM and hold their posts for 3 years. Directors are ex officio members of the committee.

The current committee members are:

  • Chairman: Roger Erskine-Hill
  • Secretary: Sue Shaw
  • Treasurer: Xanda Vass
  • Membership Secretary: Sylvia Wakeham
  • Other Committee Members: Wendy Boothroyd, Garry Girling, Judith Kelland
  • Ex Officio: Avril Saxby

Other key roles for the Players are:

  • Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults – Jo Beighton
  • Data Protection – Xanda Vass

The minutes of the Players AGM 2025 can be seen here