Having outgrown their current venues, The Quay Players were awarded a grant by the Bermondsey Square Community Fund to support their move to the Greenwood Theatre. The move gives the local community the opportunity to enjoy affordable, quality theatre, not otherwise available locally.
The Quay Players (Reg. Charity 1147608) are SE1’s leading amateur dramatics society and have been making the arts accessible to Southwark residents for 15 years. They perform 2-3 shows each year, as well as at community events and festivals including the Bermondsey Street Festival and the Southwark Civic Awards.
The aims and objectives of The Quay Players are to:
- Provide opportunities for the local community to develop their dramatic arts skills and showcase skills on-stage and off-stage
- Make affordable, quality theatre easily accessible for local residents
- Educate the community in the dramatic and operatic arts
The move to the Greenwood Theatre supports The Quay Players’ aims by facilitating a bigger cast, which provides more opportunities for local residents; a larger audience capacity and a more accessible location.
The Bermondsey Square Community Fund grant to The Quay Players, a non-profit organisation, contributed to the costs associated with moving to a larger theatre with a bigger cast (bigger/better quality scenery; additional costumes; audio/visual equipment).
Feedback
In December 2013 The Quay Players put on a highly successful production of Jack and the Beanstalk in the Greenwood Theatre.
This was a superb pantomime which benefited greatly form the move from a church hall to a really first rate theatre. This along with some real talent off and on the stage allowed the group to produce a really first rate show. We had all the elements of a traditional panto with a few twists, turns and variations on the traditional format which helped make it vibrant, different and interesting. Overall this was a slick show with some fantastic costumes and a multi-talented cast that injected real energy throughout. I was joined by two friends and their young children and it seems the show was a joy across the generations so a true family hit.
This was the world premiere of the show written specially for the group by Ian McFarlane who perhaps should consider looking into adding it to those managed by NODA. I liked the contrast in the second act which portrayed the giant’s castle as a pastiche drawing on Rocky Horror to add to the overall atmosphere.
The alternative version of the 12 days of Christmas was a masterstroke of pantomime comedy and was a major and memorable point of the show.
Tony Sweeney, National Operatic & Dramatic Association
About Bermondsey Square Community Fund
The Bermondsey Square Trust collects money from the occupiers and owners of Bermondsey Square through the occupiers’ leases and grants awards for ‘The marketing animation and promotion of the Bermondsey Square Estate and making a positive contribution to the wider neighbourhood and community of Bermondsey.’
About the Community Fund
