We are delighted to let you know that we are ‘back home at the Charing Cross Theatre !

Please join us on:
Sunday, November 28th 2021
For a star studded anniversary music hall extravaganza celebrating
*85 glorious years*

Please put the date in your diary.

Booking details will be available soon

We are delighted to resume our traditional ‘Eve of the Eve’ parties.

The format will be as always. Bill Halson will assemble a galaxy of Music Hall artistes who will perform in the splendid Sovereign’s room at the Royal Air Force club (128 Piccadilly).

Guests assemble c 6.30 and have half an hour in the Churchill bar, ordering drinks to consume immediately or during the show.

At 7.00 they take their seats at tables in the magnificent Sovereign’s room (formerly the Ballroom) for the first half of the show, which runs to 8.00, when dinner is served.

For the benefit of those who in the audience who can both read and sing, we will provide song-sheets to assist participation in the choruses.

Food is an important part of the tradition: the club chef provides a luscious Steak and Kidney pudding, served in a traditional pudding bowl with lashings of suet pastry. This is no longer on the club menu: it is made specially for us.

The dessert is an equally traditional Sherry trifle, followed by tea or coffee and petits fours. (Alternatives are available for non-carnivores and slimmers)

After supper we resume for the second half: guests should order their carriages for 10. 30, by which time, in anticipation of the following night, we shall have joined in a spirited rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

The price inclusive of entertainment and supper (but not drinks) is a ridiculously modest £80, but an even more modest £75 for Players’ Theatre Club members. he price inclusive of entertainment and supper (but not drinks) is a ridiculously modest £80, but an even more modest £75 for Players’ Theatre Club members. To obtain the member discount, please add the member coupon code. For a reminder of the code, please email the Membership Secretary Jane Hart.

However, we also offer a discount to £75, for parties of 6 or more, or members of some other specific organisations, (e.g. Concert Artistes’ Association; Chelsea Arts Club, Marylebone Association, Royal British Legion). If you belong to an association and wish to qualify for a discount, email Bill@playerstheatre.co.uk.

Bill Halson is in the process of booking artistes, having already secured an Orchestra (led by our regular: Laurence Payne), a Master of Ceremonies (Clive Greenwood another regular straight from his inimitable role as Father Christmas in Harrods), Jan Hunt (former blue-eyed blonde in Cracker Jack and Director of the “good Old Days” show, still running at the Leeds Palace of Varieties) , Peter John (sometimes visible as a fairy: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVjG64S-O1Q) though more likely be bar-maiding on this occasion), Lola McDowell – (a genuine Pearly Queen), Andy Eastwood – (a brilliant ukulele player, Philip Day (a greatly loved ladies’ man!), Fay Presto (a remarkable magician) and Martin Milnes (a superb singer with two distinct vocal ranges).

As the company develops, there will be further updates of this page.We can take a maximum of 96 guests. In 2019, thanks to a minor cock up on the booking front we had 98, which involved some unanticipated intimacy on the sitting front.


Booking information & tickets

In recent months two of the most influential and loved Players artistes, Jenny Wren and Doreen Hermitage, have passed away.

Jenny was an absolute favourite of The Players' Theatre. She was beautiful and with a glorious soprano voice to match. Jenny had a very successful and varied career which included many West End appearances and, whenever engagements allowed, she continually delighted Players' audiences for many years. Jenny also had a great TV following as she appeared in almost every Good Old Days TV programme which featured Players' artistes either singing and/or dancing her way to great acclaim. Jenny was loved by all her work colleagues and Players' members alike, she will be greatly missed and always warmly remembered.

Doreen was a multi-talented, fabulous lady. She too had a very successful career which included West End appearances to her credit and she also excelled as a choreographer and a director. The Players' Theatre fortunately had Doreen as their permanent choreographer and she also took on this title for The Good Old Days BBC TV Series. The production numbers which Doreen created for each TV show were always star quality and are still enjoyed as we all have the pleasure of watching many of the re-runs on BBC Channel 4. Doreen too will also be greatly missed and warmly remembered.

Mr Laurence Payne was, as always, in fine form leading the orchestra, with Mr David Graham proving a very worthy chairman. We were delighted to see New Faces Misses Alice Ellen Wright and Maria Lara as well as Mr Philip Day, Miss Linda Watts, Mr Peter John, Mr Andrew Robley and Miss Faye Presto. It was, indeed a feast of festive fun!

All our thanks go to our wonderful producer Miss Jan Hunt for all her hard work in consistently providing us with such superb entertainment.

Don’t forget her show at The Wimbledon Theatre on Sunday 19 January and look out for her making a special appearance in the new "Crackerjack" show on TV. (CBBC Friday, 16th January at 6.00pm )

Under the commanding presence of our chairman Mr Kevin Gauntlett, with the orchestral accompaniment provided by Players’ favourite Mr Paul Smith, the show included one of our New Faces, Miss Alice Ellen Wright, who took us down Lambeth Way and reminded us of some of our favourite carols and got us into a Christmas mood!

Another New Face, Miss Maria Lara, reminded us of Marie Lloyd and we were entertained royally as usual by Miss Judith Hibbert, Mr John Styles, Mr Peter John, Mr Andrew Robley and also a young magician making his impressive first appearance with us, Mr Jack V.

The performance was interrupted by two cleaning ladies, who looked very familiar, although they assured us they’d “never been there before”! A likely story!

Our very own Jan Hunt is starring at the Alexandra Palace in 'The Magnificent Music Hall' on Wednesday October 30th at 2.30pm. See flyer for more details or visit the website to book.

Our last show was, as usual a true feast of talent. Headlined by newcomers to the Players Ferris and Milnes, who
had some of the audience on their feet with their superb harmonies . 30 Gershwin numbers in 6 minutes took our
breath away!

Before they took to the stage our wonderful “orchestra “ Paul Smith ensured there was a lively start and Our
Chairman, Kevin Gauntlett made sure everything went smoothly and with much good humour. Ryan Taylor
showed us his old watch chain , Richard Winch gave us a bit of ragtime and moved us with his rendition of “
Danny Boy “ , Helen Jeckells made a lively contribution, John Styles wowed us with his magic and arranged for a
visit by a Chelsea Pensioner and Miss Carolyn Allen promised she could make men of us all and certainly made
one of the nonagenarian in the front row ! All our thanks to our fantastic producer Jane Hunt .How does she do it!!!

Councillor Christabel Flight, Westminster City Council's Older People's Champion, initiated the idea of Silver Sunday, which is now a special day in the national calendar when everyone can come together to celebrate older people: a day in the nation’s hearts where older people feel valued and are given new opportunities to get out of the house, keep their minds and bodies active, learn new skills, make new friends and connect with the communities and generations around them. Join us this year by running an event, spreading the word or joining an activity.

Christabel invited the Players' Theatre Club to help start the ball rolling by putting on a Victorian Music Hall show in the Colosseum. Two thousand older people, accompanied by their Carers, came to the show, to be greeted by an army of Pearly Kings and Queens, and offered free ice=creams.

We put on another show two years ago in St. John's Smith Square.

This year, more modestly, we are providing a sing-along for a group from Age UK Westminster on October 6th. It will be at Marylebone Parish church.

The idea of an Eve of the Eve event was conceived before the Players lost their theatre in the Arch beneath Charing Cross Station.

The club had tried a New Year's Eve party in its old theatre, but a combination of demands for treble time wages, and the challenge of getting home, led to the very simple idea that perhaps a party on December 30th might work.

It did, so on December 30th 2004, having recovered from the loss of the theatre, Bill Halson revived the idea by hosting a party at the Royal Air Force club, to which he belongs, having served Her Majesty as a Flying Officer in the Royal Air Force.

Eve of the Eve parties have now been held every year since then, and, as is wont with the Players, have become traditional. The established pattern is of a full scale Music Hall, with full augmented orchestra (consisting, inevitably of 15 or more absentees and a single musician), interrupted by a rather lengthy Interval For Refreshments.

Even the food is traditional: the RAF club's superb and genuine Steak and Kidney pudding, followed by an intoxicating and calorific Sherry Trifle. Last year - nominally to be his last - Bill had a moment of panic when Steak and Kidney pudding disappeared from the RAF club's standard winter menu. Happily the Chef agreed to make an exception, and we are reliably informed that he will do so again this year.

Yes, in response, as they say, to popular demand there will be an Eve of the Eve party on December 30th 2019. Booking and administrative tasks will be in the hands of Michael Halson, while Jan Hunt will produce new artistes, as well as performing herself in two of her best comic roles. Peter John will make an appearance as a pantomime Dame. There will be our (now traditional) magician, and seasonally appropriate CanCan dancers.

Having held the price for several years, we have had to raise it this year: - but where else could you get a West End show plus Steak and Kidney Pudding, Sherry Trifle, petits fours and coffee for £75 (£70 if you are a member, or part of a group of 6 or more)?

Booking is now open - visit the Eve of the Eve page to reserve your places. Last year we had to turn people away, so book now.

We are delighted to announce that headlining our September show will be FERRIS and MILNES! Martin Milnes has royally entertained us in the past, often giving G & S a new slant! With the very talented Dominic Ferris at the piano they have a wide repertoire and a flavour of Flanders and Swann! They appeared in Jan Hunt’s Wimbledon show and will be with her at The Alexandra Palace. Something definitely to look forward to!

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