Audiences at the year’s Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton were thoroughly entertained by the Bus Pass Company’s production of “Ruddigore” which was produced by our very own chairman, Mr Kevin Gauntlett.
Not only did he put the whole production on in a week he also took the role of the wicked baronet Sir Despard. There were shades of Players’ influences when a reformed Despard and his love Mad Margaret appeared in Salvation Army uniforms and had tambourines!
The performance was a triumph and we look forward to next year’s production! Well done , Kevin!
Everyone associated with the Players was sad to hear of the passing of John Styles, the distinguished magician and Punch and Judy man.
The Players have been fortunate enough to witness his amazing and amusing magic on many occasions and there was always much love in the room for his Chelsea Pensioner !
He will be greatly missed and we send all our love to his family.
Funeral details are below
A funeral service in commemoration of JOHN ROBERT STYLES MBE will be held at: GREENACRES KEMNAL PARK CREMATORIUM Sidcup By-Pass, Chislehurst BR7 6RR greenacresgroup.co.uk/parks/kemnal-park/ on Tuesday 30th September 2025 at 12.30pm followed by a Celebration of Life at the: ROYAL BLACKHEATH GOLF CLUB Court Road, Eltham, London SE9 5AF royalblackheath.com Dress: formal/celebratory Please send flowers to: Uden’s Sidcup 42 High Street, DA14 6DS In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: St. Christopher’s Hospice stchristophers.org.uk/donate OR Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice communityhospice.org.uk/donate/ RSVP attendance: robpunch@hotmail.com If you are unable to attend but wish to watch the service, a Webcast link is provided in the accompanying document
WEBCAST LOGIN DETAILS Service Date: Tuesday, 30th September 2025
Service Chapel: Kemnal Park Crematorium at 12:30pm Then click on this Website: Click here to access the web stream Use this Username: wama2788 Use this Password: 149227
MAGNIFICENT MUSIC HALL SHOW AT WILTON'S MUSIC HALL
An all star cast led by *MR BASIL BRUSH* ensured a most memorable SOLD OUT evening. The distinguished maestro Mr Tom Carradine once again provided the music our esteemed Chairman was Mr Richard Gauntlett. ‘Miss Hilary O’Neil paid tribute to Miss Florrie Forde. Two of our *New Faces* stars Miss Alice Ellen Wright with a tribute to Clarice Mayne and Mr Josh Bryant-Jones in a tribute to Will Terry delighted everyone.
Click on the images in the gallery below to view the full images.
The Players will be returning to Wilton’s in February 2026. Full details soon.
Our wonderful producer Jan Hunt’s company Paper Moon is back in Leeds City Varieties on May 2nd 2026 . Something else not to be missed!
The Players celebrated Valentine’s Day in style at the CAA with a superb NEW FACES SHOW.
Our Magnificent Maestro Mr TOM CARRADINE opened the show. MR KEVIN GAUNTLETT was our worthy Chairman, who amongst other things , led us down various gates and MR PHILIP DAY , as usual charm personified, led us in some romantic ditties !
Our *New Faces* followed. Miss Lizzie Lister entertained wonderfully in her “ Alice Blue Gown “
Mr Josh Bryant-Jones shared his experience of being “ pushed into the parlour “ and Miss Jenna Dearness-Dark returned us to romance with a Puccini and took us to “ Berkeley Square “
Mr Shane Ferris took us to Ireland, Miss Niamh Hine serenaded with a banjo and Miss Lydia Shaw reflected on sailors and gave us a flute hornpipe.
Mr Paul Rhodes brought proceedings to a close with a selection of appropriate love songs .
All the performances were most impressive and delighted the full house audience .
All our thanks must go to our marvellous producer, Miss JAN HUNT who has held the auditions and has passed on her vast experience to these Music Hall artistes of the future.
The Players continue to be dedicated to keeping the Music Hall genre alive and we are most grateful to those who have contributed to our New Faces fund , especially our two honorary patrons, Gerald Glover and John Cliff .
We will be returning with some more New Faces to the CAA later in the year.
Details soon!
Our friends at the British Music Hall have a fantastic line up for the annual Day By The Sea on 1st June. Our very own Director & Producer JAN HUNT will be performing!
Another sell-out show at Wilton's Music Hall in London's East End!
We are delighted to announce that Gerald Glover (right) and John Cliff (left) have accepted our invitation to become Honorary Patrons of The Players!
Gerald is a co-founder of the British Music Hall Society which was established in the early 1960's. At the time Gerald was House Manager at The Granada, Kingston. While working at the box office for the Abrahams family (who owned several theatres in London) John became Treasurer of the society in those early days.
Gerald and John are great supporters of The Players' Theatre and we are honoured to have them as patrons.
With the support of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, Bill Halson is putting on one last ’Eve of the Eve’ party on 30th December 2023.
The price will remain unbelievably modest at £80 per person, for a professional Music Hall show plus supper
The programme is – as usual:
Arrive from 6.15
Assemble in Churchill Bar to mingle, and buy drinks for immediate consumption or to take to seats in the Sovereigns’ room
6.55 Take seats at allocated tables in the Sovereigns’ room
7.00 First half of Music Hall show
8.00 Supper, (Steak and Kidney pudding and Sherry Trifle, Petits fours and coffee)
9.45 Second half of show
10.15 Carriages
Bookings may be made by Credit Card PayPal https://www.halson.com/family/eve-of-the-eve-2023
0r BACS to W Halson & F P Halson; Sort Code 404787; Account number 21719904 (reference ‘Eve’)
Or Cheque payable to: Bill Halson (Eve), 12 Bentinck Mansions, W1U 2F
For further enquiries, please contact Bill by email: Bill@halson.com
