New visitors are amazed at the wealth of talent, expertise and resources inside this fully equipped 97 seat theatre and bar with its thriving membership spanning all ages. There are currently over 300 Members including some 100 Youth Theatre Members (age 7 to 18).
The Players present some 7 productions each season covering the full range of drama, comedy, musical theatre and pantomime. We have an excellent reputation for the quality of our productions and with a loyal group of Supporters (non-acting members) we regularly play to full houses.
Come and discover our drama group as a visitor, Full Member or Supporter and share the secret of our fantastic theatre!
AVID Magazine Review, August 2005
Enthusiasm grew and the group moved out of the Hummel household to the Golf Club, Tennis Club or Dene Farm, whichever was available. Then Mrs. Hummel offered to produce a play. The Peter Aubertin Hall was the venue, where there was no proper stage. Undaunted, the group pushed together tables to form a platform and three scenes from Shakespeare ("A Midsummer Night‘s Dream", "The Merchant of Venice" and "The Taming of the Shrew") were performed. These and other scenes were presented in local gardens, with any funds raised going to charity.
The first full-length play produced was "Interference". There followed one production a year until 1938/39. During the Second World War the activities were curtailed, but in 1946/47 a full season was presented and in 1948 the junior section was created. Performing on tables roped together was a risky business and in 1959 an expanding stage was purchased. As the years went by, the number of productions increased to three in 1970/71 and to four in 1975/76. Three-act and one-act drama festivals were a part of the programme and we were successful in winning the South East England Festival of Drama three years running.
In the late 1970s the opportunity to purchase the stables at Longshaw came along. Hitherto we had rented the premises, using them as a clubhouse, rehearsal space and storage facility. The President, Len Jarrad, seized this opportunity and set about raising the funds necessary. With donations and loans, the purchase succeeded. But the real dream was yet to be realised – The Courtyard Theatre.
Using the varied skills of the membership and coaxed on by Len Jarrad, the club set about planning and building this, our very own theatre, housing not only a 97 seat auditorium, but a theatre bar, rehearsal/studio room, workshop, wardrobe and dressing rooms. We opened for business in March 1995 with a production of "Tom Jones".
Since then some 90 plays have been presented in the theatre – almost always to a full house. The membership number has swelled to over 300 and includes a thriving Youth Theatre group whose most recent productions have been the musical "Annie" and a dark, serious drama, "DNA". Workshops on various acting skills are held from time to time and there is an active YT movie group which has produced three short films in recent years, with the youngsters undertaking all the acting, directing and production roles.
During the last nine years we have installed a computerised lighting board, purchased modern sound equipment, upgraded our workshop, refurbished the wardrobe store, fitted out two dressing rooms and continued to maintain the building to a high standard.
The Chipstead Players is a vibrant, busy and friendly group with members of all ages. Social events are organised from time to time and the Members’ Bar is open every Sunday lunchtime from 12 noon to 2 pm. There is a warm welcome for new members, either on stage or behind the scenes.
Please click on an image to enlarge it.
Steps and a ramp lead directly from the car-park to the Entrance Lobby, Cloakroom, Box-Office and toilet facilities, including a disabled toilet. Patrons then pass through the swing doors into the charming Foyer area where the original horse stalls, complete with their mangers, have been retained and a Bar provides a full service of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The Foyer is decorated with numerous items of horse tack, much of it donated by the family of the last Head Groom.
The seating in the modern Auditorium is steeply raked, providing all patrons with an unimpeded view of the proscenium arch Stage, which measures 26‘ by 19‘6" with a working height of 11‘. The theatre is equipped with recently updated lighting system controlled by a digital board, situated in the Control Box at the back of the auditorium, from where the sound system is also managed. The large Workshop area, situated stage left, is equipped with modern woodworking machinery, and also provides storage space for scenery flats, rostra, timber etc. Two recently completed Dressing Rooms, each accommodating up to 6 people, are situated far stage right.
The theatre complex also includes a large Studio/Rehearsal Room, measuring 26‘ by 20‘, a well equipped kitchen, and a members‘ club-room with bar. In the attic area above are situated the Ladies Wardrobe, which contains over 3,000 dresses, shoes, petticoats etc, stored and labelled according to period, and the Gents Wardrobe and Pantomime store.