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PROSPECT PLAYERS in 1986
Chairman: John Howe - Woodthorpe
Secretary: Mrs Margaret Birch - Arnold
The Prospect Players date back to 1972 when a group of parishioners from St Mark's Church, Woodthorpe discussed the possibility of starting a drama group in the area and the response was sufficient to allow a production of "Christmas in the Market Place" during December of that year. From its inception as the "St Mark's Players" the group has maintained a completely 'open' membership policy and had the good fortune to start with a mixture of talents.
The first full-length production, "Hobson's Choice" was rehearsed in the homes of members, the set built in a garage, costumes made in a spare room and performed in what was then the Girls Secondary School on Gedling Road. Around this time the Arnold Arts Council was being formed and we are proud to have been in at the beginning of what is now the Gedling Borough Arts Association to which we are affiliated.
For several years rehearsals continued to be held in the homes of members and productions staged in the school hall until we found this no longer adequate and storage space was needed. We were fortunate to find that Redhill School could house our productions during school holidays and we rented a garage for storage purposes. Our annual programme at this stage was 2 full length productions of 3 performances each, plus fund raising activities and as links with St Mark's Church had become somewhat tenuous it was felt appropriate to change our name
to "The Prospect Players".
At the end of our 1980 season the decision was made to mount 3 full length plays each season and this has subsequently been done allowing as it does for our increased membership to take part
in these productions. A momentous event was just ahead and although sad to say farewell to friends at Redhill School, the opening of the Bonington Theatre in Arnold provided another step forward for the group. Productions could now run for 4 performances, with increased costs to
be sure, but far greater opportunities to attract increased audiences. The flexibility of the theatre itself has further increased the scope of our productions - we are currently rehearsing "Tartuffe" - and we look forward to many more happy, hair-raising, challenging and rewarding years.