April saw a most successful production of Murdered to Death by Peter Gordon at Great Marlow School. The stage benefited from a new lighting system, which Graham and David used most effectively, showing the convincing set of a drawing room in the Manor House, and providing an excellent acting space for our very talented cast. Dan Pritchard, Charlie Collier, Olwen and David Elliott and Vi Pike made their debuts for us alongside more seasoned Players – Gloria Kendrick, Laura Goodband, Hilary Cox and Andy Scott as well as Andrew Stafford, who directed and acted as an old buffer. Alison provided the sound, Hugh the prompting (non needed!), Jen the complex stage management and Georgina, Olive, Wendy, John, Caroline and Sally ran the bar and Front of House. Many thanks to John Hurst for transporting the set and furniture from the Studio: it’s a very short distance, but tricky when you have a sofa and all the “toblerones”. We were also delighted with bumper audiences of over three hundred in total which meant we had a financial and artistic success.
With easter over, we began rehearsals for our French offering in May – a murder mystery as part of a diner-spectacle in La Salle des Fetes. The pictures say it all: fun, enormously well received, and very well organised at both ends, with parties and generous accommodation provided by our French friends.
Back home, we launched our Summer programme of theatre visits, Studio maintenance and workshops. These included a Poetry evening, a “club night” of improvisation games and play readings to explore possibilities for next April. We also had a very successful gardening evening where Dan, Gloria, Jen, Sally, Andrew and Wendy were strenuously involved, Andy touched up the outside paintwork and we continued cataloguing our archive material and scripts.
The AGM was a convivial event with a very detailed and encouraging report from Sally, our Treasurer, and Andrew reviewed a most successful year in his President’s speech. The Anderson Award went to David Choules for all his work on our Hallowe’en evening in Liston Hall and on the sets and lighting at Great Marlow. The Plaisted Award was given to Georgina for her publicity work this year which has we think made a lot of difference to our public face.
In July, Andrew gave a well-received talk on our history and work to the Marlow Bottom Circle, and Hilary organised a trip to Hall Barn for The Merry Wives of Windsor (Chiltern Shakespeare and Fourways). A crowd of us went to see Dan and Charlie in the MAOS Jubilee production at the theatre in Wycombe Abbey, and we were pleased to support Andy, Vi and Jossy when they became strolling players for a new venture in Marlow: a performance of Don Quixote in the Liston Court area off the High Street. As the “lead” show, Andy wowed everyone in the audience and again showed us his phenomenal ability to learn a huge part, act, and convince.
Eight or nine of us plus dogs enjoyed the annual picnic in Marlow Common Nature Reserve – just about the only cool place in the area on a very hot weekend, and we also had a great time when Alison kindly hosted our BBQ in her spacious garden on another sunny, but cooler day at the end of our “season”.
We shall recommence a new working year on 9th September with rehearsals for a new Murder Mystery at Liston Hall in November.
Our stall at Marlow Carnival will be set up this year by David Elliott: please let’s have as much support as possible for this as we go from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and there will be much to manage including costumes, props, flyers, tables, a gazebo and the fantastic new display boards of past productions which Bob Simpson has created.
It has been great to welcome new members, and we are always pleased to see those interested in acting or backstage or directing. Do get in touch with Hilary our Membership Secretary of you would like to come along.
Andrew Stafford, Chairman & President – August 2025
As you can see it has been a busy year already and we are not done yet! Please do reach out to us if you would be interested in joining the group and also make sure you check our website regularly for details of upcoming events.
To make sure you don’t miss out on our upcoming productions here are a few dates for your diary!
* Saturday 13th September – Come and join us at Marlow Carnival in Higginson Park
* Saturday 8th November – Our next Murder Mystery production ‘Murder most Foul’ at Liston Hall, gather your friends and a picnic & come and join the fun – more details to follow soon.
* Spring 2026 – our Spring production is now in planning and rehearsals will start soon……dates and details to follow too.
As always, we rely on our lovely friends of The Marlow Players to support us, and we hope to see you at one of our events soon.
https://marlowplayers.org.uk/secretary@marlowplayers.org.uk
