Malvern Theatre Players – About Us
ABOUT THE MALVERN THEATRE PLAYERS
(Resident Company of the Coach House Theatre)
The Malvern Theatre Players was formed in September 1977 as the resident company of Malvern Theatres by invitation of the managing Trust. Since then the Company has gone from strength to strength and has, until recently, provided a significant repertory of productions to complement the professional touring shows presented by Malvern Theatres. The substantial income from these productions was retained by Malvern Theatres for the general support of the theatre complex. This unique arrangement ended in our 37th season in February 2014 when the Company transferred its residency to the Coach House Theatre, thus bringing to an end large – scale amateur productions at Malvern’s premier venue.
For over thirty years the Company has occupied the early 19th century barn and outbuildings that now house the Coach House Theatre, initially for scenery storage then for scenery construction and lastly as a studio theatre. The inspiration for this final phase was prompted by a suggestion from the actress Imogen Stubbs for whom we built the scenery for a production of her play We Happy Few in 2003. At all stages of development, Malvern Theatre Players members and friends have contributed significant levels of funding, labour and technical expertise.
Funding for the project to convert the pre-Victorian barn to a theatre has been provided by members and friends of the Company, and generous grants from the Elmley Foundation, Awards for All and Arts Council England. Malvern Theatre Players productions at the Coach House Theatre include straight plays, children’s theatre and musicals. We also provide technical support to the shows by professional and community users at the Coach House Theatre. Acquisition of the freehold of the Coach House Theatre has allowed us to continue to undertake improvement to provide enhanced facilities for audiences and performers. For further information about the Coach House Theatre, which may be hired at reasonable cost, visit www.coachhousetheatre.co.uk
The Company has its own comprehensively equipped workshops and associated facilities and produces all its own scenery, costumes and properties to the highest standards. Recent extensions and improvements to Theatre House and our workshop have given us an enhanced capability to provide theatrical services to other performing arts groups, both amateur and professional. New members interested in any aspect of the theatre arts are always welcome and open auditions are held for all productions.
Technical Support – The Company provides a complete range of theatrical services and has a large stock of costumes, properties, effects and equipment for hire at budget prices. For information on this or any other aspect of our activities, contact our Company Manager (Malvern 569011).
Local theatrical history – In a modest way the Company maintains a collection of objects, documents and literature relating to Malvern’s theatrical heritage, much of it concerning the history of the Malvern Theatres complex and local performing arts groups. The collection includes material from the Malvern Festivals (1929 to 1939) which most famously involved the plays of Bernard Shaw – scripts, correspondence, photographs, furniture and even some items of scenery.