Richard Wilson looks celebrates a century of song

THE Thame Players are celebrating the centenary of their theatre with a grand revue of songs and sketches.

The Players Theatre in Nelson Street has existed for almost 40 years longer than the group itself and, as with many buildings of a similar age, is having a revamp to bring it bang up to date.

Tony Long, who is co-directing A Century Of Song with Bernadette Tildesley, hopes the production will bring in cash while marking the town’s past.

“It’ll be a family show with lots of humour,” he said. “We’ve chosen to do it with a revue, taking a snapshot of events from each decade through to the present, all illustrated with the stories, pictures, sketches and – most importantly – the songs of each year. Between most of the songs there’ll be a look at what was going on at the time.

“We’ve tried to include news stories that affected Thame. The Queen of Tonga came to Thame when the coronation took place in 1953 and she was a larger than life character. “A narrative links all of the eras into each other and the sketches are to illustrate what was going on at the time.”

Funds raised will go towards the £200,000 needed to expand the stage, bring in more seating and upgrade the heating system.

  • Tickets for the show, at 7.45pm from Tuesday to Saturday, July 9-13, cost £9-£8 from Tickets Anywhere on Greyhound Walk, on 01844 217228, or at thameplayers.co.uk