RELATIVELY SPEAKING by Alan Ayckbourn

is our next production 

Our History

In 1933 the idea of a Peterborough Dramatic Society was born, but it was two years before the Playgoers staged its first production. It was “Lady Windermere’s Fan” by Oscar Wilde.

Since then it has always been the ambition of the Society to be as versatile as possible, presenting a mixed programme that has included serious plays, thrillers, comedy, farce and costume drama. It was in 1961 that the Society performed its first musical: “The Boy Friend.”

Over the years the Playgoers have had both successes and failures, but it has never lacked enthusiasm. We have played to house full notices, and on one occasion discovered there were more people on stage than in the audience!

Authenticity has been the hallmark of a Playgoers production. In 1962 in the play Teahouse of the August Moon a goat was on stage, as well as a fully working jeep. One of the characteristics of the Society has been the enthusiastic and friendly spirit amongst its members, whether performing on stage or working behind the scenes or front of house.

Changes of circumstances have over the years given the Society the opportunity to perform in a range of venues from small school halls to the professional theatre.

Since 1935

We were thrilled when David Turner offered to direct our 100th production in 1989. David was then directing ‘The Mousetrap’ in the West End. David directed a number of first class plays for us, including The Heiress.

Another director who has given his time and experience is Hubert Warren. He was with the Harry Hanson Court Players for many years. Hubert directed our Diamond Jubilee production of Noel Coward’s ‘This Happy Breed’ in 1995.

PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS

2022Murdered to Death
2019 Deathtrap
2018 Life and Beth
        Alice in Winter Wonderland
2017 Ladies’ Day
        The Rhyme and Reason of Christmas
2016 Flare Path
        Festive Music Hall
2015 The Importance of Being Earnest
        The Ghost Train
        The Spirit of Christmas
2014 The Winslow Boy
        From One to Ninety Two
2013 The Nightingales
        A Christmas Cornucopia
2012 Good Things
      Joy to the World
2011 Entertaining Angels
      A Classic Christmas
2010 Thanks for the Memory
     A Glimpse of Christmas Past
2009 Pass The Butler
    Turkey & Tinsel
2008 Bazaar and Rummage
    Breezeblock Park
2007 Black Widow
    Decades of ChristmasCaught On The Hop
    A Murder Is Announced
    Christmas Memories
2006 Dangerous Corner
     Thriller of the Year
    A Christmas Cocktail
2005 Dark Lucy
    Blithe Spirit
    Christmas Papers
2004 Caught On The Hop
    A Murder Is Announced
    Christmas Memories
2003 A Bird In The Hand
    An Inspector Calls
    Guess Who’s Coming for Christmas
2002 Half An Idea
    Out of Sight Out of Murder
    A Recipe For Christmas
2001 Habeas Corpus
   It Runs In The Family
  Christmas Revisited
2000 The Best of Brltlsh
  Deckchairs
  A Christmas Carol
1999 The Good OIde Days
Stepping Out
The Rhyme & Reason of Christmas
1998 Musical Movies
Outside Edge
Once Upon a Christmas
1997 Musical Movies
Outside Edge
Once Upon a Christmas
1996 OIde Tyme Music Hall
Steel Magnolias
Twas The Night Before Christmas
1995 Bless ’em All
This Happy Breed
Magical Christmas
1994 Pack Up Your Troubles
Sailor Beware
1993 Olde Tyme Music Hall
When We Are Married
The World at Christmas
1992 Olde Tyme Music Hall
When We Are Married
The World at Christmas
1991 Half Way Up The Tree
Home For Christmas
1990 Murder on the Nile
Abigail’s Party
Christmas Crackers
1989 Blithe Spirit
On Golden Pond
1988 Agnes of God
Arsenic and Old Lace
1987 Outside Edge
Old Tyme Music Hall
1986 Confusions
Something’s Afoot
1985 Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime
Dear Octopus
1984 The National Health
The Wizard of Oz
OId Tyme Music Hall
1983 Rebecca
OId Tyme Music Hall
1982 Shut Your Eyes and Think of England
The Ghost Train
1981 The House By The Lake
Waiting in the Wings
1980 Fringe Benefits
Barefoot in the Park
The Anniversary
1979 The Hollow
Who Killed Santa Claus?
1978 Flare Path
OId Tyme Music Hall
1977 Move Over Mrs Markham
Everyman
A Christmas Carol
1976 The Unexpected Guest
How The Other Half Loves
1975 Suddenly at Home
1974 The Secretary Bird
Pools Paradise
1973 Relatively Speaking
Music Hall Plus
1972 Separate Tables
The Ghost Train
1971 Spring and Port Wine
Lock Up Your Daughters
1970 Hay Fever
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
1969 The Two Mrs Carrolls
Death and Brown Windsor
1968 The Amorous Prawn
Six to Four On
1967 Rebecca
Old Tyme Music Hall
1966 Present Laughter
The Boy Friend
1965 Private Lives
No No Nanette
1964 Meet Me By Moonlight
Finian’s Rainbow
1963 The Importance of Being Ernest
Salad Days
1962 Teahouse of the August Moon
Free As Air
The Holly and The Ivy
1961 Doctor In The House
The Boy Friend
1960 The Years Between
Jane Eyre
Anastasia
1959 Here We Come Gathering
Anastasia
1958 Murder at The Vicarage
The Devil’s Disciple
1957 The Secret Tent
Blithe Spirit
1956 Night Was Our Friend
1955 The Paragon
The Sport of Kings
1954 An Inspector Calls
Nothing But The Truth
1953 She Stoops to Conquer
1952 When We Are Married
Bonaventure
The Talk of The Town
1951 The Admlrable Crichton
Pygmalion
1950 Dear Octopus
Quiet Wedding
1949 Rope Enough
She Passed Through Lorraine
1948 The Vikings of Helgeland
Trelawney of the Wells
1947 And So To Bed
1946 The Man Who Came to Dinner
1940 Tobias and the Angel
1939 The Adjudication
The Last War
Two Gentlemen of Soho
1938 Winter Sunshine
The Strange Case of Blondie White
1937 Autumn Crocus
Berkeley Square
Mystery at Greenfingers
1936 Crime at Blossoms
77 Park Lane
1935 Lady Windermere’s Fan