A Brief
History
Poulner Players was formed in 1975 from a nucleus of church members of St John Baptist Church, Linford Road, Poulner, Ringwood, who for some years had been providing entertainments at the annual Harvest Suppers which, before the Church Hall was built, were held in Hangersley Women's Institute Hut. In September 1975, one of the first entertainments, held in the new hall, was a potted version of Jack & The Beanstalk starring the Revd. John Page as the Giant. Then came the debut of Poulner Church Players with a New Year Show in January 1976.
The structure of Poulner Players was formalised at a General Meeting on 26 March 1976, attended by 20 members at which a committee under the Chairmanship of Peter Ansell was elected.
The group was affiliated to St John’s Church with the Vicar being an ex officio member of the committee. The first full length play was Spring and Port Wine in December 1977. The first full length pantomime, The Sleeping Princess followed in February 1978. In 1986 the name was changed to Poulner Players and in 2020 Poulner Players became a registered charity.
The Society tries to strike a balance between its charitable giving and its own need for more equipment. Donations were regularly made to the Church Hall Building Fund but when interest free loans to the Fund had been paid off, the Players looked further afield for good causes to benefit from show profits.
Membership is open to all from the age of 10. In presenting pantomime, the Players has encouraged Junior Members to take part on stage. Growing in confidence and ability, some have remained with the society for many years before their interests and careers take them elsewhere. Others have moved on to other societies or into the professional theatre.
In February 1990, the tradition of an annual pantomime was broken with the presentation of the musical Oliver! and since then a musical show has been an alternative to a pantomime. A particularly memorable show was Peter Pan The Musical performed in 2001 on a split level stage with all three Darling children and Peter Pan flying at the same time! Plays are presented in May and the occasional studio performance in August: and don’t forget The Ringwood Carnival in September!
Performance venues have included the Church Hall, Greyfriars Community Centre, The Parish Church, St John’s Church, The Meeting House, Care Homes, Christchurch & Salisbury Hospitals and now The Waldorf School Theatre.