A short history of Lynden Players 1975-2025
Celebrating 50 years

The story actually starts in August 1959 when the Middleton Cheney Women’s Institute Committee decided that it would be a good idea for a few members to get together and put on a play for the Harvest Supper in September. At that time, Pat Rix was a new member of the WI but also belonged to The Banbury Cross Players, so was nominated to be producer. The play was a success, and so the WI Drama Group was officially formed in November 1959. Pat wrote a panto- Cinderella- and rehearsals took place anywhere that was free. Babysitters were roped in, reel-to-reel tape recorders were red-hot, sewing machines whirred into the night and gentle females turned into odd job men, carpenters and scene shifters. Unwashed dishes lay in the sink and husbands came home to empty houses.

Over the years, many more productions followed: pantomimes, drama festivals, concerts and guest appearances in the Lion’s Club of Banbury Old Time Music Halls from 1971-1975. For many of the early years, the only facilities available were a converted Nissen hut which used to serve as the village hall. The first stage was only nine inches high, made of portable rough wood sections which gave up many splinters. Dressing was behind a wooden partition which doubled as trestle tables. Despite the concrete floor, chemical toilets and smoky stove, the group continued and enjoyed every minute.
By 1975, after 15 years of all-woman casts, the group agreed to open its doors to MEN! The WI drama group was closed and a new venture was born. Why Lynden Players? As a village group they wanted a name to reflect the rural location and chose the Linden Tree as their emblem. The ‘Y’ was added as a decorative flourish. 

The first outing for the newly formed Lynden Players was a Spanish themed float in the Banbury Carnival. This was followed by Aladdin, a panto written by Pat with costumes by Nancy Lord. The list of productions in the early years includes pantos, music halls and revues. By 1983, more ambitious production began with Oklahoma in 1983, followed by Blithe Spirit in 1985. During the 1990s, Lynden Players staged a pantomime at Christmas and a spring show (usually a musical) every year. The society tackled many traditional favourites such as The Wizard of Oz (1992), My Fair Lady (1993), Guys and Dolls (1994) and The Sound of Music (1995). They also produced more ‘modern’ themed works such as Sweet Charity (1997) and Cabaret (1999). The new century was packed with shows that pushed the production values beyond what was expected at a Village Hall. The Lyndens were known for their attention to detail with fabulous costumes and inventive staging. Cliff Oliver even made it rain in the village hall for the iconic Singin’ in the Rain in 2005. 

As the years have passed, Lynden Players have delighted audiences with a wide range of shows such as Jekyll and Hyde (2009), Calendar Girls (2012) Our House (2013) and Little Shop of Horrors (2014). In 2015, they took on the classics and delivered a very funny A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream. This was followed by The Importance of Being Earnest in 2017. As well as classic authors, Lynden has a history of supporting writers from within the group. Since 2015, Lynden Member Kay Andrews-Kuhn has penned three original pantos plus a couple of one act plays which were very popular with cast and audiences alike. The late and much-missed Steve Hatt wrote The Trench which was performed in his memory in 2014.

Lynden Players has reached out beyond the original format in recent years. They have competed in a prestigious local festival, performed outside in pub gardens and inside other venues in the county and put on very successful supper shows. 

In 2025 we will be celebrating 50 years of Lynden Players with a look back at previous shows and a chance to revisit some of our favourites. In July there will be a series of gala concerts featuring songs and sketches from our back catalogue with lots of opportunities to take part. Alongside the concert, there will be an exhibition of memorabilia from the last 50 years as we open our archive, props and costume store. 

New and previous members are always welcome and if you would like to find out more, come along to a meeting or rehearsal.

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