Thame Players win sponsorship for new projection equipment

THAME Players’ productions are about to get a whole lot more exciting and streamlined, after a local developer has agreed to make a major contribution to the purchase of state-of-the-art stage projection equipment.

A scene from Thame Players’ recent production of Peter Pan, with one of Robert Duncan’s images back-projected

Haddenham-based developers, Rectory Homes, are to make this investment as part of their three-year sponsorship of Thame Players, the amateur theatre group and registered charity which has been staging productions in Thame for over 70 years.

Pat Shepherd is Chairman of Thame Players. She explained: “The new back-screen projection equipment will be used to achieve rapid special effects and scene changes which would otherwise be impossible without entailing multiple laborious set changes, adding a professional touch that will bring excitement and special magic to future productions, from plays to pantomimes.

“By sponsoring Thame Players, Rectory are also contributing to arts and entertainment provision in Thame,” she added.

Rectory Homes’ sponsorship of Thame Players, currently in its second year, consists of two strands; one related to creative development, the other to capital improvements of the former church hall, which is over 100 years old and was converted into a theatre by Thame Players nearly 40 years ago. This year, Rectory’s contribution is not only enabling Thame Players to achieve special effects through the new stage projection equipment, but also helping them fund musical direction and choreography for their forthcoming production of Honk, the award-winning musical based on the Hans Christian Andersen story The Ugly Duckling.

Simon Vickers, founder and chief executive of Rectory Homes, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Thame Players, a gem of an asset to the town of Thame. We take community support very seriously.”

Pat Shephard concluded: “Rectory Homes have already supported us with sponsorship of two open-air Shakespeare productions, Much Ado About Nothing (2014) and Macbeth (2016), as well as contributing to the funding of other productions and celebrity appearances we would otherwise not be able to afford. Their generous sponsorship over three years is very much appreciated and we look forward to continuing to work with them on our creative programme and building and technical projects. Rectory’s support, advice and encouragement is tremendously valued by all of us at Thame Players.”