The Deddington Players started as a church group, the first show being a cabaret at a harvest supper in the Windmill more than fifteen years ago. Vivien Edwards and Hazel Hall, members of the old Drama Society, suggested reviving the group, which was done with the help of a Parish Council grant. Soon Aladdin, the first of the annual pantomimes was in production, describing how Deddington got its playground (by rubbing the lamp!). We have since produced most of the traditional pantomimes, as well as our version of the Snow Queen (with dancing reindeer) and of Pinocchio (with underwater scene and whale). Our millennium panto depicted the adventures of the last five Millennium Bugs left in England. In recent years an autumn play and supper evening has been added to the programme and our productions have included 'The Murder Room' and 'Many Hands make Light Work', often combined with poetry or jokes and an array of local musical talent. Over the years, ticket sales have allowed us to invest on behalf of the community in staging, a proscenium arch, curtains, lighting and sound equipment. We also donate some of our proceeds to local charities. About seventy people can be involved in putting together a show, doing everything from lighting and sound, to running the bar and making cups of tea. A true community effort! We enjoy what we do and we hope our audiences do too.
The Deddington Players sponsors outside entertainment groups who bring music, plays and puppet shows to the Windmill Centre. We have put on several mid-year plays and entertainments. We enjoy what we do and we hope everyone else does, too.
Pantomimes by Deddington Players
- 1993 Aladdin
- 1994 Babes in the Wood
- 1995 Cinderella
- 1996 Sleeping Beauty
- 1997 Snow Queen
- 1998 Pinocchio
- 1999 Jack and the Bean stalk
- 2000 Wizard of Whatsit and the Millennium Bugs
- 2001 Red Riding Hood
- 2002 Snow White
- 2003 Pied Piper
- 2004 Dick Whittington
- 2004 Dick Whittington
- 2005 Robinson Crusoe
- 2006 Robin Hood of Daeda's Forest
- 2007 Dracula, The Panto