Arnold Ridley's classic comedy thriller, The Ghost Train, was first produced in 1925 and has been a firm favourite with professional and non-professional theatre companies ever since. Six passengers find themselves stranded late at night in the waiting room of an isolated Cornish railway station. Ignoring the ghostly tales and dire warnings of the stationmaster, they decide to stay where they are until morning - with terrifying consequences. 

Arnold Ridley is best known to modern audiences as the gentle Private Godfrey in Dad's Army although, in contrast to this character, he fought in both the First and Second World Wars and had the unusual distinction of being invalided out of the British Army twice.

The lovely Ros Broyd is directing this comedy thriller at The Clubhouse Theatre in April 2026 and we heard her ideas on the production at a launch on Friday 5th December. The cast is as follows:-

The Great British Bake Off Musical

Auditions for The Great British Bake Off Musical took place on 22nd March and we have great pleasure in announcing the following fantastic cast.

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Performance Week – Trinity School, Shirley Park – Sunday 19th – Saturday 25th July

Performance details and tickets will be available soon.

 

24 Hour Musical - PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATES

With Kevin Gauntlett at the helm as director and Jo Morrison as choreographer, the greatly anticipated 24 Hour Musical is looking in great shape. The editor is reliably informed that it WILL BE a musical that you ALL KNOW and love, and following the feedback from previous offering we are confident that, with the changes we have made to the organisation, it will be a hugely enjoyable experience.

Following discussions after our last 24-hour Musical, we are this time going to run the experience from 2pm on Saturday 19th September with the performance at 2:30pm on Sunday 20th September. This should hopefully allow everyone some sleep either side of the experience! More information will follow during our launch at our AGM in June - keep your eyes peeled for more information then!

Dear friend, old or young, male or female,

As you may have heard, it is my intention to start a Musical Theatre choir, under the auspices of The Mitre Players. This idea has been bubbling away since last August but is now about to become a reality! Colin’s Choir will eventually run roughly every fortnight from 7.30 to 10.00 at the TSSSC Clubhouse in Lime Meadow Avenue, Sanderstead on a Wednesday evening, alternating with the club’s Folk & Blues Night. The licenced bar will be available and it will be largely a social occasion. It will be open to all, singers and “non-singers”, and the emphasis will be on having fun whilst singing. There will be harmony for those who want to indulge, though you can just sing the melody if you prefer. You do not need to read music, though you could take advantage of the choir to start learning!

You do not need to be a current member of The Mitre Players though, if you are, it will be free for you to join. Indeed, anyone who is a paid-up member of any of the constituent clubs of the TSSSC (formerly known as the Trinity Old Boys’ Club) can come along for free. If you’re not a current member, then it will cost you £25.00 yearly to join as a “social member”.

We will start on 1^st April. You don’t have to attend every session, though we may ask in advance if you will be coming. Music and/or lyrics will be provided.

The lovely Liz Dolman will be dealing with all the admin associated with this venture – and I wish her good luck!!

If you are interested in being a member of the choir, please could you express your intention by sending an email to colinschoir@gmail.com and we can then send you more information. You can also ask us questions there.

I am very excited to be starting this venture and can’t wait to hear the laughter interspersed with the singing! Do tell your friends and get them involved too. Why have I never done this before??

Colin Warnock

Following our launch for The Ghost Train, you are invited to unwind with some festive fun with friends…. A great way to slip into the season of all things jolly! 
 
The Mitre Christmas party has always been a popular event on the Mitre Calendar and, with much to celebrate after another successful year, this event promises to be better than ever! With quizzes galore and games aplenty, you do not want to miss out….or you might just find yourself on the naughty list (not again I hear you cry!).
 
Party planners extraordinaire, Mike Lilley and Vicky Watkins, are currently beavering away behind the scenes to make all your Christmas party dreams come true and will be hosting on the night – cue many laughs, mayhem and surprises! 
 
Add to that the creatively captivating Mr Christmas himself, Colin Warnock, who will be there to provide a fitting musical backdrop to the occasion - what else could you possibly want?!  We’ve heard a rumour that there will be the chance to sing along to some favourite carols, and the opportunity for party-goers to sing along with him individually as well! 
 
Entry to this event is FREE and it is a family event, so the more the merrier! The bar will be open until midnight and some light festive nibbles will be provided.

Oh, and wear your “best” Christmas jumper or outfit as the elves tell us that there might be a prize for the best effort…. See you all there where we shall be rockin’ around the Christmas Tree in true Mitre fashion! 

Mitre Players Car Rally - A day of cars, clues and camaraderie
On a lovely Sunday afternoon, 20 Mitre Players gathered at The Clubhouse to take part in this year's Car Rally. Formed into seven enthusiastic teams, engines revved and maps were at the ready as the cars set off just after 2pm. The sun was shining, spirits were high and everyone was eager to tackle the trail of clues carefully crafted by our quizmaster, Alan Bishop.
The route took us from Sanderstead to Caterham on the Hill, winding through Bletchingly before finishing in Lingfield. As the afternoon went on the weather turned rather damp, but even umbrellas and soggy answer sheets couldn't dampen the determination to crack Alan's fiendish puzzles. With plenty of laughs and a few head-scratching moments, every team completed the course by 5.45pm having covered around four miles on foot along the way.
A hearty dinner at the Barley Mow in Tandridge was the perfect way to round off the day, with thanks to the staff for looking after us so well. The winning team of Megan, Tom, Jerri-Lee and Marcus claimed victory but with only five points separating first and seventh place it was anyone's game.
A fantastic afternoon of teamwork, brainpower and good company. Thanks to Alan Bishop for his hard work at sourcing the route, devising the clues and booking the pub.

“Great company, growing audiences, and big loud 80s rock – our Isle of Wight tour of Rock of Ages was everything a Mitre summer should be.”

The Mitre Players once again took our summer tour to the Isle of Wight, this year with the high-octane smash hit Rock of Ages at the Apollo Theatre. It was a great week in great company, filled with music, laughter, and that special Mitre sense of community that makes our tours so memorable.

Audiences were strong from the start and continued to grow throughout the week, thanks in no small part to Colin, who gave many dedicated hours manning the Box Office. Off stage, the Island Riding accommodation proved once again to be the perfect set-up for the touring company, providing a wonderful base and a social hub that added so much to the week.

Our promotional activities kicked off in true Mitre style with a colourful entry into the Sandown Carnival, where we were delighted to take 1st place! Megan and Jerri also led the way in coordinating the promo weekend plans, including a very boozy and memorable “Pub-licity crawl.” AC did a fantastic job transferring the set from Croydon to the Isle of Wight, and with a slightly smaller crew it was brilliant to see more of the cast rolling up their sleeves to help with construction and dismantling.

On stage, the cast rose to the vocally demanding score night after night, maintaining incredible energy throughout the run. The band were central to creating that electric atmosphere, and we’re hugely grateful for their talent, commitment—and their willingness to don wigs! Special thanks also to the creative team—Rachael Adams, Jo Morrison, Kim McEvoy, and Colin Warnock—for bringing the vision from page to stage, and to Jo Morrison for sourcing those wonderfully nostalgic costumes and wigs, with support from Rachael Adams, Julia Ascott and Anna Warnock.

The Croydon run had already proven a great success, drawing standing ovations nightly, and the tour was further blessed with the wonderful news of Isabelle Lee’s arrival. Congratulations to Jon and Lizzie on their second daughter, and how lovely that the whole Lee family could join us on the island.

The sense of family and community was tangible throughout the week, echoing the feedback we’ve received that Mitre life is about so much more than just the shows. Immense thanks to Anna, Bish and Lou for being our tour managers and organising the week away, as well as to every member of the production team, front of house and technical crew for their hard work. (Check the programme if you missed any names!)

We came, we rocked, and we blew the roof off in big, loud, 80s style. Huge thanks to everyone involved for making it possible!

And only 2 weeks after her directorial debut with Mitres, Rachael Adams tied the knot with guitarist Rob Fenning.  Congratulations on your wedding Rob & Rachael! What a way to rock out this summer! 

The Mitre Players really pulled off something special with their recent production of Urinetown: The Musical at the Mitre Theatre. From the first note of Too Much Exposition, it was clear the audience was in for a sharp, witty ride. Directed by Paul Grace with music led by Robert Randall—both old hands from Trinity School—this amateur group brought big energy and bold satire to the stage, and it paid off.

Set in a world where even peeing comes at a price, Urinetown is as bizarre as it is brilliant. The cast embraced the absurdity with full force, particularly in numbers like It's a Privilege to Pee and Cop Song, which had the audience laughing out loud. Bobby Strong’s rise from lowly toilet attendant to rebel hero (Look at the Sky, anyone?) was both hilarious and oddly inspiring, and his chemistry with Hope Cladwell added just the right amount of sweetness to the chaos.

The ensemble didn’t miss a beat, delivering punchy choreography and sharp comic timing throughout. Whether it was the show-stopping Run, Freedom, Run! or the bleakly funny finale, I See a River, the production managed to strike a perfect balance between over-the-top fun and biting social commentary. All in all, the Mitre Players proved they’re not afraid to tackle something a little offbeat—and they did it with real flair.

The Mitre Players' Members' Party on May 9th was a fantastic night full of fun, laughter, and great company. Held at The Clubhouse in South Croydon, the evening gave everyone a chance to kick back after a busy few months and celebrate in true Mitre style. A huge thank you goes to Field of Souls, who kept the energy high all night with some brilliant live music — they really got everyone up and dancing!

We were also seriously well fed, thanks to the amazing team at Gipsy Hill Smokehouse, whose delicious spread went down an absolute treat. With plenty of catching up, reminiscing, and a few dodgy dance moves thrown in (*cough* Rachael *cough*), it was the perfect way to bring the group together and welcome a few new faces into the fold. Our thanks also go to everyone who attended and made the night certainly one to remember - roll on the next one!

Join us at The Clubhouse from 7:00pm for a great night of music, food, and plenty of dancing!

£30 per head – includes live entertainment and food

So, round up your fellow Mitres, grab your dancing shoes, and let’s party!

Ticket sales closed on Friday 25th April.

We have just heard that our production of Young Frankenstein has been awarded "Show of the Year 2024" at The Minack Theatre.

Rebecca Thomas, the theatre's director wrote us this glowing message.

I am just getting in touch to give you the wonderful news that Young Frankenstein has been chosen as our 'Show of the Year' for the 2024!

Many many congratulations to you all for such a wonderful show, it was fun, vibrant, bursting with talent and with a fantastic set to match. Your company were a pleasure to have around for the week and I do hope that you all enjoyed the experience as much as we all did and our audience.

Best wishes and we look forward to welcoming you back again in the future!

Obviously we are extremely pleased to be given this accolade. Huge congratulations to everyone involved - the Production Team, the Cast, the Backstage Team and the Tour Management Team. You all contributed to making it such a suceess in all departments.

You can view the photos of The Minack production HERE and the Croydon High School production HERE.

We are pleased to announce that we have secured the rights to this Olivier Award winning play (it won a record equalling 7 awards) as our Autumn Production at The Mitre Theatre, Trinity School.

The cast is as follows:

Christopher - Chris Backway
Siobhan - Jerri-Lee McManus
Ed - Peter Calver
Judy - Jackie Driscoll
Roger - Paul Bowles
Mrs Alexander/Ensemble - Ros Broyd
Mrs Shears/Ensemble - Julia Ascott
Ensemble - David Harries-Rees
Ensemble - Simon Long
Ensemble - Imogen Broyd
Ensemble - Pierce O’Brien

Get ready for an extraordinary night at The Mitre Theatre, Trinity School, as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time takes the stage from 23rd-26th October! This gripping play, adapted from the best-selling novel, follows Christopher Boone, a brilliant teenager with an exceptional mind, as he embarks on a thrilling quest to solve the mystery of a neighbour's dog’s death. But what he uncovers will change his life forever.....

The Mitre Theatre will be transformed like never before, with stunning, innovative staging that immerses you into Christopher's world. From the moment the lights dim, you’ll be captivated by the set with its modern twist, vivid lighting, and remarkable effects that bring his story to life. Don’t miss this chance to see a truly unique production—grab your tickets now!

Please note that the play contains some strong language

Tickets are now available on THIS PAGE

Wednesday to Friday Night at 7.30pm. Saturday 2pm and 5,30pm

Tickets are now on sale now from our usual Ticketsource page HERE

Our Annual General Meeting was held on Sunday 16th June. As always it was well attended with over 30 members in attendance. 

Elections for the new committee saw Louise Gauntlett take on the role of Treasurer as a result of Alan Bishop standing down after over 40 years on The Committee and as Treasurer.

Jerri Lee McManus stood down as an Additional Committee Member and Kate Slingerland was elected to take her place. The full committee can be found HERE.

Jon Lee had prepared an entertaining video containing highlights of the past year and Ziggi Szarfranski ran through the shows and events we have planned for the next 12 months.