The Ayr Fort Players started from humble
beginnings in a school classroom at Ayr Academy in 1946 to becoming one of the
longest established, much loved amateur dramatic groups in Ayrshire. The
earliest productions were staged at Ayr Town Hall, a challenging venue in which
to perform drama - limited lighting, bad acoustics, no proscenium, absolutely
no changing facilities - but they persevered.
Then came an absolute revelation for the
local drama community – Ayr Burgh Council had been convinced to buy and convert
the Robertson Memorial Church into a Civic Theatre. So, from 1951 through to
the early 2000s, local drama groups and touring companies had a wonderful new
home. The theatre was an ideal size for drama and is still fondly remembered by
those who played there or attended performances. In 2009 South Ayrshire Council
took the hasty decision to demolish the theatre with concerns that there was an
asbestos problem – that was an incredibly sad day.
The Ayr Fort Players then moved into the
Gaiety theatre but, just as they were about to stage How the Other Half
Loves, the council shut the theatre down. Luckily there was an opening at
Belmont Academy a year later, again a challenging venue but, if nothing else,
the group are always up for a challenge.
Eventually, after the Gaiety Theatre
was saved and taken over by Ayr Gaiety Partnership, the Ayr Fort Players had,
once again, found a new and exciting home.
Over the years, the Ayr Fort Players, have
provided entertainment with classic farces such as See How They Run, Move
Over Mrs Markham; quality modern drama – 84 Charing Cross Road, Steel
Magnolias; Scottish comedies – Toom Byres, Whisky Galore and stage
adaptations of popular TV sitcoms such as Dad’s Army and Fawlty
Towers. In fact the Ayr Fort Players were the first to perform the stage
adaptation of Fawlty Towers and were also the first amateur group
granted the rights to Tony Roper’s famous Scottish comedy The Steamie,
which played to packed houses during the 1997 Ayr Festival.
For Homecoming
Scotland 2009, the production was Rikki Fulton’s uproarious A Wee Touch O’
Class. Since then, the productions have covered Alan Ayckbourn’s How the
Other Half Loves, another successful production of The Steamie, The
Vicar of Dibley, Noises Off, No Sex Please We’re British, The 39 Steps, Stepping
Out (which was produced at the Town Hall while the Gaiety was going through
a facelift), The Ladykillers, City Lights, Gaslight, Murder on the Nile, etc. The production, before the Covid 19 epidemic took hold, was Don’t Get
Your Vicars in a Twist – the last production to take place at the Gaiety
before it was forced to close its doors due to the pandemic. We came bouncing
back in 2022 with The Happiest Days of Your Life . Then, later that year,
we presented an evening of monologues (and one duologue) especially
commissioned for the Ayr Fort Players, using local artists, writers and
directors under the umbrella of Doormatters.
In 2023 our spring
production was Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders which was enthusiastically
received. Our Autumn production was Dead of Night a thriller, which fell on the same weekend as the International Air Show, so only had two performances. 2024 saw another successful production, this time it was Amateur Rites. In a normal year, the Ayr Fort Players
stage two productions, one in spring and one in autumn. Also, they are involved
in Ayr’s many cultural events, touring and presenting one act plays. In fact, the autumn of 2024 saw them perform a new play in the shape of a radio show being recorded with live sound effects - Five Go To Glasgow. This was on at the Gaiety Studio in August and then toured Ayrshire.
If you are interested in an Ayr Fort Players production for your venue, please contact the President
All profits from their productions are
donated to Cancer Research and, as of 2022, in excess of £60,000 has been
handed over to this much deserved charity.
It seems nothing can stop the Ayr Fort
Players and that is partly due to loyal audiences coming out for an evening's
entertainment, knowing they can bring the whole family and have a great night
at the theatre.
RACHEL WATSON - Rebekah Copeland
ANNA WATSON - Tess Smith
MEGAN HIPWELL - Laura Ruth Scott
TOM WATSON - Cameron Seaward
SCOTT HIPWELL - Aidan McDowall
KAMAL ABDIC - TBA
D.I. GASKILL - Amy McGillivray
FORENSICS, POLICE, COMMUTERS - Robyn Cyr, Susan Dempsey, Ryan Murray, others tba
STAGE MANAGEMENT - Nathan Bradley
PROMPT - Grainne Home
PROPS - Lesley Manson
WARDROBE - Shona Quayle
SET DESIGN - James Paterson
LIGHTING DESIGN - Fraser Emslie
Click on the arrow for details of shows.
If show has a live link then clicking on it will lead you to any images we have in our archives.
Ayr Fort Players have a variety of costumes from past productions which we hire out at a nominal fee. We also have props and furniture for hire.
Please use enquiry form below
We all have memories of being part of a club or society - good and bad.
We are asking members, past and present, to share those memories with us.
Fiona Shields has very kindly given us this report from Anne Milroy who was the Ayr Fort Players President in 1986. It is very interesting regarding our beginnings
PDF versionAuditions for new productions are open to all who wish to
attend. Aspiring actors aren’t the only section of the theatrical community
that we welcome with open arms. It takes many people to stage our productions.
So, if you think you wouldn’t be comfortable on stage, why not consider joining
us in one of the many other departments such as Stage Management, Props,
Wardrobe, Scenic Design and Construction? We expect all our members to be
involved in all productions if possible – one production you may be playing the lead
and the next you could be a vital part of the backstage crew.
Normally we rehearse twice a week in the centre of Ayr.
Membership costs only £15 per year, or £5 if you are a
full-time student. If you are over 16 and are interested in becoming a member
then fill in our form and we will let you know when the next audition is being
held or invite you along to our current rehearsals.
You can also contact us via Facebook or
Twitter.
For absolutely any questions you may have about the Ayr Fort Players then please use the form opposite and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
If you wish to join the company then please use the form above in the Join Us section of the website.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Questions we often get asked - and the answers
Answer. 16 or over. We would only use U16s if there was specifically a part for them in the production. If you are under 16 and are interested in theatre then we would suggest a local youth theatre such as Gaiety Youth Theatre, Centrestage, PACE or FIB.
Answer. As much as they would lead us to believe, it isn't all about the actors! We need backstage staff. People to gather and deal with props. People to source and deal with costumes. Stage Management. Set Design and Construction. Every single person is a much-needed cog in the wheel
Answer. If you join and audition and are offered a role in a play then you have to commit to rehearsing 2 nights per week. If this is not possible then you must think very carefully about auditioning for a part. Not being able to commit to that rehearsal period is not fair on the other members of the company. Should more than 2 consecutive rehearsals be missed then the director has the authority to recast the role. If you do not have a role in the play then we would ask that you try to come along to as many of the rehearsals as you can and to volunteer for other positions such as props, costume, stage management, etc.
Answer. We cover everything from high drama to farce. The only objective is to produce a play that we feel the public would like to come and see. It can be anything from Shakespeare to Ayckbourne to Tony Roper. That is what makes it such a diverse group in which to belong.
Answer. There is a £15 yearly membership fee. For full-time students that is reduced to £5 per year.
Answer. You will never know until you try. Get in touch, come along to rehearsals, get to know everyone. We are a really friendly lot and will encourage you all the way.