Ayrshire's oldest established amateur dramatic group, since 1946
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. 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.
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.
Have you ever wondered what exactly goes in to making an amateur production for the stage? Does everyone get on? Is there a hierarchy? What about the leading lady that has been with the company for over 50 years but still insists on directing the shows and playing the young ingenue? Don’t confide in the leading actress – your secrets won’t remain secret for long. What to do when your husband is having an affair with the director? These are just a few of the day-to-day occurrences when amateurs get together. The Ayr Fort Players are proud to play host to the Pogchurch Village Amateur Dramatic Society for their production of Northanger Abbey. The Pogchurch Village Amateur Dramatic Society are well-known and their biography can be read here.
A comedy of modern manners - a Stepping Out for the 21st century
GAIETY THEATRE
Thu 25th to Sat 27th April 2024
KATE - Fiona Shields
LIZ - Sally Rennie
FLICKA - Jolyn Crawford
VIRGINIA - Grainne Home
BERNIE - Mike Wright
ROB - Alain Testo
DAWN - Laura Ruth Scott
ALASTAIR - Ryan Crawford
HOLLY - Rebekah Copeland
DIRECTOR - Nick Wakeham
STAGE MANAGER - Nathan Bradley
PROMPT - Isobel Miller
PROPS - Lesley Manson, Euan McArdle and team
COSTUME - Shona Quayle and team
FIGHT DIRECTOR - Cameron Findlay
FENCING INSTRUCTOR - David Winter
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.
From Happiest Days of Your Life onward we have kept a video library of productions
Simply click on the production you would like to watch and it will take you to YouTube
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.