About us

The Crouch End Players was formed in September 2008 and performed our first production in 2009.

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How We Started

Originally, a group of close friends, having moved to the area, decided to try to recruit some local people to put on a Pantomime – and they very nearly did it! Their original production of Dick Whittington had to be shelved due to lack of funds only weeks before it was scheduled to be performed, but, despite the disappointment, the group attracted more members and the Crouch End Players has gone from strength to strength. 

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At our first, informal meeting, as we went around the room introducing ourselves, we were delighted to discover that one of our number was the ex RSC actor and playwright of multi-award winning play "Duet For One", Tom Kempinski.

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Tom subsequently, and generously, allowed us to produce one of his unperformed works, The Princess of Wales, a stylish, Regency comedy, as our first  production. We couldn't have had a better start!  We performed Tom's wonderful play in the historic, now closed, Royal British Legion to an enthusiastic audience, and we have been going ever since.

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Over the past 11 years the Crouch End Players has  become an important part of the fabric of creative life of Crouch End.

We have performed dozens of productions in diverse genres, from  new writing to Shakespeare and in a variety of local venues from the historic Hornsey Town Hall to outdoor theatre in local parks.  

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We took part in the inaugural Crouch End Festival and have returned every year, offering our festival pieces from live vintage radio theatre to children's storytelling, free of charge to thank the local community for regularly supporting our larger productions.

We are committed to creating theatre wherever we can, and have appeared in cafes, pubs, churches, schools and even the Tower of London.

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We welcome people from all backgrounds to join our group. Our membership includes a wide range of experience, from complete beginners to professionally trained performers.

Participation, involvement and development is encouraged across the board, for both performers and backstage crew. 

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We are a nurturing and sociable group, and often facilitate workshops and training in useful skills, from creative writing to stage fighting!

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Read an article published in the Ham and High in 2019, in which our founder, Mat Hearne, tells our story. here

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Interested in joining? We would love to hear from you.

Contact our membership secretary, Heather Butensky, for more information.

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In the meantime, why not come to our next production and see for yourself...!

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