A HISTORY OF BENTLEY PLAYERS  by Charles Cripps

In the autumn of 1983, Philip Gibson, the licensee of the Case is Altered, Bentley suggested that I might like to direct a village pantomime over the Christmas period.  I was then asked to re-write and bring a local flavour into a script used previously by Phillip.  A group of Bentley villagers agreed to 'have a go' and we rehearsed in the homes of various members of the cast.  As a result, we presented our version of  Aladdin - A Wee Lad from Bentley on the stage of Bentley Village Hall in January  1984.   We gave three performances.  Cynthia Cripps provided the music at the piano.  We raised £100 for the Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund.

The cast in order of appearance were Ian Hughes, Peter Bingham, Jenny Minor, John Phillips, Mary Naunton, David Phillips, Helen Smart, Beryl Baker, Iain Reekie, Philip Gibson, Heather Phillips and Marilyn Francis.  Melvyn Prior was the Narrator.

This was to be the beginning of what was to become an annual pantomime in Bentley.

To view more details and click on the year you wish to view.

1985  -  Cinderella - a Bentley Lass  

1986-  Jack in the Beanstalk
             (This was the year we became known as 'The Bentley Players' )

1987-  Dick Whittington    

1988 & 1989 - These years were missed due to the unavailability of the village hall.

1990-  Cinderella      

1991 - Little Red Riding Hood  

1992 -  Jack in the Beanstalk

1993-  Aladdin  

1994 - Dick Whittington    

1995 - Little Red Riding Hood   

1996 - Cinderella   

1997 - Jack in the Beanstalk    

1998 - Aladdin   

1999 - Dick Whittington    

2000 - Little Red Riding Hood   

2001 -  Cinderella    

2002 -  Jack and the Beanstalk    

2003  - Aladdin    

2004 -  Dick Whittington  

2005-  Snow White 

2006 -  Little Red Riding Hood  

2007 - This year will be missed due to the building of a new village hall.

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