Off the Shelf was formed in 2009. They perform in and around the Stratford area with programmes that are, literally, off the shelf. Typically these are programmes of readings and songs lasting 40 minutes and which have been performed before audiences as diverse as Exhall Cricket Club, Shottery U3A, Stratford Arts’ Society, Scholars’ Court and the Afternoon Town Womens’ Guild. A fee is not normally charged for the performances but a donation to a favourite charity is usually preffered. Over £1000 has been raised so far for local charities including the Shakespeare Hospice and Help for Heroes.

For further information please contact Kevin or Estelle Hand:
01789 299221 Or email: kevin_j_hand@yahoo.co.uk

Phoenix Players are one of the longest established amateur drama groups in Stratford upon Avon. We recently celebrated our 60th year of entertaining local people. If you are new to the area or simply looking for something different to do we would be delighted to see you! We welcome new members interested in all aspect of theatre, no matter what your level of experience.

For further information visit: www.phoenix-players.org.uk
Or contact Andy Jepson (Membership Secretary & Treasurer):
01789 550848

Second Thoughts Drama Group was formed in 1984 and performs in and around Stratford. At least three main productions are put on every year, as well as occasional readings, recitals and street theatre. In recent years various productions have been nominated for NODA district awards including ‘An Ideal Husband’ directed by Deborah Stead which won the NODA award in 2009. Second Thoughts Drama Group is known for its friendly and open spirit and encourages all members to play a part in decision making.

For further information visit: www.secondthoughts.org.uk

The Shakespeare Institute Players were founded in 1953, when they performed the first recorded production in their history, A Yorkshire Tragedy. Since then, the dramatic society of the Shakespeare Institute (University of Birmingham) have established themselves as an expert company in the performance of inventive approaches to plays by Shakespeare and other dramatists of the Renaissance, such as John Webster, Christopher Marlowe, John Ford, Ben Jonson or John Lyly. The society is renowned for performing often neglected plays of the English Renaissance, and for the clarity and awareness of meaning they bring to the texts, based on the scholarly expertise of its members, mostly MA and research students specialising in Shakespeare and Renaissance drama.

They usually perform in the beautiful Hall of the Shakespeare Institute, conceived by the novelist Marie Corelli as a music room to entertain her guests at Mason Croft and the home of the Institute since the theatre historian Allardyce Nicoll established it in 1951. The Players normally perform three productions every year, one for each term of the academic session and they sometimes also prepare additional evenings of poetry, music and drama. Recent successes include: Macbeth (2010), and The Life and Death of King John (2011), which they performed as part of the Stratford Fringe festival 2011, and which merited a place in the Royal Shakespeare Company's Open Stages festival.

More information and tickets on www.shakespeareinstituteplayers.co.uk

Established in 2004, the Traditional Theatre Group is dedicated to the performance of the best of english-language theatre, specialising in those plays that you have always wanted to see or see again. Performing at the Shakespeare Centre the group has presented various playwrights work including Ayckbourn, Godber and Wilde.

For further information please contact: 07803 021181