On Saturday 4th June Thame Players will perform their own unique celebration of the remarkable 70-year reign of HM Queen Elizabeth II. It takes the form of a revue, marking significant milestones in the Queen’s long career with songs, sketches, facts and figures that highlight her amazing achievements, including her wartime role, accession and coronation, and her various jubilees over the years.
Some of these milestones coincide with Thame Players’ own milestones, including 1944, when the Queen joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the women’s branch of the British Army, which was also the year when Thame Players was formed; 1977, her Silver Jubilee, when Thame Players acquired the Players Theatre; and 2002, her Golden Jubilee, when Thame Players transformed their former church hall into a modern theatre with the help of £250,000 worth of grant and other funding.
Thame Players will perform sketches including a hilarious address by our PM Boris Johnson, a meeting between James Bond and Dr Who, and songs such as – appropriately – a Queen medley and a wartime medley including favourites such as Bless ‘em All, Hang Out Your Washing on the Siegfried Line and We’ll Meet Again. There will also be a specially written poem about the Queen and her Platinum Jubilee and the show ends with an adapted version of the Cliff Richard hit, Congratulations.
Everyone who comes to see the show will get a free glass of prosecco, which has been kindly donated by Neil Phillips, otherwise known as The Wine Tipster, a professional wine, bubbles and horseracing expert who has hosted wine-tasting sessions for food festivals and corporate hospitality events across the country, including previous appearances at the Players Theatre as part of Thame Food Festival. As a member of the wine industry, Neil talks about the latest advances in the world of Prosecco DOC at masterclass and trade events and as a judge for awards ceremonies.
This Thame Players revue is directed by Tony Long and Bernadette Tildesley, who are both veterans of several successful Thame Players’ revues. They said, “On behalf of Thame Players, we are delighted to be putting on this fantastic revue commemorating the reign of our world-beating monarch. Please come and celebrate with us and enjoy the entertainment with a complimentary glass of prosecco!”.
Half of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the British Red Cross: there’s never been a more important time for the British Red Cross to be there for people in crisis, especially as the war in Ukraine takes its toll. You can donate here.
