Thurrock Courts Players

Performing 3 shows a year at the Thameside Theatre, Grays, which is now under threat of closure, Thurrock Courts Players are proud to support the SaveTheThameside campaign. Regular followers will be familiar with the mix of comedies and thrillers/whodunnits that the company perform to high acclaim.

In 1954 a group of teachers got together to stage a production of 'Twelfth night', by William Shakespeare. Soon more people, other than teachers, became interested. Regular evenings were set by for rehearsals at the old Courts school and so 'Courts Players' were formed. Time went by and in 1965 the group joined forces with the 'Thurrock Players', thus creating 'Thurrock Courts Players'.

From 1954, thirty-three productions were staged at Courts school until, in 1971, £110,000 was spent on a central library and theatre complex in Orsett Road, Grays. This was named the 'Thameside Theatre'. This gave excellent opportunities to many local community groups and performing societies, including Thurrock Courts Players.

The first production by Thurrock Courts Players at Thameside Theatre was 'Loot', a comedy by Joe Orton. Since then many different styles of production have been staged, including musicals, dramas, thrillers, comedies and farce. It cannot be said that the Players have not set out to please a wide range of audiences.

Now, as members of the Thurrock Arts Council, they exist as a strong and enthusiastic society of around 30 people. Their commitment to high standards goes beyond acting. Each member takes on other tasks such as props, prompt, costumes, scenery and publicity with many members proudly holding their 25, 30 and 50 year Long Service Awards.

In recent years they have tested themselves against the best. They have entered festivals in Woking, Welwyn, Waltham Forest, Havering, Southend, Felixstowe and Thurrock. Members are regularly nominated for best actor/supporting actor and they have won numerous trophies, including NODA awards for Best Play and Best Production in 2016 for their production of The Vicar of Dibley in region 10, beating every other group in the eastern region.