Questions
Questions about a particular show are answered on that show's page. Start at What's On.
Tickets
What's your next show?
Our next production, with its dates, venue and ticket prices, is always on What's On. We usually put on two or three shows a year.
How do I book tickets?
Book online through TicketSource, or text or call 07733 916423 to reserve tickets and collect them from the box office on the night. What's On has the dates and prices for each show.
Can I pay by card?
Yes. TicketSource takes credit and debit cards when you book online.
Can I reserve tickets by phone?
Yes. Text or call 07733 916423 with the performance you'd like and how many tickets you need, then collect them from the box office on the night.
How much are tickets?
It depends on the show. Each production's page gives its prices, and so does What's On.
Do you have signed performances?
Some of our shows include a performance interpreted in British Sign Language. Where there is one, it's marked on the show's page.
How will I hear about future shows?
New productions go on What's On as soon as they're announced, and on our Facebook page.
Joining
How can I join Belper Players?
Email enquiries@belperplayers.com and we'll tell you what's coming up and when you can come along. There's more on our Join page.
Can I join if I've never acted?
Yes. Plenty of our members never go on stage. We need people for costumes, lighting, sound, set building and front of house as much as we need actors. See how to join.
Do I have to audition?
Only for a part on stage. Auditions are open to anyone, member or not, and if you're cast you become a member. Nobody auditions to help behind the scenes.
Can I start with a small part?
Yes. Plenty of people start with a small part, or by helping behind the scenes, and take on more once they feel at home.
How much pressure is there?
Not much. We're amateurs. We want every show to be good, but nobody expects a professional performance. We also try to have a good time in the process!
Are rehearsals easy to fit around work?
Usually. We rehearse from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on Monday and Thursday evenings, and only while a show is in production. Directors work around people's availability, so missing the odd rehearsal for work or family is fine.
When and where do you rehearse?
From 7.30pm to 9.30pm on Monday and Thursday evenings, at the Strutts Community Centre on Derby Road, Belper, while a show is in production.
What can I help with behind the scenes?
Costumes, props, lighting, sound, set design and building, front of house, and just about any other theatre job you can think of.
How much does membership cost?
Membership is £35 a year.
What does it cost to be in a show?
As well as membership, everyone in a show, on stage or behind the scenes, pays a script fee and a performance fee.
Is it a good way to meet people in Belper?
Yes. We rehearse twice a week while a show is in production and get together for socials between shows, so you'll soon know people. You'll find us a welcoming bunch.
Is there a minimum age?
Members must be 18 or over.
Am I too old to join?
No. Membership is open to anyone 18 or over, and our late President, Jeanne Crane, was part of the society for 88 years.
Do you only do plays?
Mostly. We focus on plays rather than musicals, so you don't need to sing, although our pantomimes are the exception.
About us
Where do you perform?
Most of our plays are at the Strutts Community Centre on Derby Road, Belper DE56 1UU, where there is free parking at the rear and on Gibfield Road. Some shows are elsewhere, and each show's page gives its venue. More about us.
What kind of shows do you put on?
Plays of all kinds, from Shakespeare and the classics to comedy, farce, new writing by our own members and the occasional pantomime. Browse our past productions to see the range.
Do you put on a Christmas show?
Often. Over the years we've staged pantomimes, A Christmas Carol and our own Seasonal Tales in December, and Nickleby – A Tale for Christmas won a NODA award in 2012. Our next show is always on What's On.
How long have you been going?
Belper Players was founded in 1936. Our first production was As You Like It, in the open air at the Memorial Gardens, and every production we have a record of since then is on this site.
Have you won any awards?
Yes. We won NODA East Midlands' award for best overall production in 2011 for A Midsummer Night's Dream, and for best play in 2012 for Nickleby – A Tale for Christmas. See our awards.
Are you a charity?
Yes. Belper Players Amateur Dramatic Society is registered charity 259222, and a member of the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA).
How do I get in touch?
Email enquiries@belperplayers.com or call Lou on 07852 484567. For tickets, text or call 07733 916423.