The Bunbury Players of Mildenhall gearing up to celebrate 50th anniversary with special show

An amateur dramatics group in Suffolk that ‘feels like a family’ are excitedly gearing up for their 50th anniversary with a special show.

The Bunbury Players, who are based in Mildenhall, completed their first show in 1973 and will be honouring the occasion with two evenings of sketches, dances and songs on Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10.

With final preparations now being put in place, members are looking forward to the big occasion.

Hannah Strathern, 29, first performed for the group when she was 13 and is now directing the 50th anniversary show.

‘Honestly the achievement is absolutely incredible and this show has been something I've been planning for about a year and a half now,” she said.

“It's been really exciting as it's come to fruition and everyone has worked so hard and will get their moment to shine but as it's getting closer I'm starting to feel a bit nervous.

“It’s also my first time directing a show so I feel very proud and I love doing this so much. Even when I went to university I would come back for shows and help out.

As Hannah has been a part of the group for over 16 years, she has seen many people come and go but emphasises how it continues to be a great environment to be in.

She said: “What's really great about the group is that it’s a place where everyone can be themselves and have a really good laugh.

“I was really badly bullied at school and it was a place twice a week where I could come and do what I wanted, be myself and not have to worry about anything. There are people here who I've known since I was 13 and are great friends with, regardless of age.

“It was over ten years ago now where we did a show called Eurobeat, which was a parody of Eurovision and it was hysterical. We left rehearsals hurting from laughing and that is easily one of my favourite memories.”

A much-loved group in the town, the show will celebrate its legacy at the Bell Hotel next week and will include performances from current members as well as special guest appearances from previous members.

Bunbury Players chairman Darren Mather, first joined the group in 1991 and outlined how important it has become to him.

“I joined the Bunbury Players when I was 18 and it was a brilliant outlet for me. I got bullied at school and the group was a safe place for me, where I could be myself with no judgement.

“I came in as a rather timid person but I’m now dead proud of what I’ve done and the group means the absolute world to me.

Hazel Thompson is the longest serving member after being involved for over 20 years and is the secretary and also in charge of chaperoning too.

“To me this group is a lifeline and it feels like a family,” she said.

“I've got Multiple sclerosis (MS) so all my friends here look after me and keep me going especially now I'm getting old so it’s really nice to be involved with such a great community spirit.”

Hazel’s opinion is shared with Mandy Morrish, who is the vice chairman and has been involved with the Bunbury Players since 2006.

Mandy said: ‘We are like a family and it doesn't matter what's going on at home or at work, as soon as you come through the door you can leave it all out there and be a bit silly in here.

“For an amaetur group to survive as long as we have, where we get no investment from anyone and are self-supporting, it is just wonderful to be able to do keep doing what we love.

“The pantomime we had in February was a sell-out and it was amazing. So this show is a bit of a thank you to them too as we have such great community support we are really grateful.

The Bunbury Players have two or three rehearsals a week depending on if they have an upcoming show on, with three shows a year including February half-term, early summer and then in autumn.

Alex, 11, recently joined the group and has already enjoyed her time so far and has been made to feel right at home despite being the youngest member.

She said: “I love how everybody is so friendly and supportive with anything we do.

“When I got the news that I had got the character I wanted after auditioning for the Wizard of Oz, it was great.

“But people were also so happy for me even if they didn’t get what they wanted which was a really nice feeling.”