The Country Players 1962 – 82…

After the death of Lucy Hyett, it was felt that no single person could ever replace her and Painswick Players was formally wound up. However, within a few months, the members re-formed as the Country Players and began a different but equally successful tradition which saw 44 productions, starting with The Camel's Back. Derek Hodges, who had stepped in to help Miss Lucy with the 1961 Christmas production, took up the directorial role. Although the Country Players were never so reliant on a single director as Painswick Players had been, Derek was certainly prominent and he was responsible for a dozen productions over the next 15 years.

The Country Players presented a broad mix of comedies, musicals and serious drama, including Arms & The Man (1971), The Ghost Train and Separate Tables (1972), Gigi (1973), Hay Fever (1974), Blithe Spirit (1976), Absurd Person Singular (1977), Wedding Of the Year (1979), Alice in Wonderland (1980)and finishing with Henry James's The Aspern Papers in 1982.

Country Players list of productions 1962 - 1982