Little Common and Bexhill Players
Amateur Dramatic Group
Our Members
The Little Common and Bexhill Players are an amateur dramatic group located in Little Common, Bexhill, East Sussex.
Over the years we have performed a variety of shows including pantomimes, plays, reviews, variety shows, music halls and murder mystery evenings.
We typically perform three shows a year; with our most popular performance - our pantomime - finishing the year off with songs, fun and laughter!
The group meets every Tuesday evening at the Little Common Community Centre, Shepherds Close, Little Common, TN39 4SQ
We will always welcome new members both on stage - singers and non-singers, experienced or complete novices - and off-stage to help with costumes, scenery, props, lighting, sound and front-of-house.
If you are interested in joining us or would like to come along and see what our group is about, please message us via our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LCBPLAYERS or contact Elisabeth Doust on 07796 923610.
Imogen Beale
Imogen has been with The Little Common and Bexhill Players since she started amateur dramatics as a 'babe' in 'Babes in the Wood' in 2011. Since then she has performed in various pantomimes; including 'Aladdin', 'Cinderella', 'Dick Whittington' and 'The Wizard of Oz.' Imogen has also performed in our Olde Tyme Music Halls and various plays. In her spare time, Imogen also performs with the Hastings Queer Collective as a drag artist.
Dave Bourne
Dave took to the stage with BATS playing parts in Shakespeare and 'An Inspector Calls'. He then joined The Little Common and Bexhill Players, since when he has particularly enjoyed dressing up a dame and playing comedy parts. He has also been master of ceremonies for our Olde Tyme Music Hall. In his spare time, he is a Cub Leader and an archery instructor. When he has a chance to relax, Dave likes to watch films.
Katie Dickens
Katie has become a regular pantomime character with the Players and she would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for the support she has received since becoming a member. Katie sung a solo part in a variety show. She loves theatre in general and supports the work done for St. Michaels Hospice.
Beatrice Dixon
Beatrice joined us in 2017 and loves being in our productions. She played the dame in one pantomime, which was her first major role. She has made many new friends among her fellow performers. Having a love of singing, Bea, as she likes to be known, is also a member of the Bexhill Choral Society. She is retired and loves to spend time walking and being with her two grandchildren.
Brian Drayson
Brian first donned a frock for his son's cub show in the late 1990's and so caught the panto bug. Since then, he went on to appear or direct performances for the West Wickham Pantomime Society. He moved to Bexhill in 2017 and joining the Players, has created imaginative props as well as appearing regularly in our shows and also doing a bit of directing.
Rona Morton
Rona has been in amateur dramatics since 1994 during which time she has belonged to BLODS, BOTMS, and The Little Common and Bexhill Players. She has featured in productions of Fiddler On The Roof, Kiss Me Kate and South Pacific, and enjoys singing solo parts particularly in our Olde Tyme Music Hall productions. She lists reading, travelling, bowls and Mexican Dominoes among her favourite pastimes.
John Search
Stage struck since the age of seven, when he appeared in a local amateur productions of The Snow Queen as 'Third Penguin', John's acting and fish catching skills have served him well in many other productions over the last 60-odd years. Having been a member of the Players at various times since the 1960's, he is hoping that his current membership survives this startling revelation about his very fishy adolescence. Aside from amateur dramatics, John plays guitar and sings in a local band, Geri and the Attrix.
Jenny Taylor
Jenny has been involved with amateur drama since she was a teenager and joined LCB Players 25 years ago on moving to Bexhill. She has appeared in and directed many plays and pantomimes during this time. She loves going to the professional theatre and spending time in her 'bee and butterfly' friendly garden.
Margaret Punter
Since being an angel in the nativity at school in her reception year she has always loved being on stage. She also has a real love for watching theatre of all kinds. Highlights have been playing the Lion in 'The Wizard of Oz' and the crazy woman who poisoned half her village! She is also in charge of the wardrobe and loves getting everyone dressed for their parts. "Pretending to be someone else is the best fun ever."
Maggie Osgood
Maggie moved to Eastbourne during the summer of 2013 to be near her family. She went along to rehearsals with her sister Maureen and brother-in-law Graham, joining the group in the autumn of 2013 - having never done anything like this before, other than a vague recollection of playing 'Alice' at junior school during the 60's, and being part of the choir with a friend in the Billy Graham Crusade in London, '66. She started off by helping backstage, painting scenery, sorting props etc. After a while she started to appear in the chorus, in pantomime and music revues, taking on a few small roles. She has made some very good friends who have all made her feel very welcome right from day one.
Margaret Smart
Margaret has been involved with the LCB Players on stage since 2014 when she took a part in 'Clean Sweep' as they were short of members! She is usually musical director but really enjoys being released from the keyboard to take small parts and to work backstage. She is a member of Bexhill Choral Society and runs the choir at St Mary Magdalene's Church in Bexhill.
Gary Karl-Pope
Gary worked at the De La Warr Pavillion as a stage hand and flyman and often went to the White Rock in Hastings to work there on shows. He has worked with Ken Dodd, Diane Udale (Jet from Gladiators), National Ballet, Phil Cool and the one and only Ted Rodgers (321 Dusty Bin) to name but a few. He has been an extra with the players then joined, becoming Vice Chairman and also our Stage Manager.
Lyn Ford
Having joined the LCB Players in 1991, Lyn is our longest serving member and current company secretary. She has taken many leading roles including Michelle in 'Allo, Allo', Miriam in 'Outside Edge' and Truvy in 'Steel Magnolias'. She has also appeared in many Murder Mysteries, Revues, and Olde Tyme Music Halls. In pantomime she has taken the role of principal girl twice and principal boy eight times, Robin Hood being her favourite role having played it twice. Lyn has devised and directed two revues, directed a play and two pantomimes, and more recently directed a Murder Mystery. She also sings with a local choir.
Fleur Bailey
Fleur has been with the Little Common Players since 2012. She has enjoyed a variety of different roles, her favourite being Puss from Puss in Boots. She enjoys singing and can always be found in the line-up for our Olde Tyme Music Hall shows. In her spare time, Fleur enjoys scrap booking and spending time with her family.
Imogen Vernon-Gill
Imogen has been with us for several years and loves to take part in pantomimes. She has many interests including singing, music and dance as well as acting.
Jac Young
Jac has been involved in amateur dramatics for more than twenty-five years. She started with BLODS and then BATS. She joined The Little Common and Bexhill Players in 2001 and has taken part in murder mysteries and Olde Tyme Musical Halls. Jac also performs with Christian Voices. Her interests include horse riding, singing, reading, walking and spending time with her family.
Maureen Payne
Maureen joined the Players in 2004 helping backstage. She became a member of the committee around 2008 and in 2013 was elected to the Treasurer's Role. Over the years she has performed in a number of shows, but mainly her role has been backstage and prompt. She has also helped make props for shows and painted backdrops. She enjoys her time spent with everyone and has made lots of lasting friendships.
Elisabeth Doust
Elisabeth is our current chairman and has been involved with amateur dramatics for over 50 years. She was part of Walton and Weybridge where she took part in Gilbert & Sullivan, operettas, musicals and Olde Tyme Music Halls. On moving to Sussex, she joined the LCB Players. As well as taking on roles in plays such as 'Steel Magnolias' and 'Haywire' she has written and directed two full length plays and five murder mystery evenings. She has been involved in over 100 shows from Verdi's 'Macbeth' to 'Puss in Boots'. In 2022 she claimed her 50 year NODA long service award.
Malcolm Atfield
Malcolm took to the stage in 2014 when he joined the players to 'help out' and has found this an absorbing new interest. He has ha roles in 'A Clean Sweep', 'Visiting Hour', murder mysteries, and pantomimes including 'Puss in Boots', and in 'Cinderella' as an ugly sister, one of his favourite parts. He has also sung in the Olde Tyme Music Halls, turns his hand to creating stage props and enjoying helping out backstage.
Lewis Ikin
Lewis joined us in 2016, and has since enjoyed playing a variety of roles that include a rotten rat-king, a gangster rapping ape and an inept local bobby. He enjoys a good pub quiz in his spare time, especially if he is on the winning side.