The Oakford Players began in 1991 with a production of the pantomime, Babes in the Wood.

They weren’t officially the Oakford Players then, they were a group of friends within the local W.I. that decided it would be a good idea to put on a Panto in order to raise some money for local children’s charities.

So with no money, no costumes, no props and no sets, that's what they did.

With cast members making more of less everything that was needed – some serious needle craft there!

What they couldn’t make was begged, borrowed, well maybe not stolen but acquired somehow.

When the W.I ceased to exist in Oakford and became the Moorland Ladies Club, the Oakford Players became an entity on it’s own. But still maintained the same ethos of raising money for local charities and in fact every year between 1998 – 2011 actually managed to put on 2 shows a year, alternating between Panto and general variety show involving songs and comedy sketches, mostly written by cast members.

Gradually lights were aquired, costumes were made and a demountable stage was built which could be erected for performances and then taken down and stored until required again.

We tend not to take ourselves too seriously, preferring to stick with comedy and some people do say that some of our finest performances have been when we’ve made inevitable cock-ups.

But there is a serious side to the players. Which is the raising of money and that has been extremely successful and something to be proud of.

To date the OP have managed to raise well in excess of £30,000 for the charities.

Although we have managed to recruit a couple of new members recently we are still quite a small group and would welcome some more new blood. 

So if you think you would be interested in joining us, please either contact Tony or Tracey Holmes on 01398 351665 or Dawn Williams on 01398 324035