Winton Players
What many of you may not know, when you come to see a polished Winton Players show in Petersfield’s comfortable Festival Hall is that the production has been rehearsed in the Barn, the set built in the Barn, the props made or selected on site, and the costumes chosen from the crowded wardrobe room - also in the Barn. The whole production is then quite literally packed onto a van and transported to the Festival Hall by members where, after just one full run-through, the show is then performed. Quite a feat.
Unfortunately, the Barn is now in a very precarious state of repair. Surveys of the building have revealed that despite the care taken in maintenance over the years, the structure is in a very poor state, the props store particularly being very fragile – no one quite knows what is keeping it up!
The sums of money and resources needed to effect vital repairs are beyond what an amateur group such as Winton Players can afford from reserves. To be able to secure the group’s future we need to call on our community for support and help. To effect repairs to the Barn and make it both a safe and viable venue for the years ahead, we need to raise £30,000 – a challenging target. This will then allow us to carry on producing fabulous shows to be enjoyed by the whole community well into the future.
Winton Players has been a part of the very fabric of Petersfield since 1947. As a society it has offered several generations of many families a start in theatre, a great social milieu and has given audiences high quality drama and entertainment several times a year for over 60 years. Our traditional pantomimes and award-winning plays are eagerly anticipated and supported.
You can really help by continuing to support all our productions of course, including the next show “The Memory Of Water” an award-winning comedy/ drama in October. But also if you genuinely do love old buildings and wish to see them saved, and/or you wish to help and support a really valuable local society with a great history and a great future, then please give generously over the coming months to any and every fund-raising venture the group put on. There will be some exciting activities for you to enjoy AND help our campaign.
You may be an individual or a business in a position to help now with a donation, or to offer time, materials, expertise and constructive support. If so, we would be delighted to hear from you at: winton.fundraising@gmail.co.uk. If you wish to know more or become involved as a member or helper then please complete and send us the form you will find at www.wintonplayers.org.uk/WP Membership Application Form.pdf.
Since 1952, a Barn in Sheet Village has been home to Winton Players, Petersfield’s longest established and award-winning Dramatic Society. The Barn, affectionately known by society members as “The Hut”, was acquired by the group after the Second World War. During the war it was used to manufacture propeller parts. Before that it had been used as a breeze-block factory!
However, its colourful history goes back long before that. Recent historical investigations have concluded that it may once have been a Coachman’s House associated with but not as old as, the grand 18th century Old Sheet House to which it is adjacent. Parts of it may have been used as a granary store . So our Barn has certainly played many parts.
HELP SAVE OUR BARN