The United Players were formed back in 1982, with the production of our first pantomime, 'Babes in the Wood'.   But it was some six months earlier when a group was formed to provide musical entertainment at a local Church Fete in the summer of 1981.  The Fete was for the United Churches of St. William Walderslade and St. Davids in Lordswood, and held on the 'Green' in Walderslade Village.   Past Fetes were not well attended, so it was decided to 'lay on some entertainment' in order to attract and hold the visitors.

They performed a 'Pierrots Show' and traditional costume and a 'Cockney Song Book', both were much enjoyed and attracted upward of 2000 people during the afternoon.    Such was the success and the enthusiasm of the singers that the group was formalised and given the name The United Players because all involved were from the United Churches of St. William and St. David's.

How were we to continue?  A Christmas Pantomime was suggested as one of the members had a script, and so in January 1982 our traditional Christmas Pantomime was born.

The performances were (and still are) held in St. William's Church; as it is a multi-functional building, it meant constructing a stage, scenery, lighting etc, for the  two weekends of the performances and taking it down at the end.  This is still the case and in many ways adds to the strength and individuality of the group, everyone lends a hand to whatever task is needed to be done; people offered their skills as singers, actors, painters, sewing and making props; so by the second year we were well established with a constitution and committee.

2006 was our Silver Jubilee year and it is with pride that we looked back down the years to see how we have progressed; we have become a little more professional - not too much - because our strength lies in fellowship, we own all of our equipment instead of hiring or borrowing, We remember all those who have been a part of the Players, especially the children who have gained value in working and performing in all our various productions .

Our aim has, and always will be, to perform good quality homespun family entertainment, through our annual pantomime, variety evenings, one and two act plays, of which there have been many, with much success having scooped three awards at the 2005 Kent Drama Festival. The future looks bright, we are a young and vibrant group with lots of talent, so who knows what we will achieve in the next twenty five years; keep logging into the web site to find out!