Scunthorpe’s longest-running amateur dramatics group, The Hospital Players, was founded in 1943 under extraordinary circumstances. Today, its members continue to stage two productions a year at the Plowright Theatre, with their next performance scheduled for March 2026 – a tradition that began not in a theatre, but on the rooftops of a hospital during wartime.
The group originated during the Second World War at Scunthorpe’s War Memorial Hospital. At the time, fire-watching was a civilian duty, with volunteers stationed atop key buildings – including hospitals – to watch for bombs and extinguish fires. With little bombing activity in Scunthorpe, the shifts were long and uneventful.
“Endless days and nights were spent watching with no activity,” recalled founding member Fred Jeffery. To relieve the monotony and raise funds for the hospital – which, before the NHS, depended on voluntary donations – a theatre group was formed. The driving forces behind it were Edwin Price, Harold Curtis and the hospital’s secretary, Fred Crisp.
Early rehearsals took place in a garage and boiler room. Thanks to Mr Crisp, the group later moved into a consulting room and eventually a basement within the hospital.
Their debut production, The Admirable Crichton by JM Barrie, was staged at the Savoy Theatre on Saturday 19th June 1943 – coincidentally, the sixth anniversary of Barrie’s death. Wartime rationing made costumes and scenery difficult to obtain, so the play’s focus on character rather than elaborate sets made it an ideal choice. Founding cast member Yvonne Clark (née Burgess) recalled: “It was almost impossible to find materials for scenery or costumes – difficult even to provide ourselves, on coupons, with everyday clothing. Crichton, a true desert island castaway, made his own costume from sacks.”
The Savoy Theatre, one of the few venues in the area equipped for live performance, granted access only on the day of the show. All props and scenery had to be moved in that morning and cleared out immediately afterwards to make way for the cinema’s regular programme.
Despite these challenges, the performance was a success, raising £53 – equivalent to over £3,000 today. Encouraged by the response, the group formally established itself as a society. Having been billed as the Scunthorpe War Memorial Hospital Staff in publicity for The Admirable Crichton, Fred Crisp approved the name The Hospital Players for the newly formed company.
By 1950, The Hospital Players had staged 12 productions and contributed over £700 (worth more than £30,000 today) to hospital funds. Following the launch of the NHS in 1948, the group began donating to the Hospital League of Friends, a voluntary organisation supporting improvements in patient care. In its inaugural year, the League received a generous contribution from the Players – £20 2s 2d (around £900 in today’s money). What began as a creative outlet for wartime fire-watchers has grown into a thriving theatre company – still going strong after more than 80 years, with an impressive 233 productions (and counting) to its name. It is a lasting testament to how community spirit, ingenuity and passion can flourish even in the most difficult times.
Staying true to its founding mission, The Hospital Players continues to donate annually to The Health Tree Foundation, a charity supporting enhancements at Scunthorpe General Hospital.
Anyone interested in learning more about forthcoming productions or joining the group can visit http://www.thehospitalplayers.co.uk.