The Lissenden Players      

Traditional Music Hall Entertainment

Our History

A BRIEF HISTORY

In 1973,  when the residents of Lissenden Gardens, off Parliament Hill Fields,  were successful in persuading Camden Council to buy out the landlords of their blocks of flats, they decided to celebrate by putting on a show.

With the assistance of professional entertainer, the late Larry Barnes, it was to be a traditional Old Time Music Hall.  Larry appeared in that first show and appeared occasionally as a guest artist until his death in July 2011. The producer was Helene Robinson and the Musical Director was the late Margot Petts. 

The show was so well received that the group were asked to do a show for local parent-teacher associations and old folks clubs.   They were soon doing shows at Lauderdale House and over the years have grown in their professionalism with talented artistes from many parts of London and beyond joining the company.   Some have turned professional since and are doing very well.

The high standard is such that they have been invited to appear in other parts of the country, notably, for example, Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar,  The Theatre Museum in Covent Garden, Hoxton Hall in Shoreditch, The Georgian Theatre in Richmond (North Yorkshire),  the Station Theatre in Hayling Island, and the Central Conference Centre in Islington.

The “third Wednesday” had become a tradition at Lauderdale House and it says much for the company that they have been able to produce a new show there for ten months of the year for some  forty years. They moved to the Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution in Pond Square in 2016 when Lauderdale House was closed for refurbishment. Sadly they have now had to stop performing there due to hall hire costs.

Talented guest artists, both professional and amateur, are pleased to perform with the company and new performers are frequently showcased.

They still perform for good causes, parents associations, clubs etc. for fund-raising events or purely for entertainment.

 Enquiries for a performance or from aspiring performers should be addressed to:   

Hon. Secretary: Barbara Kealy: 020 8674 0526 

barbarakealy@tiscali.co.uk

Larry Barnes

“The Lissenden Players have grown in their professionalism with talented artistes from all parts of London” and beyond.”

Telephone  020 8674 0526

DOREEN MERRY was one of our regular performers for 20 or 30 years.

The article below appeared in the Winter 2022 edition of “The Call Boy”,  the magazine of the British Music Hall Society.