History of Cardiff Players

Around 1927 a small dramatic company called The Richmond Players found themselves made homeless, until the Y.M.C.A in its true tradition offered them the (then) somewhat sparse amenities of the Y.M.C.A in Cardiff. Already in residence was another small band of drama lovers, the two companies amalgamated and the Y.M.C.A players were born. A few full length plays were staged until in the early 1930s the dramatic society became a Concert Party, which was more to the taste of the public in those days. Known as the Red Triangle Concert Party the group soon established themselves as experts in this field and toured all over South Wales until the Advent of the Second World War when they had to disband due to lack of men. In 1945 a few people from the then Junior Section of the Y.M.C.A started to stage one-act plays, these proved successful and a full length play was scheduled for 1946. It was then the young players sought the help of Waldo Matthews himself a member of the original company since 1931, he took over the production side and in May 1947 the first post war play was, " The Man Who Changed His Name". The Players spent many years at Station Terrace and in 1978 we moved to our new home in the Walk. We were fortunate to be offered some space for a theatre and had a great deal of pleasure and pain building this. While we were building this, our productions were staged at Pearce Hall, Monthermer Road, although the players had to cease performing to build the theatre as it is today. The first production in the new Theatre in The Walk Cardiff was "Bedroom Farce" By Alan Ayckbourn perfomed in October 1981.

Waldo Mathews

Starting work on the new theatre

The first stage ... a stage!

The Players Theatre January 2002