About Us

Northumberland Players, the county's premier not-for-profit amateur theatre company, brings the best in musicals, comedies and drama to theatre lovers in Northumberland County. The company has grown over the past 34 years from a small group of dedicated volunteers staging musicals in high school gymnasia to over 250 enthusiastic volunteers presenting seven productions in four different venues over the course of a year, including a very active youth theatre program which performs one major Christmas production, and runs drama camps during March Break and throughout the summer months.

Home for Northumberland Players is the historic Second St. FireHall. The building houses the Players administrative offices, rehearsal spaces, and a ground floor theatre space recently renovated to accommodate larger audiences and wheelchair accessibility. Northumberland Players also leases the Third Space, focal point for set storage and construction. The Henley Arcade is the home to the Players vast collection of period and contemporary costumes.

The mandate of Northumberland Players is to provide its membership with the opportunity to perform and participate in all aspects of amateur community theatre productions.

Northumberland Players presently offers the community three dinner theatre productions involving both comedic and dramatic presentations, as well as major musical presentations each winter.

Profits from these productions go to maintain The Firehall Theatre, the Northumberland Players Youth Theatre company, and also to give financial help in the form of donations to worthy causes in our community at our discretion.

Northumberland Players actively encourages youth in our area who wish to pursue a career in theatre, or theatre-related fields, by providing individuals with bursaries to assist with further education.

The genesis of the Northumberland Players began with an initial meeting at an old farmhouse in late summer of 1976. Several fledgling and veteran actors, directors, and producers were primarily interested in providing as many opportunities as possible for the community, at large, to enjoy theatre. Numerous gatherings followed at various homes in the surrounding area to plant the seed for the subsequent birth of the Northumberland Players.

Next came the questions: What plays would be chosen? Where would the chosen plays be produced? Where would the money come from? Where would sets be constructed? Since the Players were homeless and penniless, such challenges seemed insurmountable, but this group of budding thespians, et al., was undaunted. As a result, each founding member contributed $20.00 to start building sets in basements. With a borrowed truck, the first sets were transported to Cobourg Collegiate West. The inaugural comedy, “Don’t Drink the Water”, was an immediate hit and even went “on tour” to Brighton High School . . . and to think the initial budget was $400.

By early 1978, five more productions ensued, thanks to local fundraising by ardent volunteers and sponsors, as well as a generous grant from the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture. In 1981, the Concert Band of Cobourg joined ranks with the Players and continued to accompany NP’s annual musicals with its phenomenal pit band. In addition, by 1983, the Youth Theatre had become part of the roster during its eighth season. After a touring troupe of young professionals performed in Cobourg, the NP Board of Directors was inspired to establish a local and viable youth theatre that has never looked back.

Since its incorporation on October 31, 1977, The Northumberland Players had, up to 1986, presented fifty-one comedies, dramas, and musicals enjoyed by audiences throughout the county and beyond. Meanwhile, many enthusiastic amateur and experienced members, too numerous to mention, were continuing to come out for set, costume, and make-up, design, stage managing, and publicity seminars, as well as acting, producing, and directing workshops. Such participation led to exploring and implementing innovative ideas and new ventures.

However, up to 1985, Northumberland Players was still homeless, but had been successful in accessing rehearsal and production venues in places like the Cobourg Armouries, The Cobourg Legion Hall, the Cobourg Motor Inn, Northam Restaurant, The Town Hall Court House, Cobourg Collegiates East and West, as well as local churches, to name a few. Furthermore, Northumberland Players was able, at a dollar per year rental to acquire the Henley Arcade thanks to a few town grants. This facility was then renovated for the Players to house costumes, sewing and fitting space, plus storage for make-up, props and wigs. Today, the Town of Cobourg, Victoria Hall, and Cobourg's Best Western remain integral partners of the Players, along with the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope.
 
Significantly in 1985, the Northumberland Players struck gold when the Town of Cobourg granted the group a twenty-year lease at two dollars per annum for the use of the historic Second Street Firehall. The principal user of this facility would be the Players.

With Ministry grants, private business sponsorships, private donations, and through local fundraising events involving the dedication of many volunteers, the Firehall interior was renovated to fulfill the dream of the members of the Northumberland Players. The Town of Cobourg continues to look after the facade and the fundamental structure of the Firehall. Tireless volunteers who support and contribute their skills and time for the love of the theatre maintain the interior, now suited to the operation of a community theatre.

From entries in the Eastern Ontario Drama League, to performances at Harbourfront in Toronto, to the establishment of the dynamic Youth Theatre, the Northumberland Players have succeeded in their thirty-four years by providing second-to-none community theatre and entertainment. Over two hundred and fifty musical and dramatic productions have been presented at the Firehall Theatre, Victoria Hall Concert Hall, the Capital Theatre and the Best Western Cobourg Inn among other locales. Each has contributed to the excellence of the performing arts in Northumberland. May the Northumberland Players continue to make everyone proud to be part of such a creative cultural institution.