Welcome to our site where you can get all the info about us and updates on our next shows
Award Winning Theatre Group
Players Anonymous is a multi award-winning, Rhondda based community theatre company established over 60 years ago with three generations of the same family at the helm. The original company, Tonyrefail Cooperative Players was set up in the 1950’s by Watcin “Gwyn” Williams. The company was then taken over by current director, Gordon Thomas in the 1960’s to become Tonyrefail Theatre Group and later reimagined in its current form, Players Anonymous, in the 1980’s.
See Our Next Production
Click the link below for details on our next show and buy tickets for the event
Players Anonymous was formed with the intention of producing, among others, an annual Shakespeare play. To date, these have included “Julius Caesar”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “The Merchant of Venice”,“Twelfth Night”, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Much Ado About Nothing”, “Hamlet”, “Anthony and Cleopatra”, “King John”, “Loves Labours Lost”, “As You Like It”, “The Comedy Of Errors”, and most recently, “Henry IV, Part 1”.
The Best of the Best
Few companies in Wales produce a more varied selection of plays, both classic and contemporary, or have been more successful in terms of international festival awards and representative honours.The company has performed all over Great Britain and has amassed some 30 Best Actor awards, 9 for Best Set Design and 5 for Best Director.
We currently have members aged from 12 to 90 years from diverse backgrounds, with some past members having gone on to have successful professional careers in the arts.
We are hugely grateful to the Pen Y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund CIC for their generous support which will enable us to continue producing community theatre of the very highest possible standard, ensuring the continued success of the group for years to come.
Watcin “Gwyn” Williams (Founder)
Gwyn was a hill farmer and amateur elocutionist, actor and director. He first became interested in theatre when he joined Pontypridd Dramatic Society in the 1930’s. He went on to form his own group, Tonyrefail Cooperative Players. It was this group that current director, Gordon Thomas joined and met and married Gwyn’s daughter, Catherine. Together they later formed Tonyrefail Theatre Group which then became Players Anonymous.
Gordon Thomas (Director)
Gordon spent his professional career as a language teacher but has had a lifelong passion for theatre. Since taking over the reins in the 1960’s, he has adopted the roles of director, actor, set designer and builder and administrator. He has won numerous awards over the past 60 years and in 2009, he was awarded the Chancellor’s Medal of the University of Glamorgan for services to theatre.
Jo Bourton (Assistant Director)
Jo grew up immersed in drama and has wanted to perform for as long as she can remember! She first appeared on stage at the age of 2 in her father’s production of “Julius Caesar”. Now a professional opera singer, she has directed four plays to date, “Abigail’s Party” (2016 & 2022), “Steel Magnolias”, “Talking Heads”, and “The Glass Menagerie”.
Players Anonymous Audience Feedback
“You may be an amateur group but each performance was nothing short of professional.”
“….a glorious testimony to the professionalism of the Players Anonymous cast.”
“Loved the set, music but above all the excellent acting.”
“This level of professionalism only comes from a high level of commitment from the whole cast, numerous rehearsals and exceptional talent”
“This company has a long history of exceptional productions and have made a massive contribution to the arts & cultural life of the Rhondda and long may they continue.”
“A wonderful performance, we cried with laughter! It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening”
“it was so refreshing to be able to enjoy a live performance of such a high standard in a local venue. To be honest it was really uplifting!”
"Your audience loved it. Please may we have more, Players Anonymous!”