Bart Players

Belfast based Drama Group since 1953. Performing at least three plays a year for festivals, summer theatre and Christmas audiences.

The Bart Players were formed in 1953 as a social activity for the then large St Bartholomew's Church Choir. The late Peggy McVey together with the late Professor Robert Armstong, were the inspiration to get it going. By 1956 membership was opened to non-choristers and so the foundation for today's company was laid. The first full-length production “Is Life Worth Living” was staged in 1957 and thereafter an annual programme of two full-length plays was established together with occasional one-acts. In 1961 we abbreviated our name to Bart Players and helped to found the Churches Drama League – winning the first Festival with “Sailor Beware”. The next year we were accepted to participate in the Portrush Summer Theatre with “Watch it Sailor”, our aim being to establish a bank balance besides having an enjoyable holiday in the “Port”. The new Parochial Hall was built in 1963 and with the accumulated funds we fully equipped the stage with drapes, lighting and flats etc – all still in use to-day

The Company joined the festival circuit in 1966 with “The Diary of Anne Frank” and in 1967 our production of “Hobsons Choice” was sufficiently good as to merit selection for the Ulster Drama Festival Finals in the Grand Opera House – the first Church Group, we believe, to reach the Finals. In the intervening years Bart Players has appeared in all the major towns in Northern Ireland besides winning numerous festivals with shows such as “This Happy Breed”, “Confusions”, “Oh What a Lovely War”, “Titanic”, “Heil Belfast” and “Happy Birthday Dear Alice”. Bart Players had the honour of winning the AUDF Finals on three occasions, besides appearing several times at the Dundalk International Festival and twice in the All Ireland Drama Finals in Athlone. We were also invited to re-open the Group Theatre after it suffered extensive damage in the Bedford Street bomb. Following our successful festival production of Hugh Leonards play “Summer” we, by popular request, re-staged “Titanic” as further contribution to the millennium festivities.

03/09/2026

This time tomorrow night we'll be getting ready for curtain up on "Kindly Keep It Covered" by Dave Freeman at the Canon Lindsay Hall, Belfast.

Roland Dickerby runs a health farm with his wife Julia, bought with the proceeds of a hefty insurance payout on the demise of Julia's first husband, Sidney. Life isn't easy for Roland and today Fate has something extra special in store for him: Sidney has decided to resurrect himself and turns up at the farm, just as Vanessa, the wife of Roland's ex-boss from the Kindly Mutual, checks in for a health-giving visit. A fast, furious and frantic farce.

Tickets are available from https://www.ticketsource.com/bartplayers/kindly-keep-it-covered/e-pmpxkb or on the door.

This amateur production of KINDLY KEEP IT COVERED is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French, Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co .uk

Tickets are now available for Kindly Keep It Covered at Canon Lindsay Hall, Belfast between Friday 4th September 2026 and Saturday 5th September 2026. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!

19/08/2026

If you're out and about near St Bartholomew's Church, Stranmillis you'll spot our new poster for 'Kindly Keep it Covered' - Dave Freeman's hilarious play brought to you by Bart Players on 4 & 5 September!

Following its success in Portrush this fast, furious and frantic farce is ready to take the stage for a Belfast audience.

Tickets are going, get them while you can right here: t.ly/M-zDJ

16/08/2026

22/07/2026

Bart Players bring Kindly Keep it Covered by Dave Freeman (dir. Lorna-Jayne Fletcher) to Canon Lindsay Hall on Friday 4 & Saturday 5 September.

This fast and frantic farce checks us into a health farm run by married couple Roland and Julia whose own stress levels get higher while their guests learn to relax.

A visit from Roland’s ex-boss’s wife cranks the temperature up but the coals really start to hiss when Julia’s first husband returns - apparently from the grave.

Tickets are available now:

16/07/2026

Tickets are now on sale for the home run of our hilarious summer comedy "Kindly Keep It Covered" by Dave Freeman, directed by Lorna-Jane Fletcher.

Roland Dickerby runs a health farm with his wife Julia, bought with the proceeds of a hefty insurance payout on the demise of Julia's first husband, Sidney. Life isn't easy for Roland and today Fate has something extra special in store for him: Sidney has decided to resurrect himself and turns up at the farm, just as Vanessa, the wife of Roland's ex-boss from the Kindly Mutual, checks in for a health-giving visit. A fast, furious and frantic farce.

This amateur production of KINDLY KEEP IT COVERED is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French, Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk

Performances are 4/5 September 2026 at the Canon Lindsay Hall, Stranmillis Road, Belfast with the curtain going up at 7.30pm. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.ticketsource.com/bartplayers/kindly-keep-it-covered/e-pmpxkb

21/06/2026

The Bart Players Steel Magnolias cast day out to see Lyric Belfast Steel Magnolias x Northern Ireland Amateur Drama Theatre Group AmDramaNI

01/05/2026

Final call for tickets to our first ever murder mystery evening ‘Murder at Mount Pleasant Manor’ next Friday 8 May at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale until midnight at www.ticketsource.co.uk/bartplayers

Please note that tickets for this event will not be available on the door due to catering requirements.

28/04/2026

Don’t forget that tickets are only on sale for our first ever murder mystery evening until this Friday 1st May as we need final numbers for catering purposes. Get them now from www.ticketsource.co.uk/bartplayers

25/04/2026

The ladies of Steel Magnolias celebration afternoon tea. Congratulations on reaching the Association Of Ulster Drama Festivals finals 😀ampm St Bartholomew's Church, Stranmillis Amdramani

17/04/2026

Have you got your tickets yet for our upcoming murder mystery "Murder at Mount Pleasant Manor", presented in co-operation with St Bartholomew's Church, Stranmillis? You don't want to miss out on a night of murder, mystery and mayhem, where all your sleuthing skills will be put to the test to work out which of our cast of reprobates dunnit!

Tickets are a bargain at £20 to include a two course supper, and you can bring your own drinks - what else could you ask for? Buy your tickets at www.ticketsource.co.uk/bartplayers or by contacting Sandra on 07738 042394 but be quick - tickets are only on sale until 1 May 2026. Tickets WILL NOT be available on the door for this production due to catering requirements.

Address

183 Stranmillis Road
Belfast
BT95DS

Website

http://www.bartplayers.co.uk/

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