Group History

The Phoenix Theatre Group was set up in 1990 by a small group of people and was originally affiliated to Hereford and Worcester County Council Youth Service.

For 3 years the Group was supported by the Youth service but as from April 1993, the Youth Services were unable to support our production costs, and consequently we then became fully self-supporting. The aims of the Group are to give the youth of the Vale the opportunity to present and be part of a live production, performing to an audience in excess of three hundred, be it as a performer or a valuable production assistant.

For the first 5 years the Group performed one show a year which was a Pantomime held each year in January at the Arts Centre Evesham. However in 1996, by which time the adult membership had grown considerably, they decided to try their hand at some “adult only” entertainment and performed their first Farce, “Pardon me Prime Minister” in June of that year. This was hugely successful and is now an annual event.

In 1999 the Group expanded to 3 shows a year with a Variety Show in October of that year. This was repeated the following year and then the following year they held another “first” with their Autumn Show being performed entirely by the young members of the Group. This was “Dracula Spectacular” and this too was a huge success. Up to then the Autumn Show had been held at Badsey Remembrance Hall but in 2004 we progressed to the Arts Centre Evesham for this where “The Boy Friend” was performed. This has again become part of the annual Phoenix calendar, with Bugsy Malone in 2005, Oliver in October 2006; High School Musical in 2007.

It is now a regular occurrence for the Group to provide 2 shows a year – a Pantomime in January, with a cast of anything between 30 and 70 people ranging from ages 11 upward, and a full scale Musical production in October for our younger members, aged 11-18. Most recently, Hairspray, We Will Rock You, Fame, Joseph & His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wizard of Oz, Bugsy Malone, Grease and Sister Act provided fantastic nights of talent and entertainment to big crowds!

2015 saw Phoenix present their biggest Panto yet - Cinderella. Record crowds saw one of the most spectacular show ever! To finish off the celebrations of 25 years of The Phoenix Group, Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat his the Arts Centre stage in October 2015. A total sell out with not a single seat left over the 4 night run.

Our musicals now regular sell out with Grease in 2018 doing so. 2019 saw us perform Sister Act which was probably the most critically acclaimed musical by the Group in it's 30 years! 2022 Saw Shrek sell out and Addams Family Musical in 2023 was a roaring success too.

Our 2018 Pantomime - Aladdin saw a near capacity audience at each of our 6 shows. Only 11 seats from 1848 remained unsold over the weeks run.

Like everyone, we've been afftected by the Covid pandemic.....but never ones to stand still we did manage to get our members back on stage in October 2021 with a compilation show and then back to normal for our 2022 Panto, Dick Whittington.

With Membership now over 100 individuals and ages ranging from 11 to 60+, the Group goes from strength to strength each year. Why not come along and join in the fun!

The Phoenix certainly has risen!

A copy of our constitution can be downloaded below!