THE APOLLO PLAYERS was founded in 1966 by a handful of Talented
people - Dixie Carr, John Carlyle, Bill McGregor ad Ken Bamborough. They had a vision and with a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication they turned that vision into a reality and created one of the UK's leading amateur theatre companies - The Apollo Players.
In 1968, Half a Sixpence was released to the amateur theatre and the club secured the rights and presented the Scottish Premiere at the Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow. Word spread about a new and talented company and its founders like it audiences were delighted by the fresh, talented new faces smiling over the footlights.
Aiming higher, the club applied to Glasgow District Council to stage their next production Finian's Rainbow at the King's Theatre, they being the licensees at that time. They saw a performance of Half a Sixpence and the club received a unanimous thumbs up!
Over the years, The Apollo Players have presented many Rodgers and Hammerstein shows including Oklahoma! (4 times ), South Pacific (4 times), Carousel (2 times) and The Sound of Music (twice). Executive Director John Carlyle is convinced it is more difficult to revisit a show which has already been done and to find new production values for today's audiences. It is this reason why the club have presented more challenging shows in recent years such as Barnum, Fame and Copacabana.
Amongst the many shows which have been staged, the club are particularly proud to have presented the Scottish Amateur Premieres of Half a Sixpence (1968), Sweet Charity (1970), Gypsy (1979), Sugar (1986), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1989), A Chorus Line (1994), Singin' in the Rain (1997), Fame (1998) and Thoroughly Modern Millie (2006). World Amateur Premieres include High Society (1990) and Big - The Musical (1999).
People associated with The Apollo Players have gone on into the professional theatre and are currently enjoying success in London's West End in:
Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Cats
We Will Rock You, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,
Blood Brothers, Love Never Dies, Oliver! Billy Elliot.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Light Seeker