6 shows a term
We put on at least 6 shows a term in New Cellars
Main Shows start at 7pm
Late Shows start at 9:30pm
4 Smokers
We host 4 smokers (comedy nights) a term, and a special Black Tie Smoker in Lent Term
Other Events
We put on other events throughout the year such as a Black Tie dinner, workshops, parties,
and potentially an international tour this year (watch this space)
Constitution
Our Constitution is revised by the outgoing committee in Easter Term each year. All changes are approved by. a 2/3rd vote. Please contact the President if you have any questions.
Our History
The glory years of Eric Idle, Peter Cook, Bill Oddie, Tim Brooke-Taylor amongst others saw the Pembroke Players flourish, and a modern day resurgence drives us to be the biggest college drama society in Cambridge.
Whilst a term’s worth of shows constituted one or two productions and involved a dozen or so people back in 1955, 60 years later the story is much different. The society now holds six shows per term in Pembroke College’s studio theatre, funds a show going to the Edinburgh Fringe festival, and has a strong tradition of international tours.
Comedy is a big part of the Pembroke Players; while the Freshers and Sticky Floor smokers brighten up Michaelmas and Easter, Lent Term sees our annual Black Tie Smoker, “the classiest event on the Cambridge comedy calendar”.
The Pembroke Players are also active outside Cambridge! The first tour – around what was then West Germany – took place in Summer 1957, playing at venues in Bielefeld, Essen, Düsseldorf and Cologne. More recently, the Japan Tour has been running since 2007 and has hit its stride taking Shakespeare to Japan. Recent tours have included Much Ado About Nothing and The Comedy of Errors. In addition we support Pembroke students who choose to take part in University touring drama, by way of the Peter Cook Fund.
The society enjoyed its most profitable year to date under the 60th Anniversary committee, in 2015. This was thanks to a complete overhaul which re-energised the society with new ideas, including the launch of a successful membership and loyalty scheme and a major upgrade to the technical setup.
Sadly, like many things, the COVID-19 Pandemic put a dent into this growth and development, and for three years New Cellars was unused as a theatre, becoming a college storage facility. However, in Michaelmas 2022 the doors were opened once again with 8 shows staged in that term alone. Through the hard work of the 2022-2023 committee Pembroke Players returned to prominence as one of the most active groups in the Cambridge Theatre scene. The 2023-2024 Committee are keep to maintain this momentum towards the society's post-COVID resurgence.
Throughout this varied history, our primary aim has been the same. We want to encourage alternative, friendly student theatre within Cambridge with particular regard to Pembroke students. No one who takes part in Pembroke Players is required to have any experience for any role. You can either dip your feet in the edge of the pool or jump fully clothed into the deep end of drama life. All we ask for is dedication and excitement. Please do take a look around our site and then get in touch with us to find out more and get involved!
New Cellars
Pembroke Players’ primary performance space is New Cellars, which is located in the basement of BB staircase, Foundress Court, Pembroke College.
The New Common Room, our audition and rehearsal space, is on the first floor of the same staircase.
Access to New Cellars is via the Back Gate on Tennis Court Road. If you come to the top of Tennis Court Road you should see Pembroke Players stewards in high-vis. New Cellars is part of the basement of this building; turn clockwise down the steps in BB staircase to reach the auditorium.
New Cellars is fully wheelchair accessible via a conveniently placed lift in BB staircase – please contact the Porters should you require assistance.
Mainshow and lateshow performances commence at 7:00pm and 9:30pm respectively; most comedy smokers begin at 10:00pm.
Seating
None of the seating or the staging in the New Cellars is fixed. This means you can stage your play pretty much any way you want. In the past we’ve seen shows staged ‘conventionally’, in traverse or in the round; with performers on the same level as the audience or raised on staging blocks; with seats in an L-shape or one three sides of the stage. No other studio theatre in Cambridge is so versatile. Once New Cellars was even transformed into a restaurant for a week, complete with tables for the audiences to sit at while they watched the drama unfold around them.
The New Cellars seats 70-90 people, possibly more depending on where you have your stage. The small size of the New Cellars is perfect for productions with smaller casts: things that can get drowned out in larger venues.
Staging and Tech Info
Because the New Cellars is a studio space, there is little in the way of fixed layout except the entrances and exits. The New Cellars is roughly square, with a main entrance in one corner. One wall is recessed into a storage area, which is usually covered with a black curtain. Likewise, one of the other walls can also be covered with a black curtain as a backdrop. Apart from these restrictions, the theatre layout is entirely up to the director: the New Cellars has a set of staging blocks that can be used to create a traditional stage, or the theatre area can be defined using set or lighting.
The Pembroke Players can hire out their lights and PA for non-PP productions and events in the New Cellars. Standard terms for the hire of the lights and lighting board in the New Cellars are £25 a night, plus a £100 deposit cheque. A technically responsible person is also required to set up, operate and remove the lights. To arrange hire, please email the committee
