A SWINDON theatre company is teeing-off for a quintessentially English comedy, Par For The Course, which will be the 125th production directed by Daphne Breakspear.

The Phoenix Players are taking a swing at the comedy, written by Peter Gordon, in Swindon Arts Centre, Devizes Road, Old Town, from January 27 to 30 from 7.30pm.

Emma Hartup, from the players, said: “Daphne’s first production was in April 1965, The Enchanted, written by Jean Giraudoux.

“Over the years she has directed a wide range of plays from farce to drama, murder mystery to musicals.’’ Director Daphne was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list three years ago, for her services to amateur theatre in Swindon for more than 50 years.

The director puts her passion for drama down to her two husbands, Alex Worster and her present husband Denis Breakspear, who were both keen supporters of local theatre.

She is no stranger to awards, although never quite achieving an Oscar, as she was also presented with the Swindon Does Arts Hero award, for a lifetime commitment to amateur theatre.

Wearing her director’s hat in Par For The Course, with Denis front of house, Daphne will be guiding veteran actors Nicholas Gratton as Simon, Nicky Ashdown as Laura alongside newcomers Annabel Sly as Tiffany, and Alex Pitcher as Barry.

Emma said: “The curtain rises on Captain’s Day at the Seven Lakes Golf Club when the captain becomes indisposed. Confusion reigns as a series of disasters mount and the characters discover that personal relationships off the course are more dangerous than on it.’’ The Phoenix Players evolved from the Poetry Circle Players. The poetry circle met at the first community arts centre to open in the country in 1946. They would read poetry and verse plays and soon went on to present the verse plays to the public. They became so popular that in 1954 a drama section was born.

They became the Phoenix Players in 1960 and today they are still going strong with 40 members of all ages and walks of life taking on acting, back stage and front of house duties, all contributing to the success of each production.

— FLICKY HARRISON