The Bancroft Players were formed in 1945 from the wartime Hitchin Entertainments Society. From the beginning the group s objectives were the production of plays and the establishment of a permanent theatre for Hitchin. The first production was Pygmalion,

The Bancroft Players were formed in 1945 from the wartime Hitchin Entertainments Society. From the beginning the group's objectives were the production of plays and the establishment of a permanent theatre for Hitchin.

The first production was Pygmalion, staged at the Town Hall in December 1945.

A joint effort by the Bancroft Players and Hitchin Urban District Council resulted in the construction of The Woodside Open Air Theatre ('The Dell'). It opened in 1951 with a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

A permanent home for the society was found in 1955 and St Annes Hall was finally bought in February 1956 for the sum of �800. It was 1977 when the society drew up plans for a purpose built theatre and launched an appeal for the �80,000 required. In September 1982 Richard Whitmore spoke about the name of the new venue. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother had been approached for permission to name the theatre after her. The original idea had been to call it the Queen Elizabeth Theatre but she suggested the unique title The Queen Mother Theatre. Hitchin therefore has the honour of being the UK's only theatre bearing this name.

The September 1983 production A Man for All Seasons was the first play in the newly completed Queen Mother Theatre.

This year they are building a new youth wing to enable the Junior Group and Youth Group (Big Spirit) to expand and grow. Christopher Biggins is heading the fund raising and building started in October.

The Christmas production is A Christmas Carol - a new musical based on the Dickens story of Scrooge. A show for all the family.