Bancroft Players AGM – 2026

The Bancroft Players AGM 2025 will be held on

Thursday 9 July 2026 at 7.30pm

On this page you’ll find links to: this page will be updated as the documents become available.

There are also links to the various department reports, so you can read them before the AGM. These will be added as they are received, so please keep checking back.

At this AGM there will be EC Members either standing down or completing their term, so we really are looking for the membership to take an active part in running the theatre – without an effective Executive Committee the theatre simply cannot operate.

All posts are up for re-election – these include:

  • Chairman
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Artistic Director
  • Theatre Manager
  • Main Theatre Production Manager
  • Studio Production Manager
  • plus 2 non-officer committee members to serve for 2 years

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR:
Due to Keith’s early resignation as Artistic Director at the start of the season, we have operated without and an Artist Director for much of this season. We have spent time canvassing people regarding the position and in advance of the AGM we have two candidates who are planning on standing; Lewis Clarke and Max Davis. This advance notice does not stop any other members putting their names forward, but we thought we would ask both of the known nominees to give an introduction to themselves for your consideration.

So, in alphabetical order…let us introduce:

LEWIS CLARKE:
I have been associated with the Queen Mother Theatre for the past 17 years, starting in the youth theatre, progressing to performing in Bancroft Players shows and now taking in the role of youth theatre director. I have also taken on the role of EC member over the past few months and have started to gain further knowledge as to how the theatre is run show to show. Having worked with many of you over the years, you will know that I have a great love of theatre and in particular, the joy and pride that is taken in ‘amateur’ dramatics.

The QMT has a long standing history of producing fantastic productions and always challenging itself to be bigger and better year on year! If selected as artistic director, I will strive to further this with a mix of new, exciting and challenging productions as well as producing classic ones that we’ve all said we would love to be in one day.

Amateur dramatics is largely about opportunity. Making sure that all of us who have as much energy, desire and drive to make fantastic show as those who are paid to do so, have the chance to do so! This will come from having a vastly diverse set of shows that will not only broaden our audiences, but broaden opportunity for all members who just want that chance to get on our stage!

If this sounds like someone you would like as your AD, then I would be very grateful for your vote. I look forward to working with as many of you as possible in the future.

MAX DAVIS:
I moved to Hitchin five years ago after directing professional theatre and writing for TV and radio.

I found a thriving artistic community with the QMT at the very centre. After a wonderful experience performing in Present Laughter (2024) I felt immediately connected to the QMT, and wanted to explore other opportunities within Bancroft Players. This led me to direct Educating Rita (2026), a very popular production that extended its original run and brought both new members and new audiences to the QMT.

Early in my career I had the privilege of working alongside Sir Trevor Nunn, who inspired my vision of what an Artist Director should be. Theatre is a living art form and the A.D role should help the company to grow and evolve. Developing a company of actors, building an artistic identity, growing audiences and inspiring members to do their very best work.

As a professional writer, part of my vision would be commissioning new writing specifically for QMT, to sit alongside our productions of classic plays and over looked gems – building on the hard work and dedication of the existing membership and inspiring the next generation of new ones. Our own little National Theatre, right in the heart of Hitchin!

This advance notice does not stop any other members putting their names forward, but we thought we would ask both of the known nominees to give an introduction to themselves for your consideration.