About Footlights
Saundersfoot Footlights is an amateur musical theatre society in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, founded in 1977. We pride ourselves on being a hard working and friendly group who now present two shows each year, a summer musical production and a Christmas pantomime.
The group takes members of all ages with casting ages at the director's discretion for each show.
Get involved as a supporter or member to be part of something special - musical theatre.
Check out our Contacts Page.
The group takes members of all ages with casting ages at the director's discretion for each show.
Get involved as a supporter or member to be part of something special - musical theatre.
Check out our Contacts Page.
A little of Footlights History:
More than forty five years ago, Saundersfoot Junior Choir was formed by a group of people who included Michael Self, Jill and Trevor Lewis, Phyllis Williams as Musical Director and Dave John, our late president.
The choir performed at charity concerts throughout the village during the year and there were also Easter productions of the musicals ‘Oliver’, ‘The King and I’ and ‘The Sound of Music’.
In 1980, as members left, other people became involved, including the Baker family, and Beryl Thomas (McKeon). The choir continued to entertain with charity concerts and musical productions at Easter. These included ‘Oklahoma’, ‘Annie get your Gun’ and ‘West Side Story’. During the 1980s, the name was changed to Saundersfoot Musical Youth.
There was another big change in 1996, when David Owen became Production Director. It was decided to rename the group as Saundersfoot Footlights, and to move the production from Easter to the Spring Bank holiday week and to introduce a December pantomime. Also, joining the group at this time, were Helen Wright and Clive Raymond, as (respectively) Production Director & Musical Director.
Since 1996, with two shows a year, Saundersfoot Footlights has staged a great variety of productions, such as - ‘My Fair Lady’, ‘South Pacific’, ‘Copacabana’ and ‘Anything Goes’. Pantomimes including ‘Ali Baba’, ‘The Babes in the Wood' and ‘Sleeping Beauty’, all performed in the Regency Hall, Saundersfoot. Between 2012 and 2015 Dai Jones and Ollie Cole moved into the Directors chairs. In 2016 the society decided to write and perform their own musical; Allison Butler penned the script Lifetime! that included songs from the shows. The panto that year was directed by Jo Morris. Her first time in the director’s chair, the show was a commercial and critical success. Buoyed by the success of the previous years' self penned show, Allison once more put pen to paper to write 2017's “Pingleford Players Proudly Present” & 2019’s “Rose’s Garden”, as well as directing 2018’s Little Shop of Horrors, all of which were nominated for NODA awards.
Due to the Covid Pandemic in 2020,there was a 2 year hiatus & “Legally Blonde” was postponed to 2022 when Marc Styles stepped in to direct. Saundersfoot Footlights then welcomed new members to the Society, Angela Walton as director, & her husband Stuart Walton, for the 2022 panto “Snow White”. Written by her mother, it proved to be one of Footlights’ most successful & profitable shows.
2023 has seen major changes again in the Society with a new Musical Director Angharad Sanders working alongside Director Angela Walton, & a major change to the committee with the election of 4 new officers, and a new marketing & production team. President Joyce Owen is very pleased that Saundersfoot Footlights continues to evolve & change with the times.
Over the years, a great number of people have been involved with the group, providing family entertainment for local residents and visitors to the village. Some families have had two, and in some cases three, generations involved as performers or behind the scenes as time has passed. These included Keith Williams, previous Chairman & set designer, Jo Morris, former Secretary and Carolyn Elms who designed and supervised the costume making assisted by Pat Williams. Also, Marc Styles, wife Kim & daughters Tegan (who progressed to choreographer), & Catrin
The Footlights Family trend continues to this day with another 2 generations of family members being involved in the Society for over 18 years. Heidi Griffiths was elected the first Lady Chairman in 2023 having spent many years in the costume & kitchen department, with husband Andy Griffiths continuing as Vice Chairman and who also works on set, together with their son Thomas who continues to perform, & daughter Bethan who previously trod the boards before moving away.
As we head towards our 50th Anniversary, the committee of Saundersfoot Footlights would like to express their thanks to each & everyone of the volunteers over the years, from Scenery and Costumes, to the Band, Choreography to Make-Up, to Sound & Lighting, from Props to Publicity, Front of House to Refreshments, and of course to everyone that has ‘trodden the boards’, that has helped make each production possible.
To everyone that has seen a show - We thank you for your continued support.
The choir performed at charity concerts throughout the village during the year and there were also Easter productions of the musicals ‘Oliver’, ‘The King and I’ and ‘The Sound of Music’.
In 1980, as members left, other people became involved, including the Baker family, and Beryl Thomas (McKeon). The choir continued to entertain with charity concerts and musical productions at Easter. These included ‘Oklahoma’, ‘Annie get your Gun’ and ‘West Side Story’. During the 1980s, the name was changed to Saundersfoot Musical Youth.
There was another big change in 1996, when David Owen became Production Director. It was decided to rename the group as Saundersfoot Footlights, and to move the production from Easter to the Spring Bank holiday week and to introduce a December pantomime. Also, joining the group at this time, were Helen Wright and Clive Raymond, as (respectively) Production Director & Musical Director.
Since 1996, with two shows a year, Saundersfoot Footlights has staged a great variety of productions, such as - ‘My Fair Lady’, ‘South Pacific’, ‘Copacabana’ and ‘Anything Goes’. Pantomimes including ‘Ali Baba’, ‘The Babes in the Wood' and ‘Sleeping Beauty’, all performed in the Regency Hall, Saundersfoot. Between 2012 and 2015 Dai Jones and Ollie Cole moved into the Directors chairs. In 2016 the society decided to write and perform their own musical; Allison Butler penned the script Lifetime! that included songs from the shows. The panto that year was directed by Jo Morris. Her first time in the director’s chair, the show was a commercial and critical success. Buoyed by the success of the previous years' self penned show, Allison once more put pen to paper to write 2017's “Pingleford Players Proudly Present” & 2019’s “Rose’s Garden”, as well as directing 2018’s Little Shop of Horrors, all of which were nominated for NODA awards.
Due to the Covid Pandemic in 2020,there was a 2 year hiatus & “Legally Blonde” was postponed to 2022 when Marc Styles stepped in to direct. Saundersfoot Footlights then welcomed new members to the Society, Angela Walton as director, & her husband Stuart Walton, for the 2022 panto “Snow White”. Written by her mother, it proved to be one of Footlights’ most successful & profitable shows.
2023 has seen major changes again in the Society with a new Musical Director Angharad Sanders working alongside Director Angela Walton, & a major change to the committee with the election of 4 new officers, and a new marketing & production team. President Joyce Owen is very pleased that Saundersfoot Footlights continues to evolve & change with the times.
Over the years, a great number of people have been involved with the group, providing family entertainment for local residents and visitors to the village. Some families have had two, and in some cases three, generations involved as performers or behind the scenes as time has passed. These included Keith Williams, previous Chairman & set designer, Jo Morris, former Secretary and Carolyn Elms who designed and supervised the costume making assisted by Pat Williams. Also, Marc Styles, wife Kim & daughters Tegan (who progressed to choreographer), & Catrin
The Footlights Family trend continues to this day with another 2 generations of family members being involved in the Society for over 18 years. Heidi Griffiths was elected the first Lady Chairman in 2023 having spent many years in the costume & kitchen department, with husband Andy Griffiths continuing as Vice Chairman and who also works on set, together with their son Thomas who continues to perform, & daughter Bethan who previously trod the boards before moving away.
As we head towards our 50th Anniversary, the committee of Saundersfoot Footlights would like to express their thanks to each & everyone of the volunteers over the years, from Scenery and Costumes, to the Band, Choreography to Make-Up, to Sound & Lighting, from Props to Publicity, Front of House to Refreshments, and of course to everyone that has ‘trodden the boards’, that has helped make each production possible.
To everyone that has seen a show - We thank you for your continued support.
