Rosie Armstrong founded the Maltby Players in the summer of 1983. It came about because a few children in the village wanted to stage a play. They came knocking on my door to ask for help because someone told them I used to do a lot of armature dramatics, if’ you had seen these kids at my door, well I just could not refuse. Never thinking that it would turn in to the monster it is to day
I went to our village amenities committee as it was then, and asked if I could have some money to stage a pantomime in December. They thought I was it would be a good idea for the children of our village (but I had other ideas) and offered to give me fifty pounds on the understanding that if it made more than fifty pounds I would pay it back. I agreed the next thing was to get a script, I had an old Jack Parkinson Script “Babes In The Woods” and Dorothy Baker the then Producer of Trusthorpe’s Panto, Kindly gave me permission to use it. Next job a name, so with great imagination I called it “The Maltby Players” next on my agenda was to find a venue it was suggested the chapel schoolroom but again I had other ideas. So we ended up performing for one whole week in The O A P Hall in Waterloo Road Mablethorpe to packed houses. It was wonderful the support we had.
But I haven’t given any secrets away because pantomimes always have a happy ending “Oh yes they do!”
But back to the beginning I went to jumble sales looking for anything that sparkled to make it in to costumes, Enter next door neighbour joy Sellers she offered to sew the costumes and be wardrobe lady. A brilliant help! I put a notice up in the village shop asking for anything that we could use such as left over paint, wood. Etc. and when I came home from work their was always some ones junk left on my door step that was a treasure to me. We managed to acquire farm sacks, to I sewed together to make backcloths, emulsion them and fastened them to a long pole so that they hung down Some one offered to paint the scenery for me so I jumped at that offer, and away it went to his garage with instructions on the four scenes. We held a casting night (I called it a casting night, not auditions as I could not afford to be too choosey) I cajoled and persuaded a few adults to come along and that night we had our cast. The Maltby Players was born. The chapel let us rehearse free in the schoolroom and the fun began……………………
All my family was involved and towards the end I don’t think they got fed and watered at all. At this point I met a most wonderful man, a producers dream Mr. Bas Richardson. He had so much enthusiasm I know we would not have done half of what we did with out him over the years. He offered to make all our props and special effects Yes you read correctly special effects, and we did have some. I can tell you. But that’s another story. About a week before the Pant was to be performed the scenery was ready and I asked my daughter, Becky and her boyfriend Paul if they would fetch it for me. They came home and said, “we don’t know how to tell you this Mum but you are not going to like it”. Well when I saw it I could have cried, it was lolly pop trees! A pond that stands up, and leans out of the picture! for the village green I won’t go on as I am sure you have the idea .So I set about painting it myself in our garage sometimes till two in the morning to get it done on time, and have been stuck with the job ever since. We could not believe how well the tickets were selling and our village W I ladies offered to come and make teas and coffees on the nights to raise extra funds. Well as I said it all turned out very successfully and we paid back the fifty pounds borrowed from The Amenities Committee and had enough money to stage next years We are now in our twentieth year. We have grown in to the biggest Amateur Panto in our area. We perform eight shows at The Dunes Theatre every January and this year’s production will be Aladdin. I can’t tell you the fun I have had over the years, and would like to thank the many wonderful people that have helped in so many ways to make the Maltby players what it is to day. The one thing we all have in common on and off stage is to do something for the community. Our annual pantomime brings together all ages from six year olds to pensioners, people with all sorts of talents .It’s a wonderful social event and looked forward to eagerly both by members and I am sure the community every single persons contribution is accepted and appreciated in what is very much a family society

Who’s Who in The Maltby Players?