65 years of Summer Rep at Sheringham Little Theatre!

We’re proud to celebrate 65 years of repertory theatre here at Sheringham Little Theatre—one of the UK’s last rural rep outposts. This cherished tradition brings back familiar faces year after year, mixing seasoned professionals with rising talent. Actors often juggle learning one play by day and performing another by night. While past seasons featured up to 12 plays, today’s lineup is leaner due to changing habits and rising costs.

Theatre Director Debbie Thompson, who began her acting career here in the ’90s, reflects fondly on rep: “It’s the best place for young actors to learn. The cast becomes a family, and audiences love seeing familiar faces alongside new talent.”

Rep theatre has long been a training ground for top talent. We hope you enjoy the season and continue to support this enduring theatrical tradition. This summer, make sure you grab your tickets for Ding Dong (8^th – 16^th August), Ladies Day (20^th – 26^th August), and Absent Friends (28^th August – 6^th September) – be a part of this year’s celebrations!

Rep Through the Ages

Modern repertory theatre began in the early 1900s thanks to Anne Horniman and Sir Barry Jackson. Horniman, a wealthy tea heiress, supported theatres like Dublin’s Abbey Theatre and Manchester’s Gaiety—England’s first rep theatre. Jackson founded Birmingham Rep in 1913 and expanded to multiple cities, even reaching Canada.

Though WWII and television challenged the rep movement, it found new life through seaside seasons and civic playhouses. Financial pressures in the 1980s led to downsizing, but rep lives on today across the UK and worldwide—from the US to Russia.

Journey through the rich history of SLT’s summer rep below: