Join In
Any amateur dramatic group is only as good as its members and we are always keen to welcome newcomers. Members have a chance not just to audition for acting roles but also to provide invaluable support to productions through the whole variety of backstage activities or front of house.
You are welcome to join us at our rehearsals to see what goes on or contact us to chat about how you might become involved.
Productions
Typically we put on three full-length productions each year in Jan/Feb, May and October and look to take part in the annual one-act festival in the spring.
Rehearsals
Our normal rehearsals are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, commencing at 7:00 at the Oadby Baptist Church. However, inevitably schedules change from time to time for various reasons so we would encourage you to contact us if you are coming down for the first time to ensure that we will be there to give you a warm welcome.
The Committee and Constitution
Ratae players is run by a Committee of seven in accordance with our constitution (2019) (PDF).
The Committee
Dan Boolz – Chair
Dan made his RATAE debut in 2024’s pantomime “Aladdin”, where he played the role of the Chief of Police. In 2026, he was appointed chairman of the RATAE Committee, having previously served two years as deputy chair. 2026 was a big year for Dan, he also made his directorial debut with the autumn production of “Bleak Expectations” by Mark Evans.
Alex Tivey – Deputy Chair
Alex made her debut in the ensemble of “Cinderella” in 2017 and has appeared sporadically in RATAE pantomimes ever since. Alex has also worked hard offstage, serving as stage manager in our production of “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and holding the role of chair of the committee until 2026.
Phill Stevens – Secretary
After a large gap in acting following his role as “Urchin” in his Primary School production of “A Christmas Carol”; Phill first appeared with RATAE as the landlord Dugdale in “Time, Murderer, Please.” Since then he has been a welcome face at RATAE, succeeding as secretary in 2024 and frequently providing property transportation and making use of his wallpapering skills during busy set fittings.
Robbie Southgate – Treasurer
Sam Crouchman
Sam joined the RATAE committee in 2026, and will make his RATAE debut in 2026’s Victorian comedy “Bleak Expectations.”
Mark Harrison
Since his arrival at RATAE
Roody Holroyd
Roody arrived at RATAE during the 2015/16 season to play a role in the absurdist piece “Exit the King.” He returned almost ten years later to play the role of Ping in “Aladdin” and has lent his boundless enthusiasms both onstage in productions such as “And Then There Were None” and “Robin Hood and His Merry Men” as well as offstage, hosting RATAE quizzes and serving on the committee since 2024.
Nell Ravalia
A Brief History of RATAE
RATAE Cooperative Players was founded by Arthur Potterton and Eric Cheeney, two Leicestershire residents who had served in the Second World War together.
In 2020; Eric’s wife and former RATAE performer Sheila Cheeney spoke to Adam Jones and David Stevens about the early days of RATAE and her experiences:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHUhXZstCdU&t=9s&pp=ygUZcmF0YWUgY29vcGVyYXRpdmUgcGxheWVycw%3D%3D
The RATAE Awards
To celebrate the hard work of our members, RATAE presents three awards a year, the Doreen Pollock Award (which is given by the committee to a member who has gone above and beyond in their contribution to RATAE over the last season) as well as the Arthur Potterton and Alan Chambers awards (which are awarded by member nominations for onstage and offstage contribution respectively.)
The Doreen Pollock Award
2025 – David Stevens
2024 – David Parker
2023 – Russell Hughes
2022 – Alex Tivey
2021 – Carole Law
2020 – Kate Grant
2019 – Mark Harrison
The Arthur Potterton Award
2025 – Carole James – for her role as Emily Brent in “And Then There Were None.”
2024 – David Stevens – for his role as Teddy Deakin in “The Ghost Train.”
2023 – Dan Creedon – for his role as Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde in “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
The Alan Chambers Award
2025 – Dan Boolz
2024 – Sandra Brown
2023 – Mark Harrison