The honourable tradition of ‘strolling players’ reaches far back into English theatrical history: groups of travelling players would stroll from village to village performing plays in barns and inn courtyards. Essentially, that was how Common Players began – by walking into town in procession, performing our show, camping overnight, and then moving on in the morning. Communities were extremely receptive and responsive to these shows. Audiences, often in remote locations, were able to experience the thrill of live theatre without having to travel miles to larger venues. Many of our projects had rural or ecological themes and these proved both interesting and pleasing to audiences, whilst, at the same time, complementing the rural settings in which they were performed.