About Us

The West Horsley Independent Players

The West Horsley Independent Players (TheWhips) were formed back in 1948, originally as the Drama section of the local W.I. All age groups are represented in our membership of over 100.

Local resident, Jeremy Miles is our President and Bill Pertwee, until recently a resident of the village, with a lifetime of experience on stage and TV, is our Vice-President.

We are proud of our reputation for staging entertaining and technically ambitious productions. In the last few years we have performed French farce, classic whodunit, pantomime and a premiere of Dads Army on Stage. We have produced The Winslow Boy, Summertime, the Sacred Flame and Gaslight at the Electric Theatre Guildford (see our Archive section for pictures). We stage two shows per year in the Spring and Autumn and every two years (next in January 2013) the hugely popular pantomime.

There are also two separate groups, The Young Whips and Whippets, for teenagers and younger children.

The Whips support both local and national charities with the proceeds of the special Charity Nights held at each of our shows.

Rehearsals are held within Horsley and performances are held in the West Horsley Village Hall which is transformed into a theatre using our own modern lighting and sound equipment, seating an audience of 130.

The Whips are members of GATA (Guildford Amateur Theatre Association) and NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association)

Along a 500 yard stretch of The Street in West Horsley you will find all the facilities and locations needed to make up our thriving dramatic scene.

The Coach House, our very own two-storey scenery store, workshop and paintshop. A paradise for craftsman.

West Horsley Village Hall, where most of our productions are staged. Over the years we have developed a system for rapidly transforming the hall into a fine 130 seat theatre using our own modern lighting and sound equipment. Located at The Street, West Horsley, KT24 6DD.

The King William IV, The Billy to the WHIPS - is our watering hole, after rehearsal and set-building sessions, and for special social events - any time in fact.

From time to time we also perfom at the Electric Theatre in Guildford and a variety of other local venues. We also rehearse and hold auditions in The WheelHouse (West Horsley) and the Canterbury Rooms, St Martins Church, (East Horsley).

Follow this link for directions to the West Horsley Village Hall