In early 2004, Greg Vere, the founder of Bath’s award winning Musical Youth Theatre Company, the group that was the initial stepping stone for some of the country’s brightest professional talent, was asked to re-form the Northenders Theatre Company. Northenders Theatre Company for many years had been synonymous with good entertainment and fun for all the family, but was unfortunately forced to close its doors in the 1990’s. So Greg asked a small band of his friends from the village to help him set up the revival of the company, and in true theatrical style the brand spanking new version was formed – and what else to call it but Encore Northenders!!

Almost from the offset it was obvious that this was something to capture not only the imagination of the folk of Batheaston, but many people from far and wide, and before long Encore was up and running with a healthy membership, and many supporters.

The first production was ‘A Murder is Announced‘, as to Greg’s mind, the village needed a good mystery, and it gave him the chance to direct his first Agatha Christie play, something he had wanted to do for many years. That first production received two nominations for the South West’s highly prestigious Rose Bowl Awards, and won the award in one of the categories – not bad for starters!

Encore has now gone on to stage a multitude of plays, musicals, cabarets and pantomimes, taken the company on tour to France three times, gained another four Rose Bowl Award nominations and won a Rose Bowl Award for Best Pantomime/Review for ‘Sleeping Beauty‘. The original panel of villagers set up to run the group are still in place, and year by year the membership has grown. Encore is, and will always remain theatre with a heart.