The St. David's Players was formed late in 1969 by members of the choir of St. David's Church (Exeter) with the aim of raising funds for the Biafran crisis. The first production (PATIENCE - 1970) was such a success that it was decided to form a permanent company.

For the first couple of years the society presented two productions a year, but since 1973, one main stage production a year has been the standard.

During the years St. David's Players have built a formidable reputation for staging Gilbert and/or Sullivan productions to the highest possible 'professional' standards, initially accompanied by two pianos, but since 1985, by an orchestra.

In the course of almost 50 productions, the society has produced all 13 extent Gilbert and Sullivan Operas at least once, and in many cases there have been multiple productions.

St. David's have introduced Exeter, East and Mid Devon to the delights of UTOPIA, (LIMITED), THE GRAND DUKE, and also to a number of Sullivan's non-Gilbert works, including THE ZOO, THE ROSE OF PERSIA, and THE EMERALD ISLE, the latter being a commission from the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society, also being performed by request, at the 1999 International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton (Derbyshire, UK).

Once again, in 2009, the Players were invited to entertain the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society, this time at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester (Gloucestershire) with their second production of THE ROSE OF PERSIA.  This performance took place some three weeks before the official performances in Exeter, and it is to the company's credit that they were able to stage the full production, off book, fully choreographed and with full orchestra at this early stage.  Although never formally credited, the Players had previously provided the printed material for the principal singers on the 1999 BBC recording of THE ROSE OF PERSIA and had also provided performance material for a number of amateur productions in the 1990's.  The Player's also provided the libretto and a cued conductor's score for the 2008 production by the Lyric Theatre of San Jose, CA.

In 2000, St. David's Players returned to 'the cradle', joining forces with Occasional Harmony and the choir of St. David's Church, to mark the millennium, the centenary of the building of St. David's Church, and the 100th anniversary of the death of Sir Arthur Sullivan, with a concert of the composers music (including a complete performance of the 1872 TE DEUM) given on his birthday in the church.

The list of St David's Player's previous productions is impressive, and includes:- TRIAL BY JURY; THE ZOO; THE SORCERER; H.M.S.PINAFORE; THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE; PATIENCE; IOLANTHE; PRINCESS IDA; THE MIKADO; RUDDYGORE; THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD; THE GONDOLIERS; UTOPIA, (LIMITED); THE GRAND DUKE; THE ROSE OF PERSIA and THE EMERALD ISLE.

During the course of many years, the Player's have presented versions of the operas varying from the standard printed texts. As a result of this, an electronic library of libretti and printed music containing material not usually performed has been amassed. Much of this material can be found by clicking on the 'Resources' link to the left. This library also contains works not so far performed by the Player's, such as PRINCESS TOTO; FALLEN FAIRIES; THE VICAR OF BRAY; HADDON HALL; HIS EXCELLENCY; etc.