The Society began life in 1914 as The Cromer Operatic and Dramatic Society. 
After being reformed in 1923, it staged three productions during the following year, namely Pantomime Rehearsal, The Monkey's Paw (both written locally) and its first venture into comic opera, H.M.S. Pinafore.
In 1932, performers from both Cromer and Sheringham joined forces and became The Cromer and Sheringham Players. The Society flourished and comic operas, light operettas and dramatic plays were staged annually right up to the outbreak of the Second World War.
The Society was reconstituted in 1949 under its present name and, as a result of the generosity of three pre-war members acting as guarantors to the tune of £50.00 each, H.M.S. Pinafore was performed in Cromer Town Hall the following Easter. (Unlike the pre-war years, when performances took place at both Sheringham and Cromer, Sheringham now had no suitable theatre and all performances were staged at Cromer).
After two successful years at the Town Hall, it was decided to gamble on a move to the 720 seat Pier Pavilion. This move was welcomed by Society members and the general public alike, but, after only one year, the Pier was so badly damaged in the 1953 floods that the Society was forced to return to the Town Hall, re-establishing itself at the Pier Pavilion in 1956 with its production of Ruddigore. After refurbishment in 1978, the seating capacity was reduced to 443.
Since then, a major production has been performed each year at the Pier Pavilion. In recent years, we have increased our number of productions, presenting plays in the Spring and Autumn at the Sheringham Liitle Theatre in addition to our main musical production on the pier. December 2002 saw our first pantomime, Cinderella, at the Auden Theatre in Holt, and Autumn 2004 saw us back there with Sue Townsend's comedy, Bazaar & Rummage.
In 2004, the seating capacity of the Pavilion Theatre was increased to 514 with the addition of an upper circle, and we were very pleased and proud to be the first users of the newly refurbished theatre.
One of the main purposes of the Society is to raise funds for charity, and we have been able to donate many thousands of pounds over the years to numerous charities and organisations, many of them local. During the past twelve months, for instance, we have supported The Benjamin Foundation, Cromer Festival, and of course, through the Cliftonville Singers, have been instrumental in raising money for a number of other good causes. Last year, we donated £500 to The Benjamin Foundation at our gala opening of Annie and this also was boosted tremendously by the generosity of our audiences throughout the week, achieving a total of £1600. And this year, following a similar £500 donation to Sheringham Woodfields School at our gala openng of Barnum, our audiences added an amazing £1682 making a fantastic total of £2182.
Margery Dene 1914
Barnum 2008