As today, St Luke's Church in the 1980s was a rich mix of God's children - all shapes, sizes and talents. A group of stage-struck singers, dancers and actors gathered around the piano of music teacher Alison Morse, and early in 1988 they put on 'An Evening of Edwardian Entertainment' in St Luke's Church Hall. Named after Alison's house on Burton Stone Lane, the Sunnydene players were born.

'Return to the Forbidden Planet' in 2008 was Sunnydene's twentieth annual production - beyond imagination in 1988. The variety of the shows has matched the variety of the performers. Ragtime, rock, swing, operetta, a capella, jitterbug, charleston, squaredance... not quite ballet, but almost everything else has had a look-in. There's even been a spot of acting too. The stage blocks have changed and the original stalwarts are a little more mature. Alison Morse no longer lives at Sunnydene but is now St Luke's Musical Director. Steve Benford is the fourth Vicar to be dragooned onto the stage.

But what's it all about? Above all, Sunnydene is St Luke's Church at play, and it makes a serious contribution to the life of the church family. Performing, playing, set-building, costume-making and - of course - watching and encouraging are all valued and seem to engulf a lot of people in and around St Luke's. The madder it gets, the more it brings people together and strengthens the love and friendship within God's family.

And Sunnydene has spun off into other aspects of St Luke's life. Following the 1993 concert performance of Stainer's Crucifixion, Sunnydene members under Alison's direction became a choir singing in four-part harmony that continues to lead several services each year. Sunnydene has been the core of St Luke's four successive appearances in the York Waggon Plays since 1994.

In twenty years there have been some highlights and some lower ones. Anyone at the first night of 'Songs of the Savoy' in 1991 will remember who put his foot through the stage. Sunnydeners will pay good money to dispose of photos of certain costumes. Sunnydene may hold the world record for the number of false starts in singing 'I Get Around' by the Beach Boys. Perhaps the greatest highlight of them all is the loyalty of Sunnydene's audience, from St Luke's and all over, who strangely keep turning up.

So how do you get to be a Sunnydener? You won't fail the audition - bring your voice (if you want to be on stage) but above all bring yourself, and you're in. Thanks be to God for the Sunnydene Players - St Luke's Church at play - for the laughter, the friendship, the effort, the music, the family.

Come and join in.