For 45 Years, This SC Nonprofit Has Put Hampton County Kids on Stage — and the Next Show Is Free

ESTILL — In five school cafeterias and gymnasiums across Hampton County last year, elementary school students put on full productions of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Not a classroom skit. Not a holiday pageant. A 35-to-45-minute musical with costumes, sets, blocking, and curtain calls.

The company behind it is The Baillie Players, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional touring children's theatre founded in Inman, South Carolina, in 1980. And they are coming back to Hampton County this summer — with a free drama camp.

From Inman to Hampton County

The Baillie Players was founded by Buren Martin, a theatre educator with a master's degree from the University of South Carolina and over 3,000 performance credits across 175 productions. Martin's son, Milner — a North Greenville University theatre graduate who has performed in over 1,000 shows — now directs the company alongside Lynleigh McLain, a psychology major and community theatre veteran from Charlotte.

The company's stated mission is simple: bring professional-quality children's theatre to rural communities across the Southeast that do not typically have access to it. They do this through two programs — school residencies, where they spend four to five days at a school and leave with a fully staged performance, and summer drama camps.

The Hampton County Residency Program

The Baillie Players' YouTube channel hosts full recordings of their 2024 Hampton County productions. Schools included Hampton Elementary, Estill Elementary, Varnville Elementary, Brunson Elementary, Ben Hazel Primary, Fennell Elementary, and Estill Middle. Each school received the full treatment: professional sets, costumes, scripts, music, and directorial guidance.

The company's website lists Hampton County as one of its core residency locations, alongside Spartanburg County, Abbeville County, Nassau County, Florida, and St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.

Free Drama Camp: Alice in Wonderland

This summer, The Baillie Players will hold a five-day drama camp in Hampton, South Carolina. The production is "Alice in Wonderland."

• Dates: June 1–4, 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Performance: June 5 at 10:00 a.m.
• Ages: 7 to 18
• Tuition: Free
• Performance Admission: Free

Registration is handled through The Baillie Players website: thebaillieplayers.com/camps

What They Teach

The Baillie Players' four-to-five-day residency model compresses a full theatrical production into a school week. Day one covers auditions and casting. Days two and three handle blocking rehearsals. Day four is either the performance or a dress rehearsal, depending on the schedule. Day five is the performance.

The company brings everything: sets, costumes, props, scripts, music, and professional directors. Schools provide the students and the space.

How to Get Involved

Schools interested in booking a residency can contact The Baillie Players through their website. Parents looking to register children for the Hampton drama camp should check thebaillieplayers.com/hampton/.

The Baillie Players maintain active Facebook and YouTube channels where past performances are archived.

For the Record: Sources: The Baillie Players official website (thebaillieplayers.com), GuideStar nonprofit records, South Carolina Arts Commission artist profile, YouTube channel @ictbaillieplayersperforman574. Camp details verified: April 27, 2026. Last verified: April 27, 2026.

Hampton Hero has sent an email to The Baillie Players requesting comment on the Hampton County residency program and the upcoming Alice in Wonderland camp. If a response is received, this story will be updated.