These are the plays for season 2023/2024.
20th to 24th November 2018
Billy Liar by Keith Waterhouse & Willis Hall. – Director Adam Comer
Written in 2002, this is a ghost story/thriller by Alan Ayckbourn and has a cast of 3 women.
Annabel, the older sister, has returned home following the death of her father. She is immediately approached by Alice, who nursed her father, who complains to Annabel that Miriam, her younger sister has sacked her, and to gain revenge she is intent on blackmail. Alice is demanding that Annabel pays Alice £100,000, or she will go to the police as she says she has evidence that Miriam murdered the old man. Miriam and Annabel join forces to dispose of Alice, but that is not the end of the story……
What follows is never what you expect, and it was described by the Sunday Times as “A creepily, scarily, eerily enjoyable evening”.
6th to 9th March 2019
The Lion in Winter by James Goldman – Director Caroline Kay
Set during Christmas 1183 at Henry II of England’s castle in Chinon, France, the play opens with the arrival of Henry’s wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, whom he has imprisoned since 1173. The story concerns the gamesmanship between Henry, Eleanor and their three surviving sons Richard, Geoffrey and John and their Christmas court guest, King Philip II of France (the son of Eleanor’s ex-husband King Louis VII of France.) Also involved is Philip’s half sister Alais, who has been at the English court since she was betrothed to Richard at the age of 8, but has since become Henry’s mistress. The aim is to sort out a successor to the English throne – Henry favours John, Eleanor favours Richard and Geoffrey will play both sides against each other and come out on top (he hopes). Henry would also like to have another heir by his mistress Alais, but that would only add to the confusion.
A fast paced, witty piece of drama – ‘Dynasty’ for the Middle Ages.
12th to 15th June 2019
Outside Edge by Richard Harris – Director Gareth Jones.
Roger is having trouble getting a team together for the afternoon’s fixture but this proves to be the least of anyone’s worries. Bob is having marriage trouble as he is still doing odd jobs for his ex-wife behind his current wife Ginnie’s back. Dennis is also having marital trouble as his wife seems intent on moving house despite the fact they only moved recently. When he finally puts his foot down she sets fire to his new car. Kevin is trying to fight off his over affectionate wife Maggie while at the same time nurse his injured spinning finger and Alex’s new girlfriend ends up shutting herself in the toilets having hysterics. Even Roger’s seemingly perfect marriage to Miriam hits the skids when she discovers he was playing away from home in more ways than one on a trip to last year.
Just when it seems things can’t get any worse for them, it starts to rain…….
This brilliantly funny cricketing comedy won the 1994 ‘Best Situation Comedy’ Award from the Writers Guild of Great Britain for the TV adaptation which starred Brenda Blethyn, Timothy Spall, and Josie Lawrence.