Main Theatre
Ladies’ Day
by Amanda Whittington
Work, love and life are just one long hard slog for the fish filleting foursome Pearl, Jan, Shelley and Linda. But their fortunes are set to change when Linda finds tickets to Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot the year it relocated to York. Out go the hairnets, overalls and wellies as the four ditch work, do themselves up to the nines and head off for a drink, a flirt and a flutter. If their luck holds, they could hit the jackpot – and more besides!
Directed By Steve Gill
Cast
Shelley – Laura Thompson: Linda – Catherine Hayes: Jan – Jane Bailey: Pearl – Diane Manship: Men – Paul Bracewell
A Studio Production
Not part of the Patron’s Scheme
The Abergavenney Murder and The Lion’s Mane
by Bert Coules
Written by Bert Coules and based on his original radio mystery “The Abergavenny Murder” and his dramatisation of Doyle’s “The Lion’s Mane”, the play is a light hearted but poignant exploration of the famous friendship.’ ‘These are not just detective stories, but stories about a detective. Originally Radio 4 plays this is the first time they will be performed on stage.
Directed By Elizabeth Dunn
Cast: Chris Dunn; Chris Balmer; Geoff Sword; Bob Howell; Graham Humphreys
Main Theatre
The Deep Blue Sea
by Terence Rattigan
Written in the early fifties when Rattigan was at the height of his powers, The Deep Blue Sea is a powerful account of lives blighted by love – or the lack of it. The play opens with the failed suicide of Hester Collyer who has deserted her husband for the charms of an ex-fighter pilot.
Directed By Garyk Barnett
Cast
Hester Collyer – Christine Morton: Mrs Elton – Clodagh O’Flynn: Phillip Welch – Lee Ward: Mr Miller – Peter Cheetham: William Collyer – Chris Elkes: Freddie Page – Sam Cooper: Jackie Jackson TBA: Anne Welch- Eleanor Maxwell
Main Theatre
The 39 Steps
by Patrick Barlow from the story by John Buchan
Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps, a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre! This 2-time Tony® and Drama Desk Award-winning treat is packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters (played by a ridiculously talented cast of 4), an on-stage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance!
In The 39 Steps, a man with a boring life meets a woman with a thick accent who says she’s a spy. When he takes her home, she is murdered. Soon, a mysterious organization called “The 39 Steps” is hot on the man’s trail in a nationwide manhunt that climaxes in a death-defying finale! A riotous blend of virtuoso performances and wildly inventive stagecraft, The 39 Stepsamounts to an unforgettable evening of pure pleasure! The 39 Steps played its 500th performance on Broadway, May 19th, 2009!
Directed By Geoff Sword
Cast
Richard Hannay – Daniel Clynes: Woman – Jane Embury: Clowns – Chris Balmer, Chris Dunn
Main Theatre
The Merry Wives of Windsor
by William Shakespeare
Described as Ab Fab meets The Dinner Ladies. Shakespeare’s funniest play.
Sir John Falstaff, staying in Windsor and down on his luck, decides to restore his fortunes by seducing the wives of two wealthy citizens. He sends Mistress Page and Mistress Ford identical love letters, but they discover his double dealing and set about turning the tables, arranging an assignation at Mistress Ford’s house.
The jealous Frank Ford has heard of Falstaff’s plan and decides to test his wife’s fidelity. Pretending to be Master Broom, he pays Falstaff to seduce his wife on his behalf, twice almost catching them together. The Pages’ daughter Anne is pursued by three suitors. The French physician Doctor Caius is her mother’s choice, whilst her father favours Slender, Justice Shallow’s kinsman. Anne herself is in love with Fenton. Mistress Quickly is being paid by all three suitors to advance their cause.
A duel between Doctor Caius and Parson Evans is averted when the Host of the G arter Inn plays a trick on them, and they in turn pay him back. In Windsor Great Park at night, Falstaff is set up for his final punishment – and one of Anne Page’s suitors is successful.
Directed By Andrea Parle
Cast
Mistress Ford – Diane Manship: Mistress Page – Christine Morton: Annie Page – Eleanor Maxwell: Mistress Quickly Sue Gill: Falstaff – Dave Smart: Page – Matthew James: Slender – Lee Ward: Ford and Page – Paul Bracewell: Dr Caius – Paul Farmer: others TBA
A Studio Production – to be selected
Main Theatre
Blood Brothers (the play)
by Willy Russell
The play version of the musical, but with a little singing as well. Twins separated at birth for financial difficulties, raised in nearby but completely different environments, have several chance meetings and possible friendships as they grow up. What will happen if the secret of their history is revealed?
Directed by Peter Larkin
Cast
Mother – Christine Morton: Mrs Lyons – Kathryn Bland: Eddie – Stephen Davies: Mickey – Ross Griffiths: Narrator – Roger Boardman: Linda – Zoe Molyneux: Policeman and Doctor TBA