The Pillowman
18th - 25th January
From the dark pen of Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Banshees of Inisherin) comes the folk horror-comedy ‘The Pillowman’.
Katurian Katurian has been arrested by two secret policemen. He has no idea why. He is a writer of very ‘Grimm’ fairytales and claims to be innocent of any crimes.
But is he?
His brother Michal has also been arrested. He is neurodivergent following incidents in his childhood. How can he be involved?
As the play progresses it becomes clear that there are many secrets and many lies.
Maybe Katurians stories will hold the answers?
Perhaps ‘The Little Green Pig’, ‘The Three Gibbet Crossroads’ or even ‘The Pillowman’
The two policemen also have their secrets.
Tupolski is the lead investigator and seems very certain of all his facts. Is he though?
Ariel is his subordinate and seems to hold a special anger towards Katurian. Why?
You may be shocked, you may laugh, you may wonder why you’re laughing!
Dare you come to see this very black comedy?
The House of Bernada Alba
1st - 8th March
Scandal. Repression. Desire.
* Two months after completing the play Lorca was assassinated.
* The play was banned in Spain for nearly 30 years.
Lorca's great masterpiece of love and loathing.
Last seen at the National Theatre in 2023.
Last seen at the Caxton Theatre in 1966 . . .
A tyrannical widow and her five daughters, two servants and a crazed
grandmother fight for mastery in the heat and rhythm of Andalusia, home
of flamenco and a fierce history.
Passion. Heat. Freedom.
"When I look into his eyes, I feel as if I'm slowly
drinking his blood . . .'
Five Kinds of Silence
27th - 29th March
Shelagh Stephenson uses a deft hand in her crafting of this play and characteristically injects moments of dark comedy, in an otherwise tense and harsh drama. A family are bonded by abuse, trapped in a cycle of violence and the conspiracy of silence. Billy was abused as a child and now abuses his wife and two daughters. The story unfolds as Mary, Susan and Janet are interviewed by Police Officers and Psychiatrists.
This performance will be held in the Studio Bar area and will last approx. 60 minutes. Seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis on arrival to the theatre.
If I Were You
19th - 26th April
The Rodales seem like an ordinary family, but beneath the surface things are beginning to crack. Jill and Mal have lost the spark in their marriage, their son Sam resents his father, and their daughter Chrissie has recently become a mum and is dealing with marriage issues of her own. And while they all share advice on how others should live their lives, nobody is really taking it on board — until Mal and Jill see things from a dramatically different perspective, that is. Waking up one morning and finding they have switched personas, Mal in Jill's body and Jill in Mal's, they must continue life "as normal" as their other half. Jill faces the challenges of working with their son-in-law, Dean, as the Store Manager of a homewares shop, while Mal has suddenly become a housewife, learning more about his children — and finding out the secrets they already know about him! Will seeing things from the other side make matters even worse, or is this just what they need in order to save their family?
Spirit Level
7th - 14th June
Famous crime writer Jack and wife Suzie, died in a boating accident. They now haunt the cottage they lived in. Refused entry to heaven due to Jack being an atheist, their only pleasure is spooking the estate agent and frightening away prospective buyers. Things change when a young couple, Simon and Flic, move in. Jack, with the help of a guardian angel, and despite the interference of Flic’s monstrous mother, assists the aspiring new writer to become successful.
Pygmalion
19th - 26th July
Henry Higgins is phonetics expert, who takes on the challenge of transforming Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl, into a refined lady. The play is set in early 20th- century London, a time when social hierarchies were rigid, and the English class system was deeply ingrained. The setting of Pygmalion is crucial, reflecting the norms and expectations of the time. Shaw uses the characters and their interactions to critique the prevailing attitudes toward class distinctions and the limitations imposed by language and accent. The play engages with the broader social issues of the era, including the suffragette movement and the evolving roles of women in society. Shaw’s play challenges traditional notions of class and gender roles, inviting audiences to reconsider the impact of language and social expectations on individual identity. Pygmalion remains relevant for its exploration of social issues that transcend its original time period. The play has inspired numerous adaptations, including the well-known musical My Fair Lady, which further emphasises its enduring appeal and impact on popular culture. Director Anthony Asquith’s 1938 film adaptation of Pygmalion is considered the best and most straightforward film adaptation of the play.
Strangers on a Train
6th - 13th September
When a chance encounter between two strangers strikes a conversation about morality and having a better life, it soon turns sinister. The two soon make a deal for murder. Bruno will kill Guy's unfaithful wife, whilst Guy kills Bruno's hated father. Seeing as they do not know each other, surely, it is the perfect crime. Whilst Guy does not take the conversation seriously, one fateful phone call from Bruno sends the pair down a spiralling path of deceit, paranoia and madness.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
18th - 25th October
This is a funny and moving play about Christopher Boone who is in his late teens and lives in Swindon with his dad. He shares a close bond with his teacher, Siobhan, who encourages him to keep a written journal of his thoughts and activities. He is extremely curious, an excellent mathematics student, and has an extraordinary ability to observe and retain highly detailed information about any situation he finds
himself in. However, Christopher is autistic and for him the world is black and white, fact and fiction. The adults around him live in a world of shades of grey. The Play begins when Christopher discovers his neighbour’s dog Wellington has been stabbed to death with a garden fork. Mrs. Shears assumes Christopher is the killer and calls the police. Christopher explains he did not kill Wellington. The situation is sorted out despite Christopher punching a policeman and he resolves to make it his personal mission to solve the case of who killed Wellington. Gradually Christopher uncovers the truth surrounding Wellingtons death but, in the process, uncovers far deeper secrets.
Goodnight Mr. Tom
29th November - 6th December
Set during the dark and dangerous build-up to the Second World War, Goodnight Mister Tom follows sad young William Beech, who is evacuated to the idyllic English countryside and builds a remarkable and moving friendship with the elderly recluse Tom Oakley. All seems perfect until William is devastatingly summoned by his mother back to London.
