Running order 2016

WEDNESDAY JUNE 8, 2016 AT 7.30 PM

Abbey Players, Nuneaton

“Just A Straight Man” by Rob Smith and John Mawson

Trevor Richard Shields
Barney Craig Spencer
Directors Richard Shields and Craig Spencer
Crew Steve Lewin, Darren Chadwick, Dave Sedgwick

Two stage performers returning from a successful tour in Las Vegas are preparing for their next show, but their success hides a bitter undercurrent of tension.

Caramba Theatre Company, Stratford-upon-Avon.

“Dear Cassandra” by Kate Guest

Cassandra Austen Kate Guest
Director Tim Guest

Cassandra Austen outlived her sister Jane by about 40 years. Near the end of her life, she decided, for unknown reasons, to destroy many of Jane’s letters. This short piece is an intimate portrayal of her decision, inspired by Jane’s remaining letters, other accounts of the famous novelist and a little artistic licence.

This play is not entered for the Festival competition.

Abbey Players, Nuneaton

“Boxing Day” by Bruce Olive

Woman Charlotte Keen
Man Craig Spencer
Director Craig Spencer
Crew Steve Lewin, Darren Chadwick, Dave Sedgwick

It’s the day after an Australian Christmas and a married couple review their relationship.

THURSDAY JUNE 9, 2016, AT 7.30 PM

White Cobra, Northampton

“Another Fine Mess” by Gillian Plowman

Steve Richard Jordan
Phil Paul Fowler
Meg Kate Billingham
Director Martin Borley-Cox

Laurel and Hardy’s slapstick comedy still makes people laugh nearly 100 years after they made their first film together. Stephen and Phil’s tribute act to the duo includes some of their classic sketches. But as they rehearse in the back room of a pub, a shocking revelation from Phil threatens everything.

Banbury Cross Players

“The Regina Monologues” by Rebecca Russell & Jenny Wafer

Cathy Rebecca Calverley
Annie Katherine Groves
Jane Joanne Firth
Anna Deborah Watson
Katie Melanie Austin
Katherine Jan Batchelor
Lighting Robin Williams
Director Helen Watson

Six modern women with one thing in common. Each tells their story and shares their experiences of miscarriage, love affairs and betrayal with humour, pathos and a great deal of wine, showing that the plight of their sixteenth century sisters – also married to a Henry – is still relevant five hundred years on.

White Cobra, Northampton

“Housebound” by Simon Mawdsley

Bone Richard Jordan
Fiona Kate Billingham
Director Paul Fowler
Stage Managers Bernie Wood, Denise Swann
Sound & Lighting Philip Welsh

A man in a mask and a woman in real trouble! Add some phobias, a wasp and a dash of reggae and you’re left with a big hearted comic drama full of menace, laughter and dirty carpets.

FRIDAY JUNE 10, 2016 AT 7.30 PM

Lighthorne Drama Group

“Arrows Of Desire” by Ginny Davis

Sally Brown Ginny Davis
Anna Gold Sharon Bayliss
Director Victoria Pritchard
Sound/lights Tom Willcock

President of West Nippleton WI, Sally Brown, holds tradition dear. A proposal for radical change is on the agenda at this month’s meeting. Will Sally hold her ground or will an unexpected visitor bearing bad tidings, challenging opinions and Cupid’s arrow change her mind?

Rugby Theatre

“A Frank Exchange” by Nick Marsh

Elsbet Ruth Long
Ten Haken Andy MacCallum
Dettmann Tom Browning
Heléna Cheryl Ryan
Henk Jonathan Pollard
Meinicke Nick Marsh
Director John Dulcamara
Lighting Luke McMaster
Sound Ash Hirons
Costume Sarah May

As a Dutch police employee absorbed into the wartime Nazi organisation, Helena Claassen is already under pressure for someone with nationalistic sympathies. To worsen matters, her German boss has a charm that can undermine the most resolute of subjects, and Helena finds herself having to make an impossible choice.

Phoenix Players, Stratford

“Dance Before Dying” by Kaylee Holt and Baz Stilinski

Callum Baz Stilinski
Mrs. Traherne Andi Hardy
Belle Katie Cherry
Loz Laura Codd
Marcus Adam Clarke
Kate Kirsty Asad-Caudell
Miss Wilkins Linda Burridge
Karen Fiona Robson
Dave Graham ‘Junior’ Ball
Nick Jon-Luke Goodman
Barman Graham Robson
Director Kaylee Holt
Sound/Lighting Andy Jepson
Stage Crew Graham Robson and Gala McBride
Costume Jacqui Lindsay and Caroline Adams

Callum has tragically died but his spirit is in a state of unrest and determined to find out about his own death. With the help of his spirit guide he turns up at his own wake to find the answer he seeks.

SATURDAY JUNE 11, 2016 AT 7.30 PM

Priory Theatre, Kenilworth

“A Little Box of Oblivion” by Stephen Bean

Mr Cool Dan Cowan
Mrs Neuro Lydia Ward
Mr Doom Paul Saunders
Dick Daniel Kirk
Woman Karen Shayler
Director Chris Sharp
Stage Manager Nigel Sharp
Sound/Lights Rob Henderson

Mr Cool is spending a quiet hour in the park reading his newspaper when he is asked by a stranger to keep his eye on a box. The stranger rushes away leaving Mr Cool at the mercy of helpful strangers. Life begins to take on a surreal quality when one of them calls the police, another predicts doom before a young “Private Eye” turns up with all the answers.

Armistice Theatre, Kenilworth

“Thicker than Water” by Rebecca Gardner Tildesley

Yvonne Rebecca Gardner Tildesley
Dr Carlisle Mike Tildesley
Charlie Dan Blizzard
Maggie Ruth Jones
Rev. Fraser Alec Brown
Sandra Lisa Webster
Christine Selina Toor
Director Mike Tildesley
Props/costumes Lesley Brown
Lights Jen Parker
Sound Marcus Webster
Backstage Gareth Jones

Five siblings from a dysfunctional family meet in a hospital waiting room to visit their mother during her final hours. As the evening progresses, old family disputes come to the surface, secrets are revealed and after a chance encounter, they finally realise that blood really is thicker than water.

Great Witley Operatic Society

“Cox and Box” by F. C. Burnand and Arthur Sullivan.

Bouncer, the landlord Paul Thompson
Box, a printer Michael Faulkner
Cox, a journeyman hatter Ian Walton
Directors Judi Walton and Cast

A landlord lets a room to two lodgers, one who works at night and one who works during the day. When one of them has the day off, they meet each other in the room and tempers flare.