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Past Productions 2010-19
Humble Boy by Charlotte Jones
14th - 19th February 2011
The famous actor Simon Russell Beale complained to writer Charlotte Jones that he had never had the chance to play Hamlet. Her response was to write him a Hamlet and this is it.
All is not well in the Humble hive. 35 year old Felix Humble is a Cambridge astro-physicist in search of a unified field theory. Following the sudden death of his father, Felix returns to his middle England home and his difficult and demanding mother, where he soon realises that his search for unity must include his own chaotic life.
Directed by Graham Tyson.
Cast: Ian Merryweather, Jose Tarnowski, Ginny Watts, Chris Cook, Bob Beale, Margaret Hobbs.
A Foot in the Door by Richard Harris
18th - 23rd October 2010
Directed by Connie Walker.
Cast: Elaine Stewart, Robin Richards, Terry Emm, Tom Henry, Sarah Wilkinson, Julie Lawrence.
Moving by Stanley Price
24th - 29th May 2010
Directed by Robin Richards.
Cast: Connie Walker, Bob Beale, Chris Cook, Elaine Stewart, Terry Emm, Pat Kelly, Margaret Hobbs, Fred Kelly, Alic Cozza, Robin Richards, Bob Beale.
Enjoy! by Alan Bennett
8th - 13th February 2010
Directed by Fred Kelly.
Cast: Bob Beale, Pat Kelly, Peter Edwards, Julie Lawrence, Robin Richards, Adam Weavers, Ryan Daly, Brenda Vowles, Fred Kelly, Terry Emm, Nigel Guy, Julie Wade.
Last Tango in Little Grimley and
The Fat Lady Sings in Little Grimley by David Tristam
9th - 14th May 2011
These two one act plays are cautionary tales about the Little Grimley Amateur Dramatic Society.
The Amatuer Dramatic Society has shrunk to only four members, George, Bernard, Margaret and Joyce. In last Tango the four heroes battle to save their ailing am-dram with a home grown sex comedy. Thus begins a chaotic and hilarious build-up to an evening of extraordinary drama which loclas will never forget.
The Fat Lady Sings sees the querulous quartet finally trying to tackle a musical. The odds are stacked against them: the loclas who saw their last production are still in therapy and a rival society has appeared on the scene. It all looks very grim for Little Grimley but life is never over until the Fat Lady sings.
Directed by Pauline Tillett.
Cast: Bob Beale, Vicki Hyde, Terry Emm and Elaine Stewart.
Hindoo Man by Tom Henry
15th and 17th - 22nd October 2011
This was a premiere of a play by Tom Henry, a Nailsea writer and journalist. The play deals with the problems faced by the Lancaster Cotton Mills in the 1930s and the effect of India starting its own cotton industry. An actual historic visit to Darwen by Mahatma Ghandi in 1931 is the background to the play. Although Ghandi himself does not appear, the plot weaves around the impact of the visit
Directed by Connie Walker and stage managed by Barrie Walker.
Cast: Jose Tarnowski, Phil Lawrence, Julie Lawrence, Robin Richards, Terry Emm, Vicki Hyde and Elaine Stewart.
It was the first time we have produced a totally new work, which was quite a challenge.
Murdered to Death by Peter Gordon
20th - 25th February 2012
This hilarious spoof of the best of Agatha Christie traditions is set in a country manor house in the 1930s, with an assembled cast of characters guaranteed to delight: Bunting the butler; an English Colonel with the prerequisite stiff upper lip; a shady French art dealer and his moll; the bumbling police inspector and a well-meaning local sleuth who seems to attract murder wherever she goes.
Directed by Graham Tyson and stage managed by Vicki Hyde.
The cast comprised: Kathie Reynolds, Jan Winters, Peter Newman, Bob Beale, Jane Merryweather, Jose Tarnowski, Steve Allan, Ginny Watts, Robin Richards and Ian Merryweather.
Chris Harris and 'Arris's Music 'All
14th - 19th May 2012
A peep back to yesteryear with fun, laughter and songs for all.
Designed for the young at heart, all you were required to do was sit back and enjoy yourselves.
A well known local theatrical talent Nailsea Little Theatre was pleased and proud to welcome Chris Harris to present our last production the season. It was the perfect start to the Jubilee Celebrations.
Table Manners by Alan Ayckbourn
22nd - 27th October 2012
The opening show of our Golden Jubilee Season was a revival of Alan Ayckbourn’s Table Manners. Last performed at Nailsea Little Theatre in 1990, the first full production in our own premises, this play is one of the renowned Norman Conquests trilogy. The action takes place over a weekend during which Reg and Sarah arrive to enable the overworked Annie to get away. Unbeknown to them however, and indeed to Norman’s wife Ruth and her long suffering friend Tom, the break is an assignation with the hapless Norman. Needless to say, little goes to plan.
Director – Graham Tyson. Stage Manager - Vicki Hyde.
Cast: Annie – Julie Lawrence, Sarah – Jose Tarnowski,
Tom – Ian Merryweather, Reg – Terry Emm, Norman – Steve Allan and Ruth – Jan Winters.
The Lady in the Van by Alan Bennett
4th - 9th February 2013
The Lady in the Van describes the true story of Alan Bennett’s very odd long-term relationship with “Miss Shepherd”, who first came to the attention of Bennett in the late 1960s. She and her immobile van were to be found in his Camden Town neighbourhood, parked ever-closer to Bennett’s home. Eventually he succumbed and permitted her to park it in his own drive where it remained until her death in 1989. Funny and poignant in a way only Alan Bennett can convey, this proved to be both a challenging and rewarding production.
Director – Bob Beale. Stage Manager – Nigel Guy
Cast: Miss Shepherd – Elaine Stewart, Alan Bennetts – Tom Henry & Phil Lawrence, Mam – Pat Kelly, Rufus – Peter Newman, Pauline – Jane Merryweather, Social Worker – Vicki Hyde, Underwood/Man/Ambulance Driver – Steve Allan, Mam’s Doctor/Interviewer Jose Tarnowski, Doctor/Leo Fairchild – Robin Richards, Additional Characters – Nigel Guy and Bob Beale.
Theft by Eric Chappell
13th - 18th May 2013
Our third production for this season was Theft by Eric Chappell. This play enjoyed two successful tours of the UK, starring George Cole, Roy Hudd and Leslie Grantham. On returning from a night out, two couples discover a burglar and apprehend him. They soon begin to wish they hadn’t as he commences to disrupt two seemingly happy marriages and reveal certain uncomfortable truths about their honesty.
Director – Connie Walker. Stage Manager – Barrie Walker.
Cast: Trevor Farrington – Robin Richards, John Miles – Tony Sutcliffe, Jenny Farrington – Isobel Williams, Barbara Miles – Janice Winters and Spriggs – Terry Emm.
Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel
21st - 26th October 2013
Our Golden Jubilee production and the first of the 2013/2014 Season was directed by Graham Tyson. Graham's choice of play was a revival of Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel.
Dancing at Lughnasa held fond memories for many of us. It was first presented by Nailsea Theatre Club in the 1990’s at the Scotch Horn. Our Little Theatre offered a much smaller stage on which to perform, but the intimate atmosphere enhanced the magical feel of this play. Lughnasa offered a wonderful opportunity for the ladies as Friel provided strong, warm and funny characters to work with. The three male roles were also well observed.
Graham directed the play originally and it was rather fitting that one of NLT's founder members was in charge of our Golden Jubilee production. In addition to Graham the team comprised Barrie Walker as Stage Manager and the cast of Michael – Ian Merryweather, Kate – Ginny Watts, Maggie – Vicki Hyde, Rose – Connie Walker, Agnes – Jan Winters, Chris – Julie Lawrence, Gerry – Steve Allan and Jack – Terry Emm.
Ladies' Day by Amanda Whittington
3rd - 8th February 2014
Our second show of the 2013/2014 Season was Ladies’ Day by Amanda Whittington, an exuberant comedy about four likely lasses from the Hull fish docks on a day trip to the races.
Ladies’ Day recounts the fact that work, love and life were just one long, hard slog for the fish-filleting foursome Pearl, Jan, Shelley and Linda. However, their fortunes change when Linda finds tickets to Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot in 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 to the races for a drink, a flirt and a flutter!
Directed by Pauline Tillet the cast comprised: Pearl – Pat Kelly, Jan – Jan Winters, Shelley – Bronya Manley, Linda – Sarah Vokins, Joe – Richard Guy, Fred – Terry Emm, Jim – Richard Guy, Patrick – Robin Richards, Kevin – Terry Emm and Barry – Richard Guy. Stage Manager was Nigel Guy.
Audacity by Simon Mawdsley
12th - 17th May 2014
Our third show of the 2013/2014 Season was Audacity by Simon Mawdsley. It's the tale of Philip, John and Dave – three down-at-heel salesmen – who meet in a dingy bedsit flat and hatch a plan to rob a West-End department store of its daily takings. The scheme seems to be going well – until Dave and John’s wives join forces to investigate their husbands’ odd behaviour.
This fast-paced, comedy thriller was published by Samuel French in 2007 and has subsequently been performed all over the world.
Directed by Connie Walker the cast comprised: Phillip – Matthew Denning, John – Robin Richards, Dave – Terry Emm, Gillian – Jan Winters and Gemma – Fiona Barras. Stage Manager was Barrie Walker.
Abigail's Party by Mike Leigh
19th - 25th October 2014
Our first Show of the 2014/2015 Season was Abigail’s Party by Mike Leigh. A play for stage and television devised and directed in 1977 by Mike Leigh, it has become an iconic satire on the aspirations and tastes of the new middle class that emerged in Britain in the 1970s.
The play was developed in lengthy improvisations and the production opened in April 1977 at the Hampstead Theatre and returned after its initial run in the summer of 1977. A recording was arranged at the BBC as a Play for Today, produced by Margaret Matheson, and transmitted in November 1977 with Alison Steadman in the leading role. Recently revived in the professional theatre the play has now been released for amateur performance.
Directed by Vicki Hyde the cast comprised: Beverley – Julie Lawrence, Laurence – Tony Sutcliffe, Angela – Charlie Delahunty, Tony – Steve Allan and Sue – Jan Winters. Stage Manager was Barrie Walker.
Snake In The Grass by Alan Ayckbourn
9th - 14th February 2015
Our second play of the 2014/2015 Season was Snake In The Grass by Alan Ayckbourn. Premiered in 2002 the play, a thriller, concerns a middle-aged older sister who returns to the family home, still that of her younger sister, shortly after the death of their abusive father. All is not well however and a sinister plot ensues!
Directed by Bob Beale the cast comprised: Annabel Chester – Ginny Watts, Alice Moody – Pat Kelly and Miriam Chester – Jan Winters. Stage Manager was Nigel Guy.
The Day After The Fair by Frank Harvey
18th - 23rd May 2015
Our third production for 2014/2015 was a revival of The Day After The Fair by Frank Harvey. First performed at NLT some twenty-five years previously, the play is based on Thomas Hardy's "On The Western Circuit". Anna, a servant, meets an attractive stranger, Charles, a Barrister from London, at the county fair. Anna, being illiterate, persuades her mistress to carry on a correspondence with him on her behalf. When Charles proposes marriage, the question arises: who is he in love with, the girl he's met, or the writer of the letters?
Directed by Connie Walker the cast comprised: Edith Harnham – Isobel Williams, Arthur Harnham – Terry Emm, Letty Harnham – Jan Winters, Anna – Sarah Andrieu, Charles Bradford – Robin Richards and Sarah – Maggie Richardson. Stage Manager was Barrie Walker.
The Cemetery Club by Ivan Menchell
12th - 17th October 2015
Our first Show of the 2015/2016 Season was a revival of "The Cemetery Club" by Ivan Menchell. The play opened on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in 1990 and was first performed by NLT in 2003. Subsequently transformed into a successful film the play charts the relationship between Ida, Lucille and Doris, three Jewish widows who meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husbands' graves. This custom, which has been going on for over three years, is beginning to wane but their lives are suddenly changed when they meet up with Sam the butcher, a widower. The budding romance between Ida and Sam is discouraged by Lucille and Doris but they are guilt stricken when this nearly breaks Ida's heart. A sensitive play full of wonderful humour and at times quite poignant.
Directed by Graham Tyson, assisted by Vicki Hyde, the cast comprised: Ida – Ginny Watts, Lucille – Jose Tarnowski, Doris – Connie Walker, Sam – Peter Newman and Mildred – Shirley Gregory. Stage Manager was Barrie Walker.
Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis by Charlotte Jones
29th February - 5th March 2016
Our second Show of the 2015/2016 Season was Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis by Charlotte Jones.
A feel-good comedy, it focuses on Josie Botting, a retiring dominatrix, who is having a birthday party but is in no mood to celebrate. Also at the party are her cleaner, obsessive-compulsive Martha, who cannot pry herself away from her Mr. Sheen, the Chinese Elvis who looks the part but hasn’t quite learned the words and Lionel, Josie's most satisfied customer, there to make sure everything goes off with a bang!
Charlotte Jones (writer of Humble Boy, also performed by NLT) produced a compelling play full of quirky characters which won the Pearson Television Best Play Award for 1998 and Manchester Evening News Best New Play for 1999. The play also contributed to Charlotte Jones winning the Critics Circle Most Promising Playwright Award 1999.
Directed by Vicki Hyde the cast comprised: Brenda-Marie Botting – Julie Lawrence-Allan, Martha Clear – Jan Winters, Josie Botting – Josie Tarnowski, Lionel Trills – Terry Emm, Elvis / Timothy – Steve Allan and Louise – Charlie Delahunty. Stage Manager was Barrie Walker.
Entertaining Angels by Richard Everett
6th - 11th June 2016
Our third Show of the 2015/2016 Season was Entertaining Angels, by Richard Everett.
This much acclaimed comedy was a sell-out with its UK national tour and has been performed all over the world. The play, set in a classic English vicarage garden, is filled with sharp-edge comedy and probing wit. As a clergy wife, Grace had spent a lifetime on her best behaviour, but following the recent death of her husband, she begins to enjoy the new found freedom of being able to do and say exactly as she pleases. However the return of her eccentric missionary sister, together with some disturbing revelations, force Grace to confront the truth of her marriage.
Directed by Connie Walker the cast comprised: Grace – Jan Winters, Ruth – Vicki Hyde, Bardolph – Robin Richards, Jo – Katy Moody and Sarah – Isobel Williams. Stage Manager was Barrie Walker.
Talking Heads by Alan Bennett
and Deckchairs by Jean McConnell
17th - 21st October 2016
Our opening Show of the 2016/2017 Season comprised two of the Deckchairs series (Outdoor Pleasures and Remember Me) by Jean McConnell, directed by Connie Walker and two Alan Bennett monologues, Her Big Chance directed by Vicki Hyde and Soldiering On, directed by Graham Tyson. The Stage Manager was Barrie Walker
The cast comprised:
Outdoor Pleasures Sarah – Jan Winters, Eizabeth – Isobel Williams
Her Big Chance Katy Moody
Soldiering On Jose Tarnowski
Remember Me Aunt Tottie – Jan Winters, Deirdre – Isobel Williams
Breezeblock Park by Willy Russell
27th February - 4th March 2017
NLT's second production of the 2016/17 Season was Breezeblock Park by Willy Russell. Originally commissioned in 1975, the play is at once painfully funny and sharply moving. It is set on a Liverpool housing estate at Christmas when a close-knit Liverpool family gather for the festivities. However, beneath the glitzy gift wrap, tinsel and fairy lights lie concealed jealousies, a secret and petty squabbles, so the festivities slowly start to unravel!
Directed and Stage Managed by Vicki Hyde the cast comprised: Betty – Jan Winters, Syd – Steve Harrison, Sandra – Katy Moody, Vera – Julie Lawrence-Allan, Tommy – Steve Allan, Reeny – Ginny Watts, Ted – Terry Emm, John – Alex Telling and Tim – Darren Burrett.
Life and Beth by Alan Ayckbourn
22nd - 27th May 2017
NLT's final Show of the 2016/2017 Season was Life and Beth by Alan Ayckbourn. Dating from 2008 the play features recently widowed Beth, hosting her first family Christmas since her husband's Gordon's death. However, a visit and prayer from the local vicar bring an unwelcome and unexpected Christmas visitor to the house!
Directed by Robin Richards the cast comprised: Beth – Jose Tarnowski, Gordon – Tony Sutcliffe, Martin – Darren Burnett, Ella – Kate Moody, Connie – Lisa Grant, David – Steve Harrison, Man’s Voice – Nigel Guy and Woman’s Voice – Pat Kelly. Stage Manager was Nigel Guy.
The Odd Couple (Female Version) by Neil Simon
16th - 21st October 2017
NLT's first Show of the 2017/2018 Season was the Odd Couple (Female Version) by Neil Simon. Florence Unger and Olive Madison take over the personae in this hilarious female version of his original Odd Couple. Substituting for the poker party that begins the original, the girls are invited over for an evening of Trivial Pursuit. The Pidgeon sisters are replaced by the Costazuela brothers but the pace and comic genius of the original is preserved.
The female version of The Odd Couple was first presented on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre on 11 June 1985 and at NLT in February 2001.
Directed by Graham Tyson the cast comprised: Mickey – Isobel Williams, Sylvia – Katy Moody, Renee – Connie Walker, Vera – Ginny Watts, Olive Madison – Jose Tarnowski, Florence Unger – Jan Winters, Manolo Costazuela – Tony Sutcliffe and Jesus Costazuela – Darren Burrett. Stage Manager was Barrie Walker.
You and Amateur Girl by Amanda Whittington
5th - 10th February 2018
NLT's February Show of the 2017/2018 season comprised two plays one of which was a short play called "You" by Mark Wilson which centres on a woman recalling memories of a significant (and life changing) decision she made as a young adult. The remainder of the Show featured a performance of "Amateur Girl" by Amanda Whittington relating the life of Julie an auxiliary nurse, working long hours for a low wage in a Nottingham hospital. She cares for the elderly and feels her own life is passing her by, but clubbing with the girls breaks the routine. However, Julie longs for some real excitement and a bit of spare cash.
Directed by Vicki Hyde the cast comprised:
Amateur Girl – Katy Moody as Julie.
You – Julie Lawrence-Allan (Kathleen/June/Margie and Vanessa) and Steve Allan (Bill/Charlie/Frank and Tom).
Strictly Murder by Brian Clemens
14th - 19th May 2018
Strictly Murder, a thriller by Brian Clemens, was our third Show of the 2017/2018 Season. This play was first staged at Sonning Theatre in February 2006.
The action takes place in a remote rustic cottage in Provence, France in April 1939, where an English couple are living in idyllic isolation. They are far, it seems, from the rumblings of the coming war and Hitler generated radio rhetoric. However, all is not what it seems and their peace is shattered from within when a Scotland Yard detective arrives, then events become ever more complicated and frightening!
Directed by Connie Walker the cast comprised: Josef – Terry Emm, Peter Meredith – Darren Burrett, Suzy Hinchcliffe – Katy Moody, Ross – Steve Harrison and Miriam Miller – Jan Winters. Radio voices provided by Peter Newman and Brian Sims. Stage Manager was Barrie Walker.
Quartet by Ronald Harwood
15th - 20th October 2018
NLT's first Show of the 2018/2019 Season was Quartet by Ronald Harwood, The original London Show ran in the West End from September 1999 until January 2000. In 2012 a film based on the play was produced with an all star cast and actor Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut. The action takes place in Beecham House, a home for retried professional musicians and records the trials and tribulations of a once famous “quartet” as they build up to one final glorious performance!
Directed by Graham Tyson the cast comprised: Cecily Robson – Ginny Watts, Reginald Paget – Robin Richards, Wilfred Bond – Bob Beale and Jean Horton – Jose Tarnowski. Stage Manager was Barrie Walker.
The Thrill Of Love by Amanda Whittington
4th - 9th February 2019
Our second Show of the 2018/2019 Season was Amanda Whittington's The Thrill of Love. The play is a dramatic re-telling of the story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain. In 1955, at the age of 28 she was convicted for the murder of her lover, David Blakely and sentenced to death.
Directed by Vicki Hyde with co directors Steve Allan and Julie Lawrence-Allan the cast comprised: Ruth Ellis – Julie Lawrence-Allan, Jack Gale – Steve Allan, Sylvia Shaw – Vicki Hyde, Vickie Martin – Charlie Delahunty and Doris Judd – Katy Moody. The Stage Manager was Darren Burrett.
Wife After Death by Eric Chappell
6th - 11th May 2019
Our final Show of the 2018/2019 Season was Wife After Death, a comedy by Eric Chappell. The play revolves around the death of a Comedian who was a national treasure and the revelations that come to light about his recent past.
Directed by Robin Richards the cast comprised: Laura Thursby – Kay Hicken, Harvey Barrett – Tony Sutcliffe, Vi Barrett – Ginny Watts, Kevin Prewitt – Darren Burrett, Jane Prewitt – Katy Moody and Kay Thursby – Cécile Chretien. Stage Manager was Nigel Guy.
Three Cheers for Sitcom by Andy Marchant
7th - 12th October 2019
Our first Show of the 2019/2020 Season was Three Cheers for Sitcom. Comprising three short plays, this Show was devised and directed by Andy Marchant as a tribute to the great British sitcom.
There was no Stage Manager. The cast comprised:
Dad's Army
Captain Mainwaring – Steve Allan, Sergeant Wilson – Steve Harrison, Private Walker – Darren Burrett, Private Godfrey – Terry Emm, Lance Corporal Jones – Bob Frith, Private Frazer – Andrew Francis, Private Pike – James Stacey, Mrs Gray – Jan Winters, Mrs Fox – Charlie Delahunty, Mrs Pike – Connie Walker, Mrs Summers – Pam Pummell, Mrs Hope – Janet Griffiths, Edith Parish – Emma Taylor, Mrs Ironside – Anita Frith, Mrs Oldham – Pat Kelly, Mrs Prosser – Ginny Watts, Miss Dubois – Cécile Chretien and Waitress – Mary O'Hara.
Hi-De-Hi
Jeffrey Fairbrother: Entertainment Manager – Andy Johnson, Gladys Pugh: Chief Yellowcoat – Katy Moody, Yvonne Stuart-Hargreaves: Dance Instructress – Ginny Watts, Barry Stuart-Hargreaves: Dance Instructor – Steve Harrison, Ted Bovis: Camp Host – Richard Western, Spike Dixon: Camp Comic – Darren Burrett, Peggy Ollerenshaw: Chaletmaid - Julie Lawrence-Allan, Mr Partridge: Children's Entertainer – Terry Emm, Leo: Yellowcoat – James Stacey, Betty: Yellowcoat – Emma Taylor, Sylvia: Yellowcoat – Charlie Delahunty and Claudette: Yellowcoat – Cécile Chretien.
Vicar of Dibley
Geraldine Grainger: The Vicar – Anita Frith, David Horton: Chairman of the Parish Council – Roger Bird, Hugo Horton: his son – Darren Burrett, Alice Springs: the Verger - Julie Lawrence-Allan, Lady Foxwell: local dignitary and environmentalist – Ginny Watts, Letitia Cropley: renowned for interesting recipes – Jan Winters, Jim Trott: Parish Councillor – Richard Western, Owen Newitt: local farmer – Terry Emm, Frank Pickle: Parish Council Secretary – Andy Johnson, Flora Spencer: the local Florist – Pat Kelly, Miss Turner: the Postmistress – Charlie Delahunty, Christine Randall: a local resident – Connie Walker, Jack Randall: her husband – Steve Allan, Mrs White: Chairperson of the Horticultural Society – Pam Pummell, Mrs Ginger: the church domestic – Mary O'Hara, Mrs Dearbourne: in charge of the church flower rota – Janet Griffiths, Mrs Froggit: chairperson of the Dibley WI – Katy Moody and Mr Graham: a retired police officer – Andrew Francis.
