2020s Productions | Nailsea Little Theatre

Past Productions 2020 to Date

Use the arrows next to the pictures on this page

to scroll through them, or click to enlarge

People by Alan Bennett
3rd - 8th February 2020

Our second Show of the 2019/2020 Season was "People" by Alan Bennett. The play premiered at the National Theatre in 2012 and deals with the travails of a crumbling stately home and its ageing owner.

Directed by Vicki Hyde and the Stage Managers were John O’Hara and Barrie Walker, assisted by Mary O’Hara and Vicki Hyde.

The cast comprised:

Theodore – Terry Emm, Dorothy Stacpoole – Jan Winters, Bevan – Martin Baker, Iris – Kathie Reynolds, June Stacpoole – Ginny Watts, Ralph Lumsden – Bob Beale, Bishop – Steve Harrison, Bruce (Grip) – Steve Allan, Louise (Wardrobe) – Emma Taylor, Nigel (Asst Director) – Gary Andrews, Les (Camera) – Julie Lawrence-Allan, Colin (Actor) – Darren Burrett and Brit (Actress) – Katy Moody.

Pictures are loading.

Reloading this page may help.

Enforced break due to the Pandemic

Confusions by Alan Ayckbourn
22nd - 27th November 2021

Following the break due to the Pandemic, our first Show of the 2021/2022 Season was three one-act plays from "Confusions" by Alan Ayckbourn. This format was chosen to minimise the time together at rehearsals. First staged in 1974, Confusions is a series of five interlinked but yet separate plays; two out of the three were revivals for NLT.

All three plays were stage managed by Barrie Walker.

Mother Figure Directed by Vicki Hyde. Cast: Lucy – Katy Moody (read in Katy’s absence by Vicki Hyde), Rosemary – Julie Lawrence-Allan and Terry – Steve Allan.

Between Mouthfuls Directed by Connie Walker. Cast: Waiter – Steve Harrison, Pearce – Terry Emm, Mrs Pearce – Jan Winters, Martin – Darren Burrett and Polly – Emma Taylor.

Gosforth’s Fete Directed by Graham Tyson. Cast: Mrs Pearson – Jan Winters, Milly – Angela Daynes, Gosforth – Gary Andrews, Vicar – Robin Richards and Stewart – Tony Sutcliffe.

The Dinner Party by Neil Simon
2nd - 7th May 2022

The second Show of the 2021/2022 Season was the “The Dinner Party” by Neil Simon. This was originally scheduled to be the final Show of the 2019/2020 Season but had to be postponed due to the Covid pandemic.

First produced in 1999 the plot centres around six people, who do not know each other, and have been invited to dine in a fancy Parisian restaurant. There is an air of mystery in this comedic play, not least because the diners have no idea why they have been brought together!

The play was directed by Connie Walker and stage managed by Barrie Walker.

The cast comprised:
Albert Donay – Darren Burrett, Claude Pichon – Tony Sutcliffe, André Bouville – Steve Harrison, Yvonne Fouchet – Becky Kingsley-Jones, Mariette Levieux – Charlie Delahunty and Gabrielle Buonocelli – Jan Winters.

It Could Be Any One Of Us by Alan Ayckbourn
4th - 9th July 2022

Our final Show of the 2021/2022 Season was “It Could Be Any One Of Us” by Alan Ayckbourn. Set in a windswept country house, a family of artistic failures find themselves under suspicion of murder by an inept detective as he tries to solve who killed the head of the family. It received its world premiere in October 1983.

The play was directed by Bob Beale and stage managed by Barrie Walker.

The cast comprised:
Mortimer Chalke – Steve Harrison, Jocelyn Polegate – Julie Lawrence-Allan, Brinton Chalke – Tony Sutcliffe, Amy Polegate – Ella Boucher, Norris Honeywell – Steve Allan and Wendy Windwood – Katy Moody.

Pictures are loading.

Reloading this page may help.

Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward
17th - 22nd October 2022

Our first Show of the 2022/2023 Season was the Noel Coward classic "Blithe Spirit". First seen in the professional theatre in 1941 the play concerns the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant, Madame Arcati, to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. It was the third time that we have staged this delightful comedy.

The play was directed by Graham Tyson and stage managed by Vicki Hyde.

The cast comprised:
Edith – Mary O’Hara, Ruth – Jan Winters, Charles – Tony Sutcliffe, Dr Bradman – Darren Burrett, Mrs Bradman – Sandra Goodall, Madame Arcati – Ginny Watts and Elvira – Isobel Williams.

Pictures are loading.

Reloading this page may help.

Whipping It Up by Steve Thompson
20th - 25th February 2023

Our second Show of the 2022/2023 Season was “Whipping It Up” by Steve Thompson. First staged at the Bush Theatre, London, in November 2006, in a production starring Richard Wilson, it transferred to the West End in March 2007. It is a quick-witted satirical farce set in the Whips’ office at Westminster. A fast-moving switchback of a comedy, containing more twists and double-bluffs than a poker game between conmen!

The play was directed by Steve Harrison and stage managed by John O’Hara.

The cast comprised:
Annie – Ginny Watts, Guy – Darren Burrett, Tim – Phil Kingsley-Jones, Maggie – Katy Moody, The Chief – Terry Emm and Delia – Becky Kingsley-Jones.

Pictures are loading.

Reloading this page may help.

Ladies Down Under by Amanda Whittington
5th - 10th June 2023

Our third Show of the 2022/2023 Season was “Ladies Down Under” by Amanda Whittington. This is the funny, heart-warming sequel to the enormously successful Ladies’ Day, (performed by NLT in 2014) following the lasses from Hull on their adventures down under. After hitting the jackpot at Ladies’ Day in York, the fish filleting foursome of Pearl, Jan, Shelley and Linda set off to celebrate in style with the trip of a lifetime to the land of Oz.

The play was directed by Isobel Williams and stage managed by Barrie Walker.

The cast comprised:
Pearl – Becky Kingsley-Jones, Jan – Julie Lawrence-Allan, Shelley – Soraya Sophia Moghadass, Linda – Katy Moody, Tom/Shane/Danny – Darren Burrett, Joe – Robert Gray, Bill/Bondi Bitch – Steve Allan, Ben/Koala Bare – Phil Kingsley-Jones and Charlie – Steve Harrison.

Pictures are loading.

Reloading this page may help.

Pastimes by Brian Jeffries

5th - 11th November 2023

Our first Show of the 2023/2024 Season was “Pastimes” by Brian Jeffries. A comedy, the play centres around Sam and Bill, two middle-aged brothers, who own and run “Cobblers”, a café in a seaside town. Their peace is shattered by the arrivals of a runaway, Linda, who is after a job, and her grandmother, Connie, who is after Linda!

The play was directed by Sandra Goodall and stage managed by Barrie Walker & John O’Hara.

The cast comprised:

Sam – Steve Harrison, Bill – Darren Burrett, Linda – Kat Stone, Connie – Ginny Watts and Winifred – Rosemarie Hill.

The introduction of an opening Sunday afternoon matinee was very successful and so will be a regular feature in future.

Pictures are loading.

Reloading this page may help.

Bleak Expectations by Mark Evans

4th - 9th March 2024

Our second Show of the Season was “Bleak Expectations” by Mark Evans.

Based on the Radio 4 series, this comedy follows half-orphan Pip’s extraordinary exploits with sisters Pippa and Poppy and best friend Harry Biscuit, as they attempt to escape the calculating clutches of the dastardly Mr Gently Benevolent, defeat the hideous Hardthrasher siblings, and deflect disaster at every turn! This hilarious play has been showing in the Criterion Theatre in London recently to great acclaim. As The Times wrote, it is "Dickens with a dash of Monty Python."

The play was directed by Phill Kingsley-Jones and stage managed by Helen Woodcock.

The cast comprised:

Sir Philip Bin - Steve Harrison, Agnes Bin - Becky Kingsley-Jones, Thomas Bin - Robert Gray, Pip Bin - Julie Lawrence-Allen, Pippa Bin - Katie Moody, Poppy Bin - Charlie Delahunty, Skinflint Parsimonious – Terry Emm, Gently Benevolent – Darren Burrett, Bakewell Havertwitch – Ginny Watts, Whackwell Hardthrasher – John de Barham, Harry Biscuit – Steve Allen, Rev Praygood Hardthrasher – John de Barham, Crutch Person – Ginny Watts, Broadly Fecund – Robin Richards, Ripley Fecund – Netta Quint, Vendor – Terry Emm, Monsieur Boulange-Bien – Ginny Watts, Flora Dies-Early – Becky Kingsley-Jones, Miss Chastity Hardthrasher – Jan Winters, Another vicar – Darren Burrett, Judge Solomon Hardthrasher – Sandra Goodall, (Yet another) vicar – Robin Richards

The Actress by Peter Quilter

2nd - 8th June 2024

Connie Walker directed The Actress by Peter Quilter for The Little Theatre's own final production of the Season.

The Actress is a funny and poignant comedy dramatising the events backstage as a colourful, complicated actress makes her farewell performance. Drama and comedy collide as old acquaintances say their goodbyes, declare their love, roar with laughter, spit insults, grab a final embrace and renew old battles.

The play was Stage Managed by Barrie Walker, who also proposed the very impressive idea of using a gauze with clever lighting by Dave Sims to create The Actress's performance stage on the set.

The cast comprised:

Lydia Martin (The Actress) - Isobel Williams, Catherine (her Dresser) - Jan Winters, Charles (her elderly Fiancé) - Bob Beale, Harriet (her Agent) - Becky Kingsley-Jones, Nicole (her Daughter) - Victoria Andrews, Paul (Nicole's Father) - John de Barham, Margaret (the Company Manager) - Ginny Watts.

Yes, Prime Minister

by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn

3rd - 9th November 2024

Steve Harrison directed Yes, Prime Minister, to open our 2024/25 season, which was crafted especially for the stage in 2010 by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, and revised in 2012.

The show brought back memories of the wickedly funny show on TV all those years ago, in which Minister (& later Prime Minister) Hacker, Sir Humphrey and Bernard so hilariously took the lid off the way the country is run. We were able to enjoy their antics one more time, when the UK in was crisis with spiralling debt, rising unemployment and Hacker’s fragile coalition cabinet at breaking point.

Is salvation available from a complex pipeline deal with oil-rich Kumranistan that would entail a multi-trillion pounds loan? But when the Kumranistan Foreign Secretary makes a shocking request to Jim’s Private Secretary Bernard, moral considerations collide with the nation’s economic future. How will Jim and his team - Private Secretary Bernard, Cabinet Secretary Sir Humphrey and Special Adviser Claire Sutton – reconcile the two?

The play was Stage Managed by Jon de Barham, with another wonderful and impressive set designed and built by Barrie Walker and his team.

The cast comprised:

Sir Humphey Appleby (Cabinet Secretary) - Tony Sutcliffe, Bernard Woolley (Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister) - Phil Kingsley-Jones, Jim Hacker (Prime Minister) - Bob Beale, Claire Sutton (Special Policy Adviser) - Becky Kingsley-Jones, Kumranistan Ambassador - Darren Burrett, Jenny Burnham (BBC Director General) - Jan Winters, Robyn Simpson (BBC journalist and interviewer) - Ginny Watts.

Blue Remembered Hills by Dennis Potter

23rd February - 1st March 2025

This was Jon de Barham's debut as a Director for NLT, who also performed in the play and helped to build the set. He was assisted by Isobel Williams. It was a very powerful and moving production, received to great acclaim by our audiences.

We see the cast of seven seven-year-olds in real time on a summer afternoon during the Second World War playing in the Forest of Dean. This play, on the face of it simple and amusing with adult actors presenting children, has a very much deeper and darker message to offer, that of how human frailties and thought can be passed down from generation to generation. The children play, fight, fantasise and swagger, their aggressions, fears, hostilities and rivalries a microcosm of adult interaction.

The play was Stage Managed by Helen Woodcock, again with a fantastic set designed and built by Barrie Walker and his team. Dave Sims created the excellent special effects.

The cast comprised:

Willie - Steve Allan, Peter - Darren Burrett, John - Robery Gray, Raymond - Terry Emm, Angela - Julie Lawrence-Allan, Audrey - Katy Moody, Donald - John de Barham.

The Hound of the Baskervilles

by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

adapted by Steven Canny and John Nicholson

Sunday 1st to Saturday 7th June 2025

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, the inspiration behind today’s modern style of policing, gets a gloriously funny makeover in this ‘wonderfully barking spoof’ [Telegraph].

When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on his estate, with a look of terror still etched on his face, and the paw prints of a gigantic hound beside his body, the great detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal companion Dr Watson are employed to unravel the mysteries surrounding his death and investigate the ancient curse of the Hound of the Baskervilles. Be assured, as an audience you have nothing to fear…unless, of course, your name is Baskerville.

The play was directed by Phil Kingsley-Jones and Stage Managed by Helen Woodcock. Barrie Walker and his team designed and built the ingenious, ever changing set and Dave Sims orchestrated over 200 sound and lighting cues.

The cast comprised:

Sherlock Holmes - Steve Harrison, Watson - Becky Kingsley-Jones, Sir Charles and Sir Henry Baskerville - Charlie Delahunty, Motimer / Yokel 1 / Mrs Barrymore - Jan Winters, Cabbie / Guard on train / Cecile - Victoria Andrews, Yokel 2 / Stapleton - Ginny Watts, Slasher Sheldon / Barrymore - Katy Moody.

The Charitable Sisterhood of the

Second Trinity Victory Church

a Comedy by Bo Wilson

Sunday 2nd to Saturday 8th November 2025

The roads are flooded, the bridges are washed out, and less generous souls are staying indoors, but it takes more than a little rain to keep the ladies of the Charitable Sisterhood from fulfilling their sworn mission. When these ladies meet to organise a relief effort for homeless Guatemalans, they are greeted with a small mountain of community donations - but one woman’s junk is another woman’s treasure and that pile of stuff is hiding a thing or two…..

We join our five angels of mercy as they do their best to help the victims of global disaster, spiritual deprivation and most of all one another. A hilarious and heartwarming play. The Richmond Times-Dispatch said, “These charitable sisters are like the women of Steel Magnolias with a few unexpected twists”

Sandra Goodall not only directed the play but also took over one of the major roles at relatively short notice. Helen Woodcock. was Stage Manager.

Barrie Walker and his team designed and built the set, clever as ever. For the first time Darren Burrett and John de Barham took over the Lighting and Sound from Dave Sims, but not before Dave had advised and trained them how to do it.

The cast comprised:

Tina Yates - Isobel Williams, Lorraine Jensen - Laura Hill, Bea Littleton - Sandra Goodall, Janet Murchison - Julie Lawrence-Alan, Riley Reynolds - SophyLelliot, Radio Announcer voiceover - John de Barham, Deputy Sheriff voiceover - Darren Burrett.

Hansard

by Simon Woods

Friday 21st November 2025

A Script-in-Hand Performance

A new venture at the Little Theatre of script-in-hand performances attracted a packed house – and raised cash for charity, too. Almost 50 club members and guests were treated to a powerful night of drama in a rehearsed reading of Simon Woods’ ‘Hansard’.

Set in the 1980s height of Margaret Thatcher’s years in power, the play tells the intimate story of a desperately unhappy marriage against a background of caustic political sparring.

The audience reeled with laughter at Woods’ elegant attacks on the orthodoxies of both Left and Right before being moved near to tears by the emotional climax to his story of MP Robin Hesketh (played by John de Barham) and his wife, Diana (Ginny Watts).

Technician Dave Sims provided light, sound and other effects for the production, directed by Steve Harrison.

Entry to the show was free but the audience was asked to make donations to Nailsea’s Memory Cafe, which helps dementia sufferers and their carers. It responded magnificently, giving almost £165.

‘Hansard’ is planned to be the first in a series of three rehearsed readings during the Little Theatre’s 2025/26 season.
The next two are currently scheduled for 20 March and 5 June 2026 (play choices to be confirmed later).