Past Production

The play tells the story of a typical night in a wine bar (aptly named Shakers) as four waitresses; Carol, Adele, Nicky and Mel struggle through their long shift, serving demanding customers who come and go on their night out.

In a not-so-chic London bar called Shakers, we meet Carol, Adele, Nicky and Mel, four friends who have taken to waitressing in desperation but who also have wit and resilience enough to never let any of the colorful characters they come across escape their satire unscathed. In theatrically heightened moments, the women play the roles of men and women alike, covering not only their nights at Shakers but also the lives of four other working women in London.  Always at the source of their satire are the men who take them for granted or, worse, abuse them. Against this backdrop of postmodern London life are kaleidoscopic scenes of hilarity and depravity. In intertwining plot threads we follow the waitresses as they confront a possible new owner for the bar and at the same time we follow four shopgirls getting ready for a night on the town. Tart-tongued and irreverent, the lives of all of these women are put in painful perspective by the doubling of their roles which draws attention to the economic and social prejudices affecting all women, not just the fighters we meet at Shakers.

Written by John Godber and Jane Thornton

Directed by Jim Broughton

George, a professor at a small college, and his wife, Martha, have just returned home, drunk from a Saturday night party. Martha announces, amidst general profanity, that she has invited a young couple—an opportunistic new professor at the college and his shatteringly naïve new bride—to stop by for a nightcap. When they arrive the charade begins. The drinks flow and suddenly inhibitions melt. It becomes clear that Martha is determined to seduce the young professor, and George couldn’t care less. But underneath the edgy banter, which is crossfired between both couples, lurks an undercurrent of tragedy and despair. George and Martha’s inhuman bitterness toward one another is provoked by the enormous personal sadness that they have pledged to keep to themselves: a secret that has seemingly been the foundation for their relationship. In the end, the mystery in which the distressed George and Martha have taken refuge is exposed, once and for all revealing the degrading mess they have made of their lives.

Written by Edward Albee

Directed by Anthony Turner

Rapunzel dreams of escaping the tower she’s known for all her life, but the vain & wicked Gothel wants to keep her captive & make beauty potions from her magical hair. Meanwhile, in Quiffendale, Dame Betty Beehive is struggling to keep her salon afloat, Silly Billy is dishing out dodgy hairdos, & Prince Leo is avoiding his royal responsibilities. When Rapunzel finally escapes, Gothel is furious & vows to take her revenge. With an enchanted forest, a talking rabbit & a load of super-strength hairspray, the only guarantee is a hair-raising adventure!

Written by Nick Lawrence

Directed by Ian Graham

Thanks to the mindless actions of Teddy Deakin, a group of mismatched rail passengers find themselves stranded in a dark and isolated station, having missed the last connection of the night.
Tales of superstition prevail as the local station master – unable to persuade them to leave – reveals that very night, twenty years ago, a train crashed leaving a number of passengers dead. Legend has it, that the station is still haunted as the train relives its final moments as it roars through the station to its demise.
The passengers begin to panic as the body of the station master is found on the platform, and a mysterious young lady arrives, foretelling the oncoming of the Ghost Train…

Written by Arnold Ridley,

Directed by Paul Baston