2019 Season
cAN'T pAY? won't pAY! |
By Dario Fo
Unitarian Meeting House, Churchgate, Bury St Edmunds 26, 27 & 28 September 2019 Director - Chris Lines Employing the comedic methods of the ancient commedia dell'arte, Fo's Can't Pay Won't Pay takes on the issue of economic crisis and job redundancies. A theme relevant both in the 1970s and today. Pushed to the limit by the situation Margherita leads a revolt at the local supermarket through which looting guts the building. Margherita, and her friend Antonia, then try desperately to hide their 'liberated' goods before their husbands and the police catch up with them in a wild farce that may give you ideas about alternative diets on a low budget. Anyone for bird seed? |
THE LADY FROM THE SEA
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By Henrik Ibsen
Unitarian Meeting House, Churchgate, Bury St Edmunds 7, 8, 9 November 2019 Director - Tim Lodge Mercurial, distracted and restless, Ellida feels desperately trapped in her marriage. She yearns for the sea and a broader horizon, for the furthest reaches of freedom, for an experience that is both liberating and dangerously self-destructive. When a former lover returns from years of absence she is forced to decide between freedom and a new life she could make for herself. |
2020 Season
the roses of eyam |
By Don Taylor
Unitarian Meeting House, Churchgate, Bury St Edmunds 27, 28 29 February 2020 Director - Tim Lodge A remarkable and true story of a village stricken with plague through the arrival from London of a box of clothing; of the villagers' determination, under the persuasions of the present and former Rectors, to prevent its spread by remaining within the village and containing the disease at the certain risk of their own lives; of the human tragedies and even comedies that ensued; of the idealism and the courage required to live with that idealism. Large cast required for this powerful play which is a set text in many schools for students of English Literature and Drama. |
EDITH IN THE DARK |
By Philip Meeks
The Guildhall, Bury St Edmunds 16 to 18 April 2020 Director - Maggie Kinnear-King Celebrated children’s author Edith Nesbit (The Railway Children, Five Children & It) retreats to her attic writing room during one of her husband’s tiresome parties with her housekeeper and an unexpected, handsome party guest. |
TOM JONES |
Adapted by Jon Jory
Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds 16 to 20 June 2020 Director - John Levantis Abandoned as a child to the care of Squire Allworthy, Tom Jones is now all grown up and launched into the bewildering romantic world. He falls madly in love with the virtuous Sophia Western -- but Sophia's father is determined to keep the two apart. In his pursuit of true love, the well-intentioned Tom finds himself the object of female attention and romantic complication. But will these misadventures permanently jeopardize his chances with Sophia? Adapted from the classic novel by Henry Fielding, Tom Jones is a bawdy and rollicking comedy for the stage that will have the audience in stitches |
twelfth night |
By William Shakespeare
Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds 21 to 25 July 2020 Director - Tim Lodge Shipwrecked off the coast of Illyria twins Viola and Sebastian have been separated and believe each other dead. Disguises, intrigue, and romantic entanglements ensue as Viola, disguised as a boy falls for her new master, Orsino, whilst his love Olivia falls for Cesario (aka. Viola) and servant Malvolio also hankers after his mistress Olivia. Enter Sebastian who also falls for Olivia who returns his love believing Cesario and Sebastian to be one and the same. Confusing? Well...it'll all turn out okay in the end we hope! And what is Malvolio WEARING??? |
A doll's house |
By Henrik Ibsen, translated by Michael Meyer
Unitarian Meeting House, Churchgate, Bury St Edmunds 10 to 12 September 2020 Director - Tim Lodge The slamming of the front door at the end of A Doll's House shatters the romantic masquerade of the Helmers' marriage. In their stultifying and infantilised relationship, Nora and Torvald have deceived themselves and each other both consciously and subconsciously, until Nora acknowledges the need for individual freedom. Ibsen's 1879 play shocked its first audiences with its radical insights into the social roles of husband and wife. His portrayal of the caged 'songbird', his flawed heroine, Nora, remains one of the most striking dramatic depictions of late-nineteenth century woman. |
THE CURIOUS SAVAGE |
By John Patrick
Unitarian Meeting House, Churchgate, Bury St Edmunds 12 to 14 November 2020 Director - Gwen Owen A comedy about Ethel P. Savage, an elderly woman whose husband has recently died and left her approximately ten million dollars. Contrasting the kindness and loyalty of psychiatric patients with the avarice and vanity of "respectable" public figures, it calls into question conventional definitions of sanity while lampooning celebrity culture |