Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders by Derek Webb

8-13 June 2015

Agatha Crusty (pronounced Croosty) is a crime novelist. She’s also pretty adept at solving crimes. And when her sister-in-law Alice invites her to spend a few days with her in the village of Chortelby, it’s not long before she gets caught up in a series of murders which seem directed at members of the All Saints Village Hall committee. A murder mystery packed full of wit and very funny scenes.

To view photographs of Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders production taken by ID Event Photography click here

Patrons Night – “An Evening of English Humour”

29-30 January 2015.

Readings by members of the Club from well known (and some lesser known) English Humourists such as Alan Coren, Keith Waterhouse, Joyce Grenfell , Dorothy Parker ( who is in fact American!) and a not very well known eccentric writer called Leonard Barrass.

The pieces will be introduced by Bill Dodds with short biographical details of the author and the readers. Bill will also be telling a couple of shaggy dog stories. Helen Hillcoat will alternate with each reading with her own inimitable act – songs to a guitar and her own stories.

The Exorcism by Don Taylor

10-15 November 2014

PREPARE to be scared, prepare to be very scared . . . well, at the very least, a bit nervy at times by this production in which four friends gather for Christmas dinner at an old cottage. Suddenly, there’s a power failure and the phone goes dead. It’s the start of a series of macabre events which mount relentlessly to a bizarre and terrifying climax involving all four characters.

Click on images below courtesy of Craig McNair to view this event. For Craig’s gallery of the Exorcism click here.

Natural Causes by Eric Chappell

16-21 June 2014

Celia Bryce wants to die. Her husband, Walter, wants her to die. So does her secretary, Angie, who also happens to be Walter’s mistress. The rubber plant wants to live. Enter Vincent, the blundering would-be poisoner and chaos reigns in this hilarious comedy. Will anyone ever drink his (very) special brew? If so, who will it be?

Click on images (courtesy of Craig McNair) to view scenes from this play:

Lettice and Lovage by Peter Schaffer

24-30 March 2014

Lettice is an eccentric tour guide at Fustian House, England’s most boring stately home. To enliven her commentary, she invents an imaginary history for the place, which her customers find enchanting. All goes well until Lotte, an inspector for the trust to which the house belongs, turns up with Lettice’s P45. The two women eventually forge an unlikely friendship in this richly entertaining comedy, with an unexpected outcome.

Click on images (courtesy of Craig McNair) to view this event:

Patrons Night

24th & 25th January 2014.

The entertainment will alternate between songs and stories from Helen Hillcoat and “Dramatic Renditions” of poems written by Robert Service. This will include the well known “The Shooting of Dan McGrew” and “Bessies Boil”.

Click on images (courtesy of Craig McNair) to view this event:

Quartet by Ronald Harwood

25-30 November 2013

Reg, Wilf and Cissy are enjoying their autumn years in a home for retired opera singers, until Jean (Reg’s ex-wife) arrives. The parting was far from amicable and the sparks begin to fly. A successful movie by an Oscar-winning author, the play retains its gentle (and sometimes not so gentle) humour, and an ending to make you smile.

Murder by Misadventure by Edward Taylor, March 2013

Harold has become dissatisfied with his writing partner and wants to dissolve the partnership but Riggs knows he would not survive as a writer without Harold and threatens Harold into maintaining their association. Harold conspires with his wife Emma to kill Riggs using a plot from a projected script as his inspiration.

Photo gallery, click on a thumbnail to enlarge. Photographs courtesy of I D Event Photography

: Murder by Misadventure

: Murder by Misadventure

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Patrons Murder Mystery, December 2012

Photo Gallery, click on a thumbnail to enlarge. Photographs courtesy of I D Event Photography

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The Odd Couple by Neil Simon, November 2012

“Congratulations to Bill Dodds and all his team on very well produced show.” – National Operatic and Dramatic Association (click here to read the full review).

Photo Gallery, click on a thumbnail to enlarge. Photographs courtesy of I D Event Photography

A Double Chinn, June 2012

A double bill for June included A Respectable Funeral and From Here to the Library. The one-act plays were penned by Manchester writer Jimmy Chinn.

2012 June Double Chin – Set for Theatre in the Round

A Respectable Funeral

A Respectable Funeral sees three middle aged sisters at their mother’s funeral look forward to receiving their inheritance, until their brother arrives with a request that changes their lives.
It becomes apparent that their mother was no saint, and this truthful, witty play gives us an intimate glimpse into their four lives, and the effect on them of one woman’s selfishness.

From Here to the Library

This tells the tale of one woman, Beryl Tidy, who storms out of her job at the library in a fit of rage.
It is a touching, funny play about Beryl Tidy, whose new boss goes to visit her after an uncharacteristic outburst at work.
Set against the background of the often hilarious comments of Beryl’s deaf, elderly father, the pair find out about each other and find hope for the future between them.

A Dangerous Obsession by NJ Crisp, March 2012

The audience were kept in suspense by this play which tells the tale of John Barrett, a stranger who turns up at Sally and Mark Driscoll’s luxury house on a summer’s afternoon. They don’t realise that his visit will change their lives forever.
Cast members included Cleadon regulars Ian Reah, Gill Crossley, and Bill Dodds

“The last picture as the lights dimmed and the curtains closed, was very powerful. You could almost feel a spine chilling shudder go through the audience. Another excellent production.” – National Operatic and Dramatic Association (click here to read the full review).

Fashion Show Event, January 2012

Photo Gallery, click on thumbnail to enlarge. Photographs courtesy of I D Event Photography.

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Enchanted April by Matthew Barber, November 2011

Set in the early 1920s in London, following the Great War, where so much was lost both in terms of life and the old ways of living, two middle class housewives deal with their sorrow and restless confusion by renting a villa in Italy away from their bleak marriages. They recruit two very different English women to share the cost and experience. All fall under the spell of the sun drenched, wisteria-scented surroundings and in the process learn new truths about themselves, rediscovering laughter and romance along the way.

Photo Gallery, click on a thumbnail to enlarge:

: 2011 December Enchanted April by Matthew Barber 1

: 2011 December Enchanted April by Matthew Barber 2

: 2011 December Enchanted April by Matthew Barber 4

: 2011 December Enchanted April by Matthew Barber 5

: 2011 December Enchanted April by Matthew Barber 3

Relatively Speaking by Alan Ayckbourn, June 2011

One of Ayckbourn’s earliest and funniest plays, this production delighted audiences with its series of amusing misunderstandings with regard to more than one extra-marital affair leading to a succession of very funny scenes. It was staged 360 degrees in the round with audiences feeling almost part of the action. They showed their warm appreciation by almost continual laughter throughout as the complicated plot unfolded. The play was directed by Paul Lamb with actors: Gill Crossley, Dean Jukes, Peter Calvert and Denise Wilson.

“The whole play is a resounding success. It’s just as well that Cleadon Drama are putting on an extra performance on Saturday afternoon, otherwise there are going to be some disappointed potential customers…” – The Shields Gazette (click here to read the full review).

“With fantastic performances from all on stage, great sound\light from David Oliver and a superb direction from Paul Lamb, this is definitely a must see.” – Michael Hunter, Theatre Critic (click here to read the full review).

Photo Gallery, click on a thumbnail to enlarge:

: Relatively Speaking

: Relatively Speaking

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: Relatively Speaking

Laura by Vera Caspary/George Sklar, March 2011

‘Laura’ is a mystery play, set in New York, which centred on a murder of a young woman, a determined detective, the beautiful and enigmatic Laura and several unusual and possibly sinister friends and neighbours. The play kept audiences guessing to the end. The production reflected the black and white film noir of the 40’s, giving people an unforgettable evening.

“The audience leaves the theatre with the sense of having seen a very good performance of a good play.” – The Sunderland Echo (click here to read the full review).

Photo Gallery, click on a thumbnail to enlarge:

Imaginary Lines by Reggie Oliver, November 2010

The November production of Imaginary Lines was a runaway success with full audiences most nights. It presented two main challenges, a split stage – Wanda’s flat and a second hand bookshop – and thoughts (and in the final scene, imagined action) spoken out loud to the audience in the midst of the onstage dialogue. The latter gave insight into the complex emotions and contradictory thoughts that belie the surface social intercourse. The imagined scene where Wanda returns, in glittery nun’s habit and cross, allowing her to be superior in her disappointing friendships, produced much laughter from the packed house.
Neil Weathers and Bob Lawson worked a miracle with the set and Jim McKenzie again showed how tight, inspired direction brings out the best in both actors and audience.

Cast members included Peter Calvert, Gillian Crosssley, Ian Reah, Pat Thompson and Denise Wilson.

Photo Gallery, click on a thumbnail to enlarge:

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On Golden Pond by Ernest Thompson, March 2010

This play has been made into a memorable film and the plot is familiar but the writing is as fresh and vivid as ever. Husband and wife acting team, Bill and Kath Dodds played Norman and Ethel Thayer beautifully. Their stage daughter was touchingly played by Carole Machin whose own son, Callan gave an outstanding performance as young Billy whilst Chris Bradley was nicely understated as the much abused Billy Ray senior. The play was directed by Lorna Weathers.

Everybody Loves Opal by John Patrick, November 2009

A feel-good play; set in New York; which reminded us of the power of human qualities such as innocence, acceptance, forgiveness and redemption. The play wore these messages lightly for it had human absurdity and pathos in equal measure. Audiences laughed and cried and were shocked by the collapsing set effects! Actors included Gill Crossley, Bill Dodds, Ian Reah, Nick Sharpe, Steve White and Denise Wilson and were directed by Paul Lamb.

Auf Wiedersehn Fred by Miriam Berry, April 2009

My Own Show by Lesley Bruce, March 2009

“Audiences are in for a treat, a good story with a surprising conclusion played in a very confident, skilful style.” – Review by The Shields Gazette (click here to read the full review).