Performances commence 7.30pm Monday to Friday and 7pm on Saturday.
NP = New Play, eligible for the Best Unpublished Play Award
Monday 20th May
Limitless Academy of Performing Arts
(Winners of the Youth Drama Festival)
Bouncers by John Godber
Time for dancing, drinking and the search for true love. The club’s getting hot but out in the cold the Bouncers are ready for anything. Meet Ralph, Judd, Les and Lucky Eric as they relive a night in a London disco in the 80s, in an outrageous celebration of the UK nightclub scene.
Brightlight Theatre
The Start of Something by Jamie Lakritz
Three women.
A lost letter.
An obsessive pursuit to find the recipient.
But are some things best left forgotten?
Tuesday 21st May
Feelgood Factor (BEST Theatre Arts)
Fabulous at Thirty by Deborah Heath & Catherine Lomax (NP)
One soulless conference room. Eight guilty strangers. One tea urn with a life of its own! Exploring guilt, friendships and the need for speed, the Feelgood Factor bring you their original new play, Fabulous At Thirty.
Secret Theatre Company
The Plot Doesn’t Thicken by Barry Grossman (NP)
Welcome to the worst house-warming ever. Three couples bicker, argue and end up with full-on tantrums and assorted injuries as the evening disintegrates into chaos. At the same time, they all know they are actors and are not slow to give their cynical opinions on theatre in general and this one in particular. At the same time as that they are anxious to develop the plot, but somehow, whatever they try – the plot doesn’t thicken.
4 Door Theatre Company
Opening a Fuzzwallop’s Frame of Mind by Daniel Evans
In a closed room, a group of people, trapped by their surroundings, accept their predicament. Then, a naïve young stranger poses the question of life outside the room and the claustrophobic existence of this strange group is challenged. This play explores the nature of humanity and our fear of the unknown.
Wednesday 22nd May
Theatre In The Square
Lunch by Steven Berkoff
In this short play, by the legendary playwright Steven Berkoff, two strangers meet at a deserted beach café. Will their intense encounter relieve their loneliness?
NB. Contains adult themes and language.
Tait Productions
Forbidden Fruit by Johnny Tait (NP)
A scientist claiming to be the first man on earth creates the ideal woman, in order to build the perfect human race in this laugh out loud comedy taken from the novel ‘Naked Truth’ by author Johnny Tait.
HD&OS
Double Acts: WYSINNWYG by John Finnemore
In the Sales Support Department of Willard & Son Bath Suppliers, Kerry meets an obstinate new boss, Adele, whom she must deal with in order to climb up the corporate ladder.
“In the game of office politics, what you see is not necessarily what you get.”
Thursday 23rd May
Barn Theatre Club
Good Grief by Matt Adie (abridged) (NP)
A brutally honest, powerful and personal account of one man’s attempts to deal with the reality of loss and the ensuing void which threatens to consume him. Both visceral and funny, often within the same breath, this new play is inspired by a true story of love, loss and friendship.
SMP Theatre
Checkmate by Robert Scott
A tense thriller. In this play, a friendly game of chess between husband and wife becomes more of a game of cat and mouse. Michael likes to think he’s always one move ahead, but perhaps this time Amy has him in check. The only thing for certain is not everything is quite as it seems.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, SMP Theatre have had to withdraw their second entry Normal For, which appeared here in previous versions of the programme. As a result, we have re-arranged the order of the two plays for Thursday evening.
Friday 24th May
Woodhouse Players
Goldfish Girl by Peter Souter
Ally is the Goldfish Girl. She has no memory. Can Joe help her regain her past? Funny and sad exploration of love and loss….. and hedgehogs.
NB. Not suitable for children.
No Frills Theatre Company
On The Harmful Effects of Tobacco by Anton Chekhov
A bittersweet monologue in which a scientific lecture is hijacked by thoughts of domestic misery. A highly entertaining and comic short offering an insight into the author’s development as a dramatist.
HD&OS
Double Acts: Hot Desk by John Finnemore
In the reception of Willard & Son Bath Suppliers, at seven in the morning and seven in the evening, a receptionist and a security guard meet to swap ownership of a desk each day, which blossoms into an unusual relationship.
Saturday 25th May (commences 7pm)
Total Arts Community Theatre
The Real & Imagined History of the Elephant Man by Tom Wright
Joseph Merrick is an anomaly. In a city of factories that churn out uniformity, there is no place for a unique being like him. But Merrick and the city are evolving into something new. We follow him through the workhouse, the freakshow and hospital as he searches for acceptance in a society that just wants to stare at him.
The Players’ Theatre (Wales)
Albert by Richard Harris
An ordinary situation soon becomes extraordinary when three strangers meet speaking different languages. Total confusion reigns supreme.
Welwyn Drama Festival 