Bishop Auckland Theatre Society is turning the tables on traditional theatre by performing two one-act plays in one night. In a bolder move, both shows are to be directed by some of the newest recruits to the society.
The decision was made as the amateur dramatic group struggled to choose their next play. Each of the shows had been suggested several times but it was felt that neither play was long enough to perform to a paying audience.
The shows, ‘Smalls Talk’ by Sue and Clive Read and ‘Singing In The Wilderness’ by David Campton, which are to be performed at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, will give audience members two different experiences whilst displaying the society’s ability to perform an array of theatrical genres.
‘Smalls Talk’ – a comedy, directed by Karen Duffy and Emma Westwood-Fulcher, takes place in Linda’s Living-room where five ladies of different ages and backgrounds have been invited to enjoy a Lady Lace Lingerie party. The differing personalities of the ladies ensures a decidedly cool atmosphere, until Linda remembers her husband Rex’s home-made Pea-pod wine.
The ladies discover they have more in common than first thought, as tongues are loosened and they decide to give one of the girls a makeover in order to regain the affections of her errant husband.
Using the hen-pecked Rex as a guinea-pig to measure her increased sensuality, the ladies plough on with their mission through an alcoholic haze with hilarious results.
In ‘Singing In The Wilderness’, directed by Peter Cooke, we meet the well-loved fairies from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Peter Pan as they struggle against the continuous attack of the hazards of waste caused by humans.
When the winged friends discover a copse they believe they have finally found a safe-haven in which to live out their lives, and when a folk-lorist and an ecologist stumble across them, the fairies feel they have a friend in the ecologist. However, this alliance soon turns sour when the ecologist realises he can exploit the magical creatures by destroying part of the forest to build a car-park, and charging admission for people to come and see them. Can the fairies escape before it’s too late or will they be forced to live out the rest of their days in the public eye?
‘Smalls Talk’ and ‘Singing In The Wilderness’ are showing at Bishop Auckland Town Hall from Wednesday 22nd May to Saturday 25th May from 7.30pm.
Tickets are £7, or £6 for concessions.
For tickets call 01388 665177.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
