PRODUCTION DETAILS

 

TITLE: A Trio of Drama, Suspense and Comedy

PLAYWRIGHT: Jane Thornton; Andrew Faulkes; David Tristram

PERFORMANCE DATES: 31st Oct - 2nd Nov 2024

DIRECTOR: Helen Lawley; Andrew Faulkes; Linda Baillie

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CAST - LOST

Len - Trevor Britain

Bet - Nicki Clay

Fisherman - Bob Wells

Waitress - Carol Drinkwater

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CAST - A NICE LITTLE BUSINESS

Mike Harrison, a sub-postmaster - John Spindler

Val Harrison, a shopkeeper - Nicki Clay

Sharon, a customer - Jill Pearson

Joe Rawnsley, a solicitor - Mike Waters

Mary O’Donnelly, a Post Office official - Helen Lawley

D Stevenson, a barrister - Alice Hoskins

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CAST - WHAT'S FOR PUDDING?

Jack - Trevor Britain

Mary - Linda Baillie

Ted - John Spindler

Maureen - Jill Pearson

Dennis - Gary Bateson

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Click HERE for production programme

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​​FROM THE DIRECTORS

Helen Lawley (Lost)

 Husband and wife team, Jane Thornton and John Godber were commissioned to write two interlinked plays by Chris Monks, Artistic Director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough in 2012. 

 Having famously collaborated on Shakers back in 1988,  the resultant companion pieces, Lost and Found were performed at the SJT, sometimes individually, sometimes back-to-back in the lunchtime or evening slots. 

 Set in the town, both plays feature two hotel workers, Chelsea and Tom as the summer season draws to a close.  In Lost, the pair gamely entertain guests with sketches about Len and Bet while the delayed Palm Court Boys band turn up.

 It is this play within a play that we will be performing for you tonight.  It's a right little gem with sharp dialogue and beautiful observation of two people rubbing each other up the wrong way in a certain seaside town.  Enjoy!

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Andrew Faulkes (A Nice Little Business)

 The Post Office scandal, as it has become known, comprises one of the most egregious abuses of the British Justice system of all time.

 After the Post Office introduced a new accounting system -“Horizon”, devised by Fujitsu, - errors occurred in the software which were interpreted by the Post Office as showing that

the sub-postmasters and mistresses had been behaving fraudulently.

The scandal is that it was known to some officials that the errors were in the system and not in the operation of it.

Private Eye followed the story closely and forensically. Following the broadcast by ITV of the expose, “Mr. Bates v The Post Office”, and the holding of the Public Inquiry, public awareness is now high about how the PO manipulated the judicial system, resulting in the wrongful conviction of over 900 employees, including the actual imprisonment of 236 of them!

 Quite how it feels to be wrongfully charged is hard to imagine. Contemplating prison for an offence you haven’t committed is truly the stuff of nightmares. I wrote the first draft of this as a radio play during lockdown. Its characters are entirely fictional, but the circumstances are, I hope, quite plausible.

 It was intended to highlight the situation when it was hidden from the majority of the public, and I was touched when the Monday Players wanted to include it in their 2024 production. The fact that we are all now very aware of what transpired, does not, I hope, take away the power of the piece.

 

Linda Baillie (What’s For Pudding?)

 David Tristram is one of the UK's most popular and performed comedy playwrights. On average, one of his 29 published comedies is being performed somewhere in the world every single day.

 The Monday Players have performed three of his hugely popular ''Little Grimley'' plays

but we thought we'd better have a change this time.

 I love performing comedy and I have enjoyed the process of directing all my cast to deliver their own comedy performance. However, none of this is possible without the commitment, time, dedication (and humour) of everyone.

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