PRODUCTION DETAILS

 

TITLE: Neville's Island

PLAYWRIGHT: Tim Firth

PERFORMANCE DATES: 30th Oct - 1st Nov 2025

DIRECTOR: David Lane

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CAST 

Gordon - Mike Waters

Neville - Nigel Fisher

Angus - Trevor Britain

Roy - Jon Cooke

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Click HERE for production programme

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SYNOPSIS - A BUNCH OF AMATEURS

Four managers from a mineral water company based in Salford go on a team-building exercise in the English Lake District and become stranded on a wooded island. All are quite different. Neville is the incompetent team leader, Angus a fussy perfectionist, Roy an unstable birdwatching Christian, while Gordon, a loner from a working-class background, has a talent for mocking the others. A mist rolls in, the only food they have is one cold sausage, and the men become desperate. They argue over the division of the sausage, then panic when they hear a rustle in the woods and begin to think of murder.

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CHAIR’S PRODUCTION NOTES

Good evening, and welcome to our latest production, Neville’s Island by Tim Firth. This play
was on a shortlist of possibles earlier in the year, alongside its sister play, Sheila’s Island, a slightly updated female version. Witnessing four men, all middle-managers, haplessly and frenetically flapping about on an island, it was an easy decision!

It has however brought challenges for the cast of four; so many lines to learn… and a capacious rucksack to wrangle. They have all done a smashing job – bravo!

We welcome back our former Chair and founder member, David Lane, to direct Neville’s Island. It has been a perfect outlet to channel his creativity, from the directing and staging to the lighting and sound. Thank you, David. A mention also to the lighting and sound duo who have spent many an hour researching, sourcing, and designing the effects for this production, and to the team beavering away behind the scenes to bring this play to life.

We are always needing new members to join us – without which we would not be able to continue to produce high quality productions. We are in our thirty-second year and look forward to many more years to come. So, if you are interested in performing, lighting, sound, directing, set building, painting, stage crew, or front of house, please do get in touch by email to chair@mondayplayers.com.

Details of open auditions for our May 2026 production of Stepping Out will be announced later this year; watch out for MP emails, and social media posts. Thank you to our audience, patrons, and sponsors for your continued support. 

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Nicki Clay

 

DIRECTIOR'S PRODUCTION NOTES

Rampsholme is a very small island, located in Derwent Water in the Lake District; the town of Keswick is nearby. 

It is the setting for this well-known play, Neville's Island, created and written by Tim Firth. 
Neville's Island was Tim Firth’s first major work(commissioned for the Stephen Joseph Theatre by Alan Ayckbourn in 1992). Firth’s writing expanded in later years, including the television series, “All Quiet on the Preston Front”, and of course, the original play of
“Calendar Girls” and its subsequent film and musical version. 

The story begins with a cast of four well defined characters – all businessmen – who become stranded on Rampsholme Island during a corporate team-building weekend. The story explores several themes, with humour exposing the darker elements of human nature. 

The play involves many technical challenges involving numerous props and a multitude of sound and lighting effects to create 14 scenes in two acts. 

An engaging story, an unusual setting, a well written script, great character roles and many stage effects, all contributed to a welcome and enjoyable challenge for The Monday Players; the play has been very rewarding to produce and direct. 

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David Lane

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