The Quay Theatre - What's On in September 2010

The Importance of Being Earnest This is the tenth year in the life of First Call, The Quay's teenage theatre group. Each year they have performed a classic text to the highest possible production standards. This year is no different as they tackle this hilarious comedy of manners set in late nineteenth century England where young men make up dying relatives for sport and battle axe aunts hold the balance of power in polite society. Directed by Robert Crighton and featuring the finest of our young actors.

Ondine The story of Syracuse, a simple fisherman who catches a beautiful and mysterious woman in his trawler's nets. The woman seems to be dead, but then she comes alive before Syracuse's eyes and he thinks he may be seeing things. However, with the help of his ailing, yet irrepressible daughter, Annie, he comes to believe that the fantastical might be possible and that the woman (ondine) might be a myth come true.

St Gregory's Church The history of Sudbury has been re-shaped, clarified and enhanced in the last ten years by this popular local history group, making the public aware of the rich heritage which this town enjoys and encouraging them to widen their knowledge of its past.
Barry Wall, the Society's chairman and local historian, will show how much has been achieved and how it was done. It will cover such items as the 14th Century New Town of Sudbury, the Bunting Warehouse, who did build St Gregory's?, who was the real architect of Sudbury's Town Hall?, where was the Sidolvismere Chapel in Ballingdon?, who were the Brothers of St Thomas who built it?, etc, etc.

Francis Durbridge From the creator of Paul Temple comes a rollercoaster thriller of kidnap and murder. Famous film actor Robert Drury has come home early from a trip to Europe, only to tell his wife that their child has been kidnapped. But the ransom isn't for money, only to act as host to the mysterious Major Crozier. Just the beginning of a battle of wits between the couple and a series of dangerous visitors as they struggle to save their missing son.

Happy Families
by
John Godber

Rodney Bewes is a favourite with us here at The Quay and among the best things he has brought us is this wonderful show. But that was six years ago, so we thought it high time to ask him back. Rodney has moved on from The Likely Lads but some things never change and, as his Edinburgh Festival reviews say, "His audience adores him ... his delivery is so natural and appealing that it seems entirely spontaneous."

Michael Frayn's hilarious collection of four One Act Plays originally made famous by Richard Briers and Lynn Redgrave comes to us as part of The Theatre Royal's tour. As producer, The Theatre Royal never lets us down when it comes to first class comedy. The fourth of this series, Chinamen, is a farce about a catastrophic dinner party and inspired the very successful Noises Off.

A Single Man Based on the novel by Christopher Isherwood.
It's November 30, 1962. Native Brit George Falconer, an English professor at a Los Angeles area college, is finding it difficult to cope with life. Jim, his personal partner of sixteen years, died in a car accident eight months earlier when he was visiting with family. Jim's family were not going to tell George of the death or accident let alone allow him to attend the funeral. This day, George has decided to get his affairs in order before he will commit suicide that evening. As he routinely and fastidiously prepares for the suicide and post suicide, George reminisces about his life with Jim.

The Last Station In 1910, acclaimed Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, in the later stage of his life, works rather than a writer but as the leader of the Tolstoyan Movement, whose basic tenets are brotherly love and world peace through pacifism, and a denouncement of material wealth and physical love. His chief follower is Vladimir Chertkov, who does whatever he requires to advance the cause. Chertkov hires a young man named Valentin Bulgakov to be Tolstoy's personal secretary in carrying out this work. Once ensconced in the life on the estate where much of the work is taking place, Bulgakov quickly learns that many there take from the movement only what he/she wants/believes. Also chief amongst the movement's wants is the deeding of all Tolstoy's writings to the people so that after his death it will become public domain. Tolstoy's wife, the Countess Sofya Andreevna Tolstoy, believes that her husband's writings are rightfully hers after he passes, as she wants and believes she deserves the monetary benefits derived from such.

Other shows in the series -
Thursday October 7th, Thursday October 14th and Thursday October 28th.
Series price £16.00.

Listen as award-winning performer Robert Crighton brings to life Sherlock Holmes in the penultimate collection of tales from Conan-Doyle. His Last Bow contains some of Holmes's most challenging and terrifying cases, including the last case he ever solves. This will not quite be the end however. Included in this autumn series is the novel The Valley of Fear and we hope also to bring you the final Casebook of Sherlock Holmes in the New Year.

The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge & The Red Circle
Where Holmes investigates a disappearing household and a very secretive lodger - both mysteries leading to dark secrets and murder.

[ 01 - 04 ]THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

[ 07 ]ONDINE (12A)

[ 10 ]SUDBURY HISTORY SOCIETY'S 10th ANNIVERSAY

[ 14 - 18 ]HOUSE GUEST

[ 15 ]THE QUAY PLAY READERS GROUP

[ 23 ]RODNEY BEWES in his solo adaptation of
Jerome J Kerome's THREE MEN IN A BOAT

[ 24 ]THE TWO OF US

[ 25 ]A SINGLE MAN (12A)

[ 26 ]OPEN MUSIC NIGHT

[ 28 ]THE LAST STATION (15)

[ 30 ]THE COMPLETE HOLMES - HIS LAST BOW