Performances: 15-18 May 2024, Betchworth Village Hall

Director: Jane Hogg

Four ladies who have only just met make a bold decision to escape the dire winter weather of 1920's London and rent a villa in Italy for the month of April. All have very different characters and backgrounds, but each has a deep dissatisfaction with their everyday lives.

Will their time together at beautiful San Salvatore help bring them the friendship, resolution, peace and most of all, love, they crave ? Join Lotty, Rose, Caroline, Mrs Fisher and assorted husbands on their Italian idyll to find out, in this gentle play adapted by Bonnie Roberts from the novel by Elizabeth von Arnim

Presented by arrangement with the Dramatic Publishing Company, Woodstock, Illinois

This one-act play by Michael Pearcy is set in an ordinary town in the not too distant future, when AI and robots have taken over almost every job. Desperate to save hers, Barbara confronts her MP Peter at the weekly surgery. He and his agent Vanessa try to persuade Barbara to settle for 'end of work training', however she is determined to make a stand and has some surprising tactics up her sleeve, as well as unexpected support. The consequences are entertaining, but there's also an underlying serious and topical message. Contains strong language

Presented by arrangement with Lazy Bee Scripts

Director: Alison Cooper

Musical Director: Ian Stone

A rarely-performed musical by Bill Owen and Tony Russell. In 1888 female workers at the Bryant & May match factory in one of the poorest areas of East London went on strike for fair pay and safer working conditions. Many had been seriously affected by contact with white phosphorus (causing conditions such as ‘phossy jaw’) and the low wages were reduced even further by frequent fines. For more historical background visit matchgirls1888.org

Written in the 1960s, The Matchgirls dramatizes their struggle which attracted public support and resulted in historic new rights being established - eventually the use of white phosphorus was banned. Despite the subject and the grim setting, the musical contains plenty of humour and upbeat songs, as the traditional Cockney spirit rises above the darkest moments

Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.

The production was reviewed for NODA by Graham Botterill

Cast

Production Team