New season of theatre announced for Southwick Players productions

A new line-up of productions has been announced by Gary Cook, newly-elected president of Southwick Players, for its 2019 season at the Barn Theatre in Southwick Street.
Gary Cook, newly elected president of Southwick Players announces new season 2019 at annual general meetingGary Cook, newly elected president of Southwick Players announces new season 2019 at annual general meeting
Gary Cook, newly elected president of Southwick Players announces new season 2019 at annual general meeting

Richard Lindfield, the Players’ best director in 2016 for his staging of the farce See How They Run, returns to Southwick with a dramatic change of mood from March 6 to March 9, 2019.

He is directing Ariel Dorfman’s award-winning three-hander Death and the Maiden, set in an unnamed South American country, which has recently thrown off the shackles of dictatorship.

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Best new play at the 1992 Oliviers, the truth and reconciliation drama focuses on former political prisoner Paulina Salas, who had been raped by her captors, led by a sadistic doctor whose face she never saw. When later convinced the voice of a passing stranger is that of her torturer, she takes the law into her own hands.

From June 5 to June 8, 2019, director Ron Common promises that small will not only be beautiful, but also ‘fast, frenetic and very funny’ as film epic Ben Hur is reduced from a cast of more than 50,000 to just a handful of actors in Patrick Barlow’s stage adaptation.

Barlow was previously responsible for a makeover of The 39 Steps, which enjoyed a long run in the West End.

Members of the Southwick Players have a proud tradition to maintain in the Brighton and Hove Arts Council’s annual Drama Awards, having won the best overall show trophy two years running with Far from the Madding Crowd and Be My Baby in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

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Harry Atkinson is at the helm of the group’s 2019 entry, Dinner by Moira Buffini, from September 11 to September 14, 2019. He handed over the Players’ presidency at last month’s annual meeting to Gary Cook to concentrate on his many directorial duties.

Harry said: “The play is a black comedy about the dinner party from hell, watch out for shocks.”

Last on next year’s line-up of productions, Kate Armes will direct what she describes as ‘a wonderful American farce’, The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder, from December 11 to December 14, 2019.

She said: “It will be great fun to rehearse and provide a wonderful pre-Christmas treat for our audiences.”

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Southwick Players is currently in rehearsals for Cinderella, to be performed at the Barn Theatre from December 29 to January 5.

For more information or to book call the box office on 01273 597094 or visit www.southwickplayers.org.uk.

The Guide

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