The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - January/February 2009

Directed by Cathy Gill (Asst. Dir. Mike Davison)

It is wartime and Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are four children evacuated to the country house of an old professor. Whilst playing hide-and-seek, Lucy passes through the back of an old wardrobe, and discovers the magical land of Narnia, where the White Witch has seized power over the fauns and beavers and mythical creatures and has cast a spell making it always winter, but never Christmas. The children soon discover that they must seek out the magnificent lion Aslan, and together set out on their perilous quest to destroy the witch and her minions, and free Narnia from her icy spell.

Gulliver's Adventures in Lilliput - January/February 2008

Directed by David Cumming

A Magical, musical, family show based on Jonathan Swift's classic tale. This exciting adaptation was produced with an original script and music by Alan Huckle and David Black of EYESWRITE. Produced by Helen Farrar.

The Merchant of Venice - July 2008

Directed by Cathy Gill

Bassanio is broke. He asks his friend Antonio (the Merchant) to loan him the money so he can woo Portia, the heiress of Belmont. Antonio's money is all tied up in his merchant fleets, so Bassanio goes to Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, and Antonio says he will stand guarantor for the loan, confident that his ships will return long before the bond is forfeit. Shylock and Antonio are old enemies, however. The reasons are 1) a traditional Jewish/Christian distrust and enmity and 2) Shylock charges interest on his loans, a practise that was forbidden in Christian society. Shylock senses an opportunity for revenge, and suggests that instead of charging interest on the loan, this time he will ask only for a pound of Antonio's flesh if the money is not repaid on time. Antonio agrees to the Bond. Meanwhile Portia, in Belmont, receives various suitors. Before his death her father arranged that each suitor should choose one of three caskets of gold, silver and lead, one of which contains Portia's picture. He who chooses the right casket wins Portia's hand in marriage. Back in Venice, Shylock's daughter, Jessica, is planning to steal her father's money, and elope with Lorenzo, one of Bassanio's friends. She will also convert to Christianity In Act 3 Bassanio chooses between the caskets, but as soon as he has chosen news comes that Antonio's ships have all failed, that his Bond to Shylock is forfeit.....and that Shylock is unwavering in his pursuit of the pound of flesh... Come back after the interval to see how Portia steps in to sort it all out...

Brontë - October/November 2008

Directed by Yves Green

In the spring of 2003 the Players presented Jane Eyre, the first play in a trilogy devised and dramatised by Polly Teale, Associate Director for the extraordinary Shared Experience Theatre Company. Such was the creative experience of working on this type of physical and imaginative drama that I was delighted to be asked to direct Brontë, Teale's final work on this most famous literary family. 'How is it possible that three Victorian spinsters, living in isolation on the Yorkshire moors could have written some of the most powerful and passionate fiction of all time?' Brontë seeks to answer this question by dramatising, not only the lives of Charlotte, Emily and Anne but also their fictional characters, Jane Eyre, Bertha (the mad woman in the attic, seen by Teale as Charlotte/Jane's alter ego), Rochester, Cathy Earnshaw and her maid Nelly, Heathcliff, and Anne's creation, Arthur Huntington.

Sweet Charity - October 2007

Directed by Joan Huckle (Stage) and Stella Brownsea (Musical)

Set in 1960s' New York, Sweet Charity is the poignant and funny story of Charity Hope Valentine who, despite her dead end job as a dance club hostess in the sleazy Fandango Night Club, is an incurable optimist. Her adventures and misadventures bring tears and laughter as we follow her quest for true love and a better life. For this much loved show, the large cast and band will be performing such wonderful Cy Coleman musical numbers as If My Friends Could See Me Now, The Rhythm of Life, I love to Cry at Weddings and the showstopper Hey Big Spender.

The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomens Guild Dramatic Society - Murder mystery - April 2007

Directed by Sara Curtis

This hilarious farce followed the antics of the four redoubtable ladies of The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild as they attempted to present Murder at Checkmate Manor. This ambiguous and cunning Agatha Christie-style 1930s drawing room murder mystery requires them to play all 14 roles (aided by their stage manager, Gordon) with hysterical results. As well as performing the play, the ladies also present a Film and Fashion Show and a Murder Mystery Quiz complete with prize! If it can go wrong it probably will..... but surely it will be all right on the night!

Pinocchio - January / February 2007

Directed by Christine Harvey

Pinocchio - an exciting adaptation of this well loved tale. The trials and tribulation of this hapless puppet, and his struggle to become a proper boy, are told in a musical play suitable for all the family. A lively, colourful production about how Pinocchio's nose grows and Gepetto lives inside the whale !

Bouncers - October 2006

Directed by Emma Matthews

It's Friday night. It's disco night, time for Bouncers to come alive. In this adult, outrageous and hilarious parody of the 80's disco scene, four bouncers portraying over 20 different characters invite you for a night out on the town. You meet giggly girls, lads on the make, Hooray Henrys, punks and a smart-talking DJ all against the tatty, glitzy glamour, flashing lights and pulsating beat of the disco floor.

Friar Bacon & Friar Bungay - June 2006

Directed by Cathy Gill

Harleston Players were awarded a grant of £24,000 to stage a local play, written by a contemporary of Shakespeare. Robert Greene was born in Norwich and his romantic comedy The Honourable History of Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay is set in this very part of the Waveney valley. When the King's son falls for a dairymaid, the Fair Maid of Fressingfield, he enlists the help of his best friend, (disguised as a Beccles farmer) and the skills of the world's greatest magician, the infamous Friar Bacon, in order to win her. But things do not go according to plan... Packed with romance, broad comedy and miraculous magic, this was the first time this rumbustious play had been performed for several years.

Sleeping Beauty - January / February 2006

Directed by David Cumming

Most fairy stories begin at the beginning, this one is a bit different. When the play opens we find Goody, a fairy in the forest. She has been waiting, hoping that one day a prince will come, a prince who will wake Sleeping Beauty, and thereby break a curse that she cast many years before.

The Weekend - October 2005

Directed by Roy Goodwin

Based in a Suffolk village, the play explores both the funny and dark sides of family life. Faced with the prospect of his daughter, dreary son-in-law and painful teenage granddaughter, visiting for the weekend, not to mention their poorly house trained dog, Stephen Febble reaches for the whisky and the sarcasm.

Twelfth Night - July 2005

Directed by David Cumming

This is one of the funniest of Shakespeareπs romantic comedies, ideal for a summer's evening. Great entertainment with the riotous behaviour of Sir Toby Belch, cross-dressing of Viola, misplaced love, mistaken identity, pirates and plotters, enchanting music and songs and the fall of the pompous and self-loving steward Malvolio. This outdoor production toured The Ship, Dunwich; Besthorpe Hall near Attleborough; Thornham Walled Garden; Bateman's Barn; Norwich Cathedral and our 'home' outdoor venue at Starston.

The Magic Candleshop - January 2005

Directed by Joyce Blane

A world premiere! Set in England during World War II. The Magic Candleshop tells the story of four children who discover a mysterious shop where lighting candles takes them on fantastic adventures through time and space. However, darkness lurks nearby, and soon the children are drawn onto the frontline in the age-old battle of Good versus Evil... (copyright JAN Promotions)

Steel Magnolias - October 2004

Directed by Sara Curtis

In Truvy's beauty salon, Louisiana, a close knit circle of friends gather to gossip. When tragedy strikes and M'Lynn's newly married daughter needs a kidney transplant they are faced with the harsh reality of life. But these southern belles soon learn that the power of their friendship and laughter is the one thing that helps them heal.

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice - April 2004

Directed by David Green

The story of a young girl who finds her only source of joy, life and escape from her drunken mother in impersonating the songs and voices of all time greats. Her life is turned upside down when a cowboy manager to the stars discovers Little Voice and tries to make her the star she never wanted to be. "A fine production, capable of moving and amusing the audience in equal measure" Stuart Charman, Diss Express. "The cast rose supremely to the challenge" Janet Chambers, East Anglian Daily Times.

Beauty And The Beast - January 2004

Directed by David Cumming

This production won a 'best play award' from the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA).

An Experiment with an Airpump - October 2003

Directed by Cathy Gill

1999: at the dawn of a new millennium, Tom and Ellen discover a dark secret buried beneath their house. 1799: in the same house, the occupants eagerly anticipate the new century when the mysteries of life will be revealed by the light of science. Inspired by the painting by Joseph Wright of Derby, this intelligent and witty play - turns chilling and hilarious - explores the emotional detritus left behind in our search for 'progress'.

Jane Eyre - March 2003

Directed by Yves Green

A superb Polly Teale adaptation of the classic - Jane Eyre is poor, plain and unloved. But locked up in the attic of her imagination lives a woman so passionate and so full of longing she must be guarded night and day for fear of the havoc she would wreak. Who is this woman who threatens to destroy Jane's orderly world? A world where Jane has, for the first time, fallen in love. This production won a 'best play award' from the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA).

The Pied Piper of Hamelin - January / February 2003

Directed by Joyce Blane