Directed by Meryl Raines
Join us in Kansas with Dorothy, where she will embark on a magical journey to meet the Munchkins, following the Yellow Brick Road with Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Lion, all the way to Oz. Will she defeat the Wicked Witch of the West and will their wishes be granted?
Theseus, on his sixteenth birthday, demands to know who his father is. What he learns takes him on a journey of danger and discovery, as he tries to prove himself worthy of his ancestry.
Watching his every step is the sorceress Medea, who is determined to see the would-be hero fail. And for headstrong Theseus, tragedy is never far away …
Friday 25th (7.30pm) and Saturday 26th March (2.30 and 7.30pm), at Archbishop Sancroft High School, Harleston. Tickets (£5) available from Robinson’s Traditional Stationers and online at www.harlestonplayers.co.uk.
Directed by Mike Davison
November 2021
When young Kay is kidnapped by the evil Snow Queen, his best friend Gerda sets out to find him. Journeying north, she encounters both friends and foes who test her endurance to the limit. But, holding tight to a magic rose that will never fade while love prevails, she sets her sights on the northern lights in search of the Snow Queen’s icy palace.
Adapted by Kaye Umansky from the Hans Christian Andersen tale, The Snow Queen has all the ingredients of a great story: danger, laughter, suspense, magic and some fantastic songs. So, as the temperatures drop and we near December, come to Archbishop Sancroft High School and experience the magic of fairy tale, brought to you by Harleston Players’ young actors.
Directed by Joe Edwards-Gill
January 2020
Ever since Peter Pan first flew in through Wendy Darling's nursery window and took her off to Never Land, Barrie's classic adventure story has thrilled and delighted theatre-goers. We're proud to say that our production, directed by Joe Edwards-Gill, kept up that tradition, attracting high praise from our audiences.
Here's what Robert Halliday thought:
Saw Peter Pan on Friday night: thought it was absolutely fantastic. Was thoroughly gripped throughout. J M Barrie's play is incredibly ambitious, and should probably be difficult for a well funded professional company to stage: after all a lot of the cast have to fly through the air persistently and repeatedly, and much of the action takes place in an utterly fantastical 'Neverland'. Harleston Players thus made a really, incredibly good task of getting Peter, Wendy, Michael and John to fly. The recreation of Neverland was quite compelling. All the cast, especially the younger actors, played their roles with incredible commitment. The last five minutes was so emotional that it made me cry. So thank you to Harleston Players for a brilliant night out watching Peter Pan!
By Geoff Bamber
Directed by Vicki Hirst
Wilbur Wilberforce Wigglesworth, a snowplough salesman, stumbles upon Ma Popsley's all-night diner in Humdrum Falls, when the town is shaken by the sudden arrival of the Zorgon Battleforce, revelling in their reputation for ruthless cruelty!
Can the townsfolk come up with a solution to save the planet? A part-time superhero/pizza delivery boy may hold the key…
Packed with songs and dances, this hilarious production gave our Youth Drama group a brilliant chance to let their hair down and have fun. This comment from Maggi Hopkins sums up the audience reactions:
"What an amazing performance from a talented bunch of kids - absolutely loved it. Tears of laughter running down my face - bravo Harleston Youth!"
Adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan, The 39 Steps is a hilarious and spectacular spoof of one of Britain’s most spell-binding thrillers, jam-packed with hair-raising scenes that include a chase on the Flying Scotsman, a Forth Bridge escape, a bi-plane crash and a thrilling death-defying finale at the London Palladium.
Marvel as our amazing cast take on at least 139 roles between them in a madcap, action-packed show, with lightning-fast prop and character changes. Hold onto your hats, and welcome to “The 39 Steps” – a spy story like no other! Directed by Paul Goldsmith.
By Robert Bolt
Directed by Tony Winn
Half of Bolligrew island is ravaged by a dragon - the other half dominated by the corrupt Baron and his bully boy sidekick Blackheart. The church has been destroyed, the peasants downtrodden and the court is rigged. In comes our somewhat inept but moral hero Sir Oblong Fitz Oblong. Can he restore order, rebuild the church, thwart the Baron AND kill the dragon? If only he had a talking magpie to help .....
November 2017
Directed by Tony Winn
Big Bad Wolf is on trial for eating Grandma but there is a surprising twist to the story when the truth about Lumber Jack's plans for the forest comes out and Little Red Riding Hood shows her true colours.
Audiences loved this one act comedy by Raymond Blakesley, with added songs thanks to director Tony Winn. Comments included:
"So much fun. Really really good. Thank you so much for giving us such an entertaining show." Ann Osborne
"Well done, you were fabulous and put on a humorous, entertaining and fabulous show.” Karen Louise 🎉 🎉
“Congratulations to all involved ... You let the children shine thanks to your enthusiasm and dedication... 2 fab performances.” Erica Summers
November 2016
Directed by Mike Davison
Once upon a time that never was, in an England that never existed, ferocious wolves roamed the snow-bound land and travellers carried guns to ward off attacks. But brave Bonnie Green and her orphaned cousin Sylvia have more than wolves to cope with when a sinister new governess, Miss Slighcarp, arrives at Willoughby Chase mansion. And when Bonnie’s parents are reported shipwrecked and drowned, and the girls are banished to a workhouse, the future looks far from bright for our young heroes…
A classic children’s novel of the 1970s, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - adapted for the stage in 2010 - is a wild and thrilling adventure, combining drama, comedy and a little spookiness.