My Darling Clemmie
"My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me."
Winston Churchill.
My Darling Clemmie is the remarkable, moving and highly entertaining story of the woman who married one of the truly great figures of the 20th century: Sir Winston Churchill, "The Guardian Angel of our country’s guardian" said Lord Halifax.
Testament of Youth
Vera Brittain’s haunting autobiography performed by Rohan McCullough.
"Rohan McCullough’s performance brings my mother’s famous book on the First World War… alive bringing out the poignancy and profundity of the narrative. She has a sensitive understanding of my mother’s writing, and sometimes seems almost to become the young nurse who wrote the diary… I strongly commend her presentation." Shirley Williams in the House of Lords 16th July 2001
The Tale of Beatrix Potter
The Tale of Beatrix Potter is described in the press as a “magical and spell-binding” show about the woman behind the classic children’s novels featuring Peter Rabbit.
Based on Beatrix Potter’s diaries, Rohan McCullough takes us on an enchanting journey through the storyteller’s life, from her solitary childhood and conflicts with her parents, to the success of Peter Rabbit and an unlikely but happy marriage.
Richard Bucket Overflows! - An Audience with Clive Swift
Clive Swift says: Richard Bucket Overflows! is my own concoction, launched upon the world-wide popularity of BBC TV's Keeping Up Appearances, in which I play hen-pecked Richard. Personal anecdote is peppered with home-made songs.
"What a joy...an absolute triumph which should be seen all over the country"
Hic! Or The Entire History of Wine (Abridged)
Performed by Julian Curry
Still available for bookings
"An absolute gem."
Decanter Magazine.
"HIC! is a hilarious and informed one-man play. Laughing gear is a pre-requisite."
Wine Magazine.
"I cannot recommend it highly enough...witty, touching, lyrical and above all hilarious...a fellow wine writer was in tears he was laughing so much."
John Stimpfig (Lanson Wine Writer of the Year 2001).
"Superb..completely different from anything we have had since we were founded in 1978... one of our best evenings ever."
John Rhodes (Chairman, Natwest Bank Wine Society).
"Ribaldry, erudition, passion, humour and a strong narrative thrust, blend to Grand Cru evening. HIC! is immensely enjoyable."
Anthony Arlidge QC. (Master of the Entertainments, Middle Temple Hall).
"Vintage stuff for wine enthusiasts."
The Stage.
How Pleasant To Know Mr Lear
Performed by Nicholas Parsons
Still available for bookings
Nicholas Parsons presents a portrait of the nonsensical genius, Edward Lear. He illustrates Lear’s remarkably eccentric life through a skilful and enchanting delivery of his delightful nonsense verse.
"Nicholas Parsons’ endearing one-man portrait of the life and nonsense of Edward Lear is a richly satisfying evocation of the man behind the fantasy world. The show is pleasing, informative and amusing. He recreates Lear’s fantasy world through a carefully timed and superbly modulated recitation, throughout sustained by the genial ease of manner and seemingly effortless rapport with the audience we have come to expect from Parsons."
The Stage
Nicholas Parsons has worked in every branch of show business. A serious actor and a comedy performer. Also sophisticated solo cabaret work and stand-up in various countries around the world including the Edinburgh Festival - five seasons, three different shows.
He became a household name in Britain when he appeared as Straight Man to Arthur Haynes in the 1960's and their programmes were the top rated comedy shows on Independent Television for ten years. He has hosted the BBC Radio 4 Just A Minute for 38 years. He was the host of the amazingly successful Sale Of The Century for 14 years.
His appearances in the West End include, Charlie Girl, Stephen Sondeim's Into The Woods and more recently two London seasons and a national tour in the cult musical, The Rocky Horror Show. He has recently been awarded an OBE for his services to drama and broadcasting.
Bertie and David
By Andrew Neil
Performed by Andrew Hallett
Still available for bookings
The unofficial reminiscences of the last two British kings. At a celestial cocktail party George VI and Edward VIII humorously reflect on family history and sensational royal gossip. An evening of high comedy, subversion and heartache. These two 45 minute monologues were first performed to sell-out houses at The Old Red Lion, Islington.
"Andrew Hallett’s wicked performance gives new meaning to the phrase ‘class act’. He has the manipulative skill of a seasoned stand up... Brilliant
poise."
London Evening Standard
"An absolute delight...a gem of a performance from Andrew Hallett...a highly engaging, very skilful solo performance perfectly honed to detonate the
revelations with maximum impact. Go and have a gossip."
What’s On in London
"Andrew Hallett is a master of eloquent silence...he cajoles a laugh with a raised eyebrow."
Highbury and Islington Express
"This is a perfectly formed piece of theatre - beautifully written and superbly performed. Don’t miss it!"
Pam Ferris
"A wonderful evening...magnificent...a great blend of history, entertainment and thought-provoking subversions."
Peter Tachell
Red Wings - On The Rocks with Richard Burton
Written and performed by Richard Waters
Directed by Scott Frazer
Still available for bookings
If you’re given wings you have no choice but to fly
"A diverting hour – albeit one that may shatter your movie star ambitions."
Time Out
Time Out Review
Richard Waters’s engaging one-man show invites the old hellraiser back from the dead, just for long enough to explain where it all went wrong. From a leather armchair, and with a vodka bottle for company, Burton recounts his rise from the valleys to the West-End, then to ‘sweetly poisonous
Hollywood’. Marriage to the impossibly glamorous Elizabeth Taylor follows, but the fish-out-of-water Welshman howls, ‘Christ, I just want to be normal again!’
There’s some touching stuff here, not least Waters’s central conceit – he imagines Burton as an invincible, Welsh dragon, compelled to soar. ‘If you are given wings you have no choice but to fly.’
Whats On Five Star Review
In this hour long monologue the words emerge triumphant. Waters’s take on uneasy movie star Richard Burton avoids the mainstream biodoc chronology. Instead his sonorous tones sweep off in sonorous loops of anecdote and speculation. For a first play it is strikingly assured, directed with insight by Scott Frazer and touching all the landmarks of Burton’s glamorous but oddly unfulfilled life. Why could he never be satisfied with success, fame and riches? Why did his career never match his real potential? Amused and self-mocking one moment, melancholy and vulnerable the next, Waters captures the rhythms and timbre of Burton’s speech without lapsing into pastiche. At times there are unsettling flashes of physical resemblance too.
Evening Standard Review
Waters, who looks and sounds like a thirty-something Burton, gives an understated, yet compelling performance. It is hard to reconcile this
urbane, self-mocking and deeply intelligent man with the womanising, drink addled roaring boy that he tells us about. But Burton was famously plagued by contradictory impulses, a desire to escape marriage with a profound longing to return, and it is this point above all that Waters so successfully conveys.
Shylock
Performed by Gareth Armstrong
"Nothing short of incredible… an exceptional piece of theatre. Everyone should see it."
The Independent
Dear Liar
With Delena Kidd and Gary Raymond
"A stimulating and witty theatrical evening."
New York Post
The Colour of Poppies
Performed by Faith Brook
"As Sandy Wilson tunefully told us: it’s never too late to fall in love, and theatre casts a romantic glow on geriatric passion. Faith Brook, at 82 looking more sexy, more at ease with herself than ever, proves the point with her delicious portrayal of a widowed Parisienne."
Time Out
"The entire story is immensely heartwarming. Marthe is an inspiration to us all. One can only hope to feel as life-lovingly lively at her old age!"
What’s On in London
Sweet William
Performed by Michael Pennington
"Sweet William was one of the highlights of the 2006 Festival. Michael Pennington's piece was not only exquisitely performed, but also offered illuminating insights into Shakespeare's life and themes."
Comment from the organiser of The Chester Literature Festival
"Pennington's huge experience of performing, and directing, Shakespeare is distilled in Sweet William. The result is a two-hour tour-de-force, delivered with the apparent effortlessness which only a great actor could create."
Comment from the organiser of The Chester Literature Festival
"exquisitely performed... bound to delight and inform... a two-hour tour-de-force delivered with the apparent effortlessness which only a great actor can create."
Comment from the organiser of The Winchester Festival
The Devil You Know
By Frank Barrie
"A play you will talk about for days after."
The Guide
"This is a little treasure of a play. It is absolutely engaging and often side-splittingly funny. And the acting is superb. Highly recommended."
The Advertiser
Anton Chekhov
Performed by Michael Pennington
"Chekhov in all his humour and humanity... It is fortunate that so remarkable a writer and man has attracted so remarkable an actor..."
Sunday Telegraph
"Marvellously done... Chekhov to the life..."
New York Times
"Fearless and moving..."
Time Out
"Totally compelling... a beautifully modulated piece of acting..."
The Guardian