The launch of the Sidmouth Summer Play Festival on June 1 at the Manor Pavilion Theatre was a popular and enjoyable event. Paul Taylor-Mills, the artistic director, was joined on stage by Season producer Andrew Beckett and actor James Pellow.

The Summer Play Festival has now been running for 10 years, and the trio shared stories of past successes and also amusing accounts of recalcitrant scenery, costume mishaps and forgotten dialogue.

Audience members Jill and Malcolm Armstrong are planning to see all 12 plays. “We can't get enough of it,” said Malcolm. “The acting is excellent and we love to see the ensemble cast and how some actors will play different roles in throughout the season. We are very impressed by their versatility. We adore James Pellow. He always makes any role his own. The productions here are just as good if not better than plays we have seen in the West End, but without the expense of going up to London.”

“Sidmouth Summer Play Festival is the last weekly repertory company in the UK and it's such a privilege to be here,” said Paul Taylor-Mills. “To celebrate our 10th anniversary we are bringing back six of the best performing plays of the past decade including The 39 Steps, Boeing Boeing and The Mating Game. We have a fantastic mix of established actors and fresh young talent who we know will make you laugh, cry and deliver a fantastic evening's entertainment.”

James Pellow will be in five plays this year and said: “We're really looking forward to welcoming audiences back and have a wonderful line-up of plays for you. Local theatre is just magical and we need to keep it going.”

The Sidmouth Summer Play Festival begins on Monday, June 26 and runs for six weeks, after which the company takes a break until after the Folk Festival when the second half of six further plays including drama, thrillers and farce will commence.

There are deals available for advance bookings. With a half season ticket you can see any six plays and only pay for five, and with a full season ticket you can see all 12 plays and only pay for 10.

The programme is as follows:

The Small Hours by Francis Durbridge plays 26th June to 1st July

Boeing Boeing by Marc Camoletti (translated by Beverley Cross and Francis Evans) plays 3rd July to 8th July

Game Plan by Alan Ayckbourn plays 10th July to 15th July

Flat Spin by Alan Ayckbourn plays 17th July to 22nd July

Role Play by Alan Ayckbourn plays 24th July to 29th July

The Business of Murder by Richard Harris plays 31st July to 4th August

Run For Your Wife by Ray Cooney plays 14th August to 19th August

Not Dead Enough by Peter James plays 21st August to 26th August

The Mating Game by Robin Hawdon plays 28th August to 2nd September

Pack Of Lies by Hugh Whitemore plays 4th September to 9th September

Private Lives by Noël Coward plays 11th September to 16th September

The 39 Steps adapted by Patrick Barlow plays 18th September to 23rd September

To buy tickets book online or phone the Manor Pavilion Theatre www.manorpavilion.com 01395 514413

 

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