The box office for this year’s Sidmouth Summer Play Festival opened with a ‘record-breaking’ day of sales – as residents queued down the street for tickets.
More than 200 people came to hear all about the season at its launch night on Thursday, May 25, at the Manor Pavilion Theatre.
The event was an opportunity for them to learn more about the 12 plays on offer this year, meet the producers and have a chat to some of the actors.
Graham Whitlock, Manor Pavilion manager, was thrilled. He said: “This is the best turnout we have had for a number of years and I think the residents of Sidmouth are really excited about the plays that we have scheduled for this summer.
“Stuart Burrows and Jonny Clines have joined the team as season producers this year and the patrons really warmed to them and enjoyed meeting them for the first time. It’s going to be a great summer for the theatre.”
The success of the launch was very much in evidence the next morning, when residents were seen queuing for tickets from 7.10am.
The season’s box office opened at 10am and the theatre had a ‘record-breaking’ day of sales, said organisers.
Paul Taylor Mills, the lead producer, was delighted. He said: “Again, the residents of East Devon have shown their incredible loyalty and support for the wonderful tradition of weekly rep here in Sidmouth. I am honoured to be presenting my fifth year of plays this summer and I am always grateful for the warm welcome I receive from our supporters. We are all looking forward to another wonderful summer here at the Manor Pavilion Theatre”
The season starts on Thursday, June 22, with the hilarious Ray Cooney farce Caught In The Net.
The play festival runs until September 22.
The 2017 season features:
• Caught in the Net by Ray Cooney. June 22 - 28
• Murder in Company by Philip King and John Boland. June 29 – July 5
• The Odd Couple by Neil Simon. July 6 – 12
• Ladies in Lavender by Shaun McKenna. July 13 – 19
• Dial M for Murder by Frederick Knott. July 20 – 26
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. July 27 – August 2
• The Birds by Conor McPherson. August 3 – 4 and August 12 – 16
• Relative Values by Noel Coward. August 17 – 23
• Birthday Suite by Robin Hawdon. August 24 – 30
• Absent Friends by Alan Ayckbourn. August 31 – September 6
• Hobson’s Choice by Harold Brighouse. September 7 – 13
• House Guest by Francis Durbridge. September 14 – 22
Call the box office on 01395 514413.
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