The curtain is going up on the summer drama season at Sheringham as cast and crew prepare the opening farce.
Ding Dong is the first of three plays in the traditional summer season running in August and September.
Set in Paris, the pacey, plot-twisting action revolves around businessman Bernard. He has discovered his wife is having an affair with Robert, who is confronted – and given two outrageous options to compensate.
The fun unfolds as he makes his choice amid a colourful set of other dinner guests including a high-class call girl, and watched over by an overworked maid.
Director Simon Thompson said: “The original French name for the play is Sex and Jealousy – which says it all really. The plot has endless complications that see things just keep on getting worse for the characters.”
The six-strong cast are a mix of familiar and new faces with returnees Kyle Fraser, Meg Artherton and Rachael Cummins playing Bernard, call girl Barbara and maid Marie-Louise. Newcomers Kate Cresswell, Joe Feeney and Emma Fenney play Jacqueline, Robert, and his wife Juliet.
After just 10 days of rehearsals, which began this week, the show runs from August 8-17. The Little Theatre is marking 65 years of hosting summer “repertory” and is one of only a handful of remaining outposts of seasonal drama programmes by a group of actors playing a variety of roles, which is regarded as a top training ground for honing stage skills.
The other summer plays are:
- Ladies Day (August 20-26) – following four fish filleters who swap their overalls for posh frocks, flutters and flirts at the races
- Absent Friends (August 28 – September 6) – Alan Ayckbourn’s bittersweet comedy as friends seek to comfort recently-bereaved Colin get over the death of his fiancée.
Theatre director Debbie Thompson said: “We are doing shows which we know will be popular among our audiences – bringing back favourites such as Ding Dong and Absent Friends, while introducing new comedy in Ladies Day. It will be a fun summer.”
The shows are all 7.30pm, but all have two 2.30pm matinees. Tickets are on sale now via www.sheringhamlittletheatre.com or the box office on 01263 822347.
