Brackley Players back on stage with Neighbourhood Watch

27/10/2021

A cast of eight will perform Alan Ayckbourn’s comedy for the next three nights

Brackley Players are set to tread the boards again tonight for the first time since the pandemic started.   They will be performing Alan Ayckbourn’s comedy Neighbourhood Watch for the next three nights at Southfield Primary Academy.

The cast of eight have been rehearsing for the last two months to bring the play to the stage.

The story unfolds as Martin Massie and his sister Hilda move into a new house and find their suburban dream is threatened by petty crime and vandalism.  With their neighbours they decide to take action. But the dangers of taking the law into your hands soon become apparent, as events spiral out of control, with darkly hilarious consequences.

Josh Ryan takes the role of Martin Massie, with Amanda Howson as his sister Hilda. Their neighbours, Gareth and Amy Janner, are played by Scott and Lisa Saffrey respectively, Luther and Magda Bradley by Ted Webb and Abigail Jeffs, with Dave Toman as Rod and Fran Hollyoake as Dorothy.

Amanda Howson told us the cast were pleased to be performing live again.   She said: “We’re really looking forward to seeing an audience.   It feels like its been a really long time.

The cast have been rehearsing for around eight weeks for Neighbourhood Watch, which is written by a playwright who creates truly believable characters.   Amanda said: “You recognise the kind of people you know, your neighbours and the people you come across at work.   You can see all the little foibles and tensions coming out and he heightens all those and leads the characters into more and more bizarre situations.”

Director Jim Howson commented: “Ayckbourn’s comedies are all about the characters, and the cast are doing a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life in this hilarious cautionary tale.”

The curtain is up for the performances at 7.30 this evening, tomorrow and on Friday.    Tickets are £10 for adults and £8 for concessions and can be bought in person from the Old Hall Bookshop in Brackley or by ringing Keith on 07516 408897.


Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam

Reader's opinions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Current track

Title

Artist

Background