Join us for an evening of drama at the Gladstone Theatre as we host plays celebrating the best local theatrical talent on the Wirral and surrounding areas!
MONDAY 21ST APRIL
Bad Blood, Make It Write Productions | Directed by Bernie Winston
Matt has been diagnosed with Leukaemia and has just started treatment, should he need a bone marrow transplant, he could be in trouble as he has no immediately family other than an estranged father he has never known. His friend Eddie lends him moral support, or tries his best to. The play follows them as Matt embarks on his journey. We also see a romance develop between Eddie and the cousin of a mutual friend, Nicki. Together, they try to persuade Matt to at least attempt to contact his estranged father… His bone marrow could give him a 50% chance of survival, which is 50% more than he has now.
Seat of Learning, Four by Four | Directed by Liz Hardy
Recently bereaved Nan only has a sofa remaining as a reminder of her late husband but she is determind to live the rest of her life to the full. She has recently taken up with a motor cycling enthusiast, who is 20 years her junior. Nan is happy to confide in her granddaughter, Vikki, but the time has come to share the news with Shirley, her daughter.
Maybe Tomorrow, Breaking Glass Productions | Directed by Mark Davoren When a grieving mother answers the door to her deceased son’s ex-army colleague, the sensitivity of still fresh wounds might finally give way to the start of a healing process for both of them. But is all as it seems in this compelling dark drama…
TUESDAY 22ND APRIL
Next Edition, Valley Community Theatre | Directed by Tom McLennan
Two young drama practitioners have been given the job of creating a modern Living Newspaper in the style of the Agitprop theatre groups of the 20s and 30s. They take advice on the subject from two old hands and in the process show us what they’ve got in mind. An ensemble production, with an unapologetically scathing look at modern life and current affairs.
SHOWTIME, Mark Kyle Cooper Productions | Directed by Mark Kyle Cooper
SHOWTIME is a drama-comedy about Catherine La Carr, a stage icon celebrating 60 years in showbiz with a biopic show in Liverpool. Determined to win an award before retiring, Catherine faces disaster behind the scenes – bad reviews, casting issues and a walkout by her director. As the show falls apart, the audience can’t help but watch. Will Catherine finally get the recognition she craves?
What the Dickens, Greasby Players | Barry Prescott
A cast of inept thespians under the leadership, in the loosest sense of the word, of a bullying director attempt to produce their Christmas play. With more ambition than ability, they arrive at their performance venue where things start to go awry.
WEDNESDAY 23RD APRIL
The Fox, Make It Write Productions | Directed by Edward Gray Foxy or not? Henry, a spritely old man who is not all he seems to be, encourages Kara, his carer, to ask herself “why are you?” as she seeks to find her place in this world. The ancients understood the spirit animal but do we? We have greedy pigs, fat cats and busy bees… so why not ‘The Fox’? A brush with our human spirit in this surreal tale of life lived to its fullest.
Sleeps With Tigers, Red Onion Theatre Company | Directed by Rachel Pennington
During a lucid dream, Bob meets someone he loved, cherished and adored when he was 8 years old – himself, his inner self, Robbie. Once an adorable, cherished little boy, who has grown up alongside Bob, now both exactly the same age but with totally different personalities.
Trigger warning – Based on the true events of an 8 year old boy, who survived his lifetime journey. His decades of psychological and emotion trauma, caused by several layers of abusive including self-harm, sexual abuse, substance abuse and a mischance encounter with a sexual predator.
Nemesis, Make it Write Productions | Directed by Rachel Pennington
Michelle and Sonia are actors but they’re also a couple. They become work rivals, when Michelle hides a particularly juicy role from her partner. With their love falling into disharmony will their feisty relationship provide the answer to their problems and will they find their true nemesis. (Covers themes of identity and relationships).
THURSDAY 24TH APRIL
California Dreaming, California Dream Team | Directed by Rachel Louise Clark
Stuck in space with the worst possible company, Jack and Felix must survive each other as much as the void around them. Felix, a millionaire playboy, and Jack, a hardworking family man, are running out of supplies and patience. As tensions rise, secrets emerge and survival becomes a battle not just for life, but for identity. In the endless void of space, there’s no escape.
The Adventurers Club, Woolton Drama Group | Directed by Peter Andrew and Johnny Andrew
A group of twenty-somethings assemble to discuss a possible future expedition. The leader, Tom, has an idea to realise a great ambition – unrealistically – with which he surprises the group. Before long Tom’s mother interrupts proceedings and galvanises the group into action.
The Kiss, Broadbent Productions | Directed by Julie Broadbent
A couple are out for a meal as an annual celebration of their anniversary. They look back on their married life together but we soon learn that they see that time very differently from eachother and discover that bit more about their relationship.
Best Friends Stick Together, Broadbent Productions | Directed by Julie Broadbent
Jenny is in a controlling relationship and her best friend, Katie, is working hard to get her out and help her escape. The boyfriend has altered Jenny’s personality and behaviour. Katie wants their strong relationship to kick in more than ever and wants their true friendship bond to help Jenny see the real truth.
FRIDAY 25TH APRIL
Any Other Business, 4th Wall Productions | Directed by Ted Grant
Gerald, the treasurer of the Resident’s Association Committee group, looks after his elderly mother, Muriel. He’s struggling to cope after his brother, Neil, recently moved to Canada. Margaret, the committee chair, alongside hen-pecked secretary Barbara, is trying diligently to hold things together as tensions simmer amid conversations about dog poo and biscuits. The pedantic Bob is getting under her skin. And is unassuming resident rep Anna about to unearth some truths that will rock the group to the core? A play about loyalty, trust, deceit, betrayal and regret.
Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Nantwich Players | Directed by Bethany Gail
The average person is said to speak 123,205,750 words in a lifetime. But what if there was a limit? Under a new government law where each person is only alloted 140 words a day, Oliver and Bernadette are up against a big challenge: how do you communicate your deepest thoughts and feelings when there’s a strict cap on how much you can say?
Adult Awards Ceremony
The adult award ceremony will take place following Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons.
SATURDAY 26TH APRIL
Girls Like That, South Wirral High School | Directed by Lauren Moses
A naked photo of Scarlett goes viral. Rumours spread across smart phones like wildfire and her reputation becomes toxic, threatening to shatter the fragile unity of the girls she has grown up with. But how long can Scarlett remain silent? And why isn’t it the same for boys? ‘Girls Like That’ is an urgent and explosive play that explores gender equality and the pressures on today’s digital generation.
Ravers, InterACT Youth Theatre | Director by Samantha Giblin
A rag tag group of self-described ‘neeks’ (nerds and geeks) gather at midnight in a local park, to hold a ‘dry rave’. (No intoxicants) Will they succeed in redefining ‘cool’? Or will the powers that be succeed in shutting down the neek revolution?
When the Partys Over, BTW Dramatics | Directed by Rachael Buchanan
After a night of partying, Bonnie and Jack meet on a park bench but something is wrong. As their conversation unfolds, past events resurface fractured memories, hidden betrayals and a tragic loss. With tension mounting, the truth behind that night slowly emerges, forcing them to confront the painful reality of what really happened when the party was over.
- Monday 21st April – 19:00
- Tuesday 22nd April – 19:00
- Wednesday 23rd April – 19:00
- Thursday 24th April – 19:00
- Friday 25th April (Awards) – 19:00
- Saturday 26th April (Youth) – 14:00
