Friday 16th March 2007
Directed by Robin Hall and Paul Millington
The first round of the All England Theatre Festival (Western Area, Southern Division) is usually held at the Hanger Farm Arts Centre in Totton. Bench Theatre first entered the festival competition in 2006 and has been a regular contributor ever since.
Taking part in a police identity parade is a quick, hassle-free way to keep you in beer money. But not when your partners in crime are some of the strangest characters ever to stand next to each other. Chaos and confusion reign before long.
This one-act play was staged at the Hanger Farm Arts Centre, Totton as part of the first round of the All England Theatre Festival 2007 competition. It was first performed in 2003 at Havant Arts Centre as part of Bench Theatre's festival of new writing, Supernova2 with a different cast and director.
DCI Meadows | Jeff Bone |
Clive | Liam Flemming |
George | Mark Wakeman |
Keith | Darryl Wakelin |
Harris | Martin McBride |
Taylor | Neil McBride |
Miss Lankton | Charley Callaway |
Sydney | Emma Searle |
Directors | Robin Hall Paul Millington |
Stage Managers | Jaspar Utley John Wilcox |
The character of George in this play first appeared years ago in a videoed sketch made to cheer up a homesick friend. In that, he found himself banned from every restaurant in town due to his arrogant behaviour. He appeared again in a full-length play 'We Love you Don Estelle' which I wrote at University and this time George and Clive were hosting a party where nobody turned up. I always thought he would return again and when I first thought of the idea of someone in a police line up trying to arrogantly solve the crime my first thought was of George Augustus Wainwright Hart.
Doubtless he will crop up again in my future writing as he always gets himself into such wonderfully stupid situations.
Mark Wakeman