Presented by Mudlark Creative & Drayton Arms Theatre Join us for a nerve-tingling festive treat and fear your senses this Christmas as you step into the haunted railway cutting at Clayton signal box. In our eerie new full-length dramatisation of Dickens The Signalman, a chance encounter brings together two men: The Visitor, newly liberated from the drudgery of office life and seeing the world with fresh eyes; and The Signalman, desperate to share his visitations with someone - anyone - who will listen. Enhanced by glorious surround sound - a first for the Drayton Arms - this is a fresh new telling of this quintessentially classic ghost story that will leave you on edge this December.

Original raver, Louise, wonders how she went from ecstasy-taking idealist to respectable, disillusioned, suburban mum? Meet Molly and Brian as, triggered by her daughter's anti-drugs homework and at peak mid-life crisis, Louise flashes back to the early 90s rave scene. A story of rave remembrance, coming of age and mid-life awakening. Pick of The Fringe - Sell Out - 5 Star - Comedy on Tour 2025 "Will leave you uplifted entertained and wondering what your mum was up to in 1993" EdFringe Review Second Summer of Love was inspired by STERNS nightclub in Worthing. Press from Yvonne Arnaud, Mill Studio 2023: ★★★★★ “I absolutely loved this play... overwhelming energy...excellent cast” London Theatre 1 Press from Edinburgh Fringe 2022 ★★★★ “Warm and witty, uplifting and sunny” – Broadway Baby ★★★★ “A superb perfromance” - Lost in Theatreland, Amy Rye ★★★★ “Happisburgh is captivating”, “A fresh perspective to discussion about recreational drug use” “An impressive performer seamlessly shifting between different characters” EdFringe Review - Anna Gardner ★★★★ “A joyous celebration of 90's rave culture” “Ingenious music and movement sequences" EdFringe Review Jess Painter ★★★★ “A vivid protagonist played with boundless energy” - Fringe Biscuit Chris Neville-Smith’s “Pick of the Fringe” 2022 “Gem of a show about rave culture – grab a ticket now” Omid Djalili “Absolutely loved Second Summer of Love… one for all the ravers (and ex-ravers!)” Matt Quinton, BBC Originally developed in collaboration with Pants on Fire and showcased at the SHORTS festival 2020

Cougar is a play about climate change, sex, power dynamics, and corruption. It is extremely pertinent to our current global state of affairs - from Trumpian politics pulling out of the Paris agreement, to forest fires in California, the war in Ukraine, and our everyday responsibility towards environmental sustainability.

Persistent Theatre Productions & Drayton Arms Theatre present The End is Near , a new play by Melissa Ainsworth Three women, from three different centuries, find each other at their worst hour. Janet is accused of witchcraft in 1661 Edinburgh, Caroline is an arrested suffragette in 1911 London, and Lauren is fighting for her reproductive freedom in 2028, in America. The three women explore what has been and what is to come. One thing is certain, the end is nearor is it? This new drama dives into how women have been persecuted throughout history. Womens rights have come so far and yet have so far to go.

An evening of monologues and duets, presented by Shoreside Productions Stream of consciousness meets physical storytelling in this evening of new writing and choreography. Mirror Speeches invites artists from across disciplines to collaborate in bold, unpredictable ways. Each piece begins with an original monologue, selected through an open call by Shoreside Productions, and handed over to a choreographer to reimagine as a duet. Whether the words and movement are performed at the same time or in separate moments, each piece becomes a unique conversation between text and motion. Part theatre, part dance, entirely original, this is a space for creative risk-taking and artistic cross-pollination.

Presented by Documental Productions Sheridan is having a bad day. Her church is closing, Adult Social Care are on her case, and she cant work out which ingredients she needs to make a bomb. With no one else to turn to, she climbs the scaffolding around a leaking steeple with a few questions for Whoever Is In Charge. Following a critically acclaimed run at Edinburgh Fringe, Scaffolding is an explosive new play about strength, love and community performed by Kerry Norton and directed by Natalie Simone. Award-winning writer Lucy Bell (Kevin Elyot and Ronald Duncan Awards) brings dark, car-crash humour in a dramatic collision between religious faith, the responsibilities of caring for loved ones with disabilities and the profound loss of shared community spaces in rural areas. Originally developed in association with Bristol Old Vic, and with thanks to original director Lillian Waddington, producer Jessamie Edkins-O'Brien, actor Suzanna Hamilton and the original creative team. This London run of Scaffolding is produced with support from Drayton Arms Theatre. CAST & CREATIVE TEAM Writer - Lucy Bell Director - Natalie Simone Performed by - Kerry Norton Senior Producer - Naomi Turner Engagement Producer - Susannah Bramwell Sound Design - Joseff Harris Sound Associate - Jack Orozco Morrison Set & Costume - Ella Barraclough Lighting Design - Rachael Duthie Movement Director - Karla Shacklock Technical Stage Manager - Josh Lucas Photo Credit - Craig Fuller Curtain raiser songs created with support from Joanne Rogers, Emma Kenshole, Allison Wright and Lucy Bell Access This performance is relaxed. This means we welcome anyone who prefers to attend events in a more informal environment for example neurodivergent audience members and those with learning disabilities and/or additional sensory and communication needs. During the show, audience members should feel comfortable making noise and moving around as and when they need to in a friendly environment. There is an admittance anytime policy, so you are free to come and go as you please. A number of sensory support items will be available, including fidget toys and ear defenders, as well as a Sensory & Scene Breakdown document which will detail what to expect in terms of content, bright lights, and loud sounds. Content Warnings: Use of a few strong words. Reference to grief, low parental capacity and bomb making techniques.

Playwright Kevin Lee returns to the Drayton Arms Theatre to present a collection of new short stories. The theme is Misunderstood

by Madeleine George Watson: trusty sidekick to Sherlock Holmes; loyal engineer who built Bells first telephone; unstoppable super-computer that became reigning Jeopardy! champ; amiable techno-dweeb who, in the present day, is just looking for love. These four constant companions become one in this brilliantly witty, time-jumping, loving tribute (and cautionary tale) dedicated to the peopleand machinesupon which we all depend. Eliza and Merrick are both still reeling from their marriage breakup, when they both individually encounter Watson and their lives are turned upside down. What is it about him? Is it just that he seems trustworthy? Or is it that he seems to truly see them? Does he just want to help? This beautifully written gem of a play was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2014. CAST Hugo Linton as Watson Hanna Luna as Eliza Brandon Burke as Merrick CREATIVE TEAM Director - Julie Drake Sound and Lighting - Isabel Melim Soundscape -Tomis Fras Graphic design - Marcus Scudamore Produced by 5Go Theatre Co.

A three hand horror-comedy pot boiler about what happens when the power of belief goes awry. Join writer Jack Elverstone for an exclusive script-in-hand preview of his new play, Pinguism . Be among the first to hear selected extracts and share your thoughts to help shape the play before its five-day debut at the Drayton Arms Theatre. Scan the QR code on your seat to access the feedback form and give Jack your input in real time. There will also be a relaxed discussion afterwards, where youll have the chance to talk directly with Jack about your thoughts and ideas. Be part of the creative process, your ideas could make it to the final performance!

Diaspora Inferno: From My Grandmothers Kitchen is a devised physical theatre work inspired by Dantes Inferno and reimagined through the lens of diaspora survival, generational silence, and womanhood. The piece moves through seven sins Gluttony, Wrath, Envy, Lust, Sloth, Greed, and Pride not as moral judgments, but as emotional inheritances shaped by migration, trauma, and resilience. The kitchen in this production is a symbol of survival and silence a sacred domestic space where immigrant women cook, mourn, remember, and resist. Through movement, sound, testimony, and ritual, we hope to amplify stories that are often unheard or buried between generations.

Written & Directed by Jade Winters Brookes friends can tell somethings off they just dont know what. One night out, one too many questions, and the cracks start to show. What begins as casual catch-ups turns into something far more uncomfortable. The A Word is a raw, intimate drama about friendship, denial, and the things we hide.

An evening of new writing from 7 new writers from all over the world. Pending is a programme run by Car Crash Productions, since 2019, to bring new writing to the forefront. Scratch Night Pending is the first part of this journey, with some pieces going forward to a work in progress showing and then one piece getting a full production produced. This is the opportunity to see productions in their earliest stage and enjoying some of the most fantastic writing and rich performances you have seen!

Written & performed by Oscar Brudenall-Jones Yes, he's in a celebrations tub. No, he's not in with the bounties. Aaron, an unemployed entertainer, has stolen his dad's ashes and hidden them in a tub of chocolates. As he journeys toward St. Ives to scatter them, we discover the reasons behind his theft, and witness a suspenseful chase with the police hot on his heels. Written and performed by Oscar Brudenall-Jones anddirected by Esalan Gates ( BroadwayWorld UK Nominee Best New Production), this dark comedy explores grief in a post-pandemic world, as well as sperm bank strikes and why you shouldn't lose your rag at an old person. Produced by To The Tooth Theatre, this is comedy with a bite.

By Oscar Brudenall-Jones Alderbrook North has declared independence. The borders are closed, the ale is flowing, and smoking indoors is back. What could possibly go wrong? When a southern MP turns up in a quiet northern town and declares it an independent nation, the locals cheer him on, at first. But as lines are drawn, truths are buried, and a journalist arrives asking the wrong questions, the pub becomes a pressure cooker of patriotism, paranoia, and political theatre. Written by 5-star playwright, Oscar Brudenall-Jones, The Great British Lock-In is a biting political satire about borders, beer, and British identity. Set in a smoke-filled pub where outsiders arent welcome, this dark comedy asks how far we will go to defend the good old days, and who gets locked out in the process. A razor-sharp exploration of populism, nostalgia and control. Produced by To The Tooth Theatre, this is comedy with a bite.

By Jade Alvara Its 1890. The textile factory workers are all women. They are overworked, underpaid, and fed up with the bosss unwanted advances. Our protagonist, Mira, is pregnant... and theres a healer in the woods who can help. Magic seeps through the seams of Miras reality as she is dragged into the underworld and is faced with far more than the weight of her own trauma. Folklorica , the debut play by playwright Jade Alvara, is a joyous tearjerker that plays fun at the ridiculousness of classism, shares the love of latinidad, and embodies the strength of workers.

Written, Directed & Produced by Heather Davis At 50, Cheryl thought life might slow down. What she didnt expect was the rollercoaster of Perimenopause - a baffling barrage of symptoms no one warned her about. As she and her lifelong friend Sandra navigate the ups, downs, fun and downright weird moments of midlife, their husbands try and make sense of it all from the safe haven of the local pub. This empowering, and side-splitting musical takes us on a journey of friendship, change and self-discovery. Along the way, Cheryl encounters a parade of eccentric characters, from nosy waiters, to spa therapists with more sass than skill - but none as unexpected as the rappin lifestyle guru Fuzzy B (Davina McCall was, regrettably, unavailable) With a cheeky nod to Cinderella and a very messy spa day that leaves more questions than answers, FRESH KNICKERS (and a Gin & Tonic) asks: will Cheryl make it to the ball, or will her hot flashes get there first? So, hold onto your knickers and have the ice cubes ready - youre going to need a G&T after this show! CAST Sara Jane Derrick: Cheryl(John, Colin) Lucia Fox: Sandra(Harry, Gina, Serene, Gloria, Angela) Elliott McMillan: Fuzzy B (Larry, Nigel, James, Nina, Bev ) Sofia Ferreira: Swing CREATIVE TEAM Writer/ Director/ Producer:Heather Davis Composer/ Musical Director:Georgina St. George Set & Costume Design:William Hamilton-Tighe Animation Film Design:Finley Nathan Lighting, Sound Design & Operations:George Emberson Callum Berris:Dramaturg Annabel Caldwell:Intern Assistant Director Megan Sharman:Stage Manager Sofia Ferreira:Singing coach There will be a POST-SHOW TALK and Q&A on Monday 5th October

Written & Directed by Somi De Souza Identifying as a wolf was the final straw for teenage Hugos distinguished and ever-so conservative family. Now an adult and distant from his kinfolk and his past, Hugo lives a quiet life as a mild-mannered school teacher with his wife, Summer. While Hugo is in bliss amongst the peaceful hills of their remote English village doing everything he can for the betterment of his mental health, Summer is going out of her mind that she cant live like a real housewife of Beverly Hills. Things take a dark turn when Hugo is hit with news of the passing of his beloved aunt. While hes struck with grief, Summer can barely control her delight thinking of the eye-watering inheritance coming his way. With the aid of the handsome and ever-so-charming new village doctor, Peter, they slowly but surely convince Hugothat he's a baboon. CAST Peter - Gilbert Glenn Brown Summer - Somi De Souza Hugo - Richard Pope Narrator - Ed Gliniecki CREATIVE TEAM Writer & Director - Somi De Souza Assistant Director - Richard Pope Producer - Ed Gliniecki and Somi De Souza Tech Support - Andy Duke

By Megan Peace A twenty-four year old woman is faced with adult life after graduating from university, but the question she faces is unusual - how do you tackle adult life when you look fifteen? Babyface is a coming-of-age tale as you have never seen it before. Exploring hilarious and heart-wrenching scenes of trying to be taken seriously when the world sees you as a child (literally), Babyface tackles themes of growth, comparison, and grief of our childhood selves. Babyface began as a culmination of random scenes about true experiences the writer faced as a result of looking young. Are your parents in? is not really what you want to hear while accepting a delivery of your 24th birthday present. The play follows Baby in her post-graduate life (which is beginning to feel increasingly like her school life) as she tries to navigate job hunting, love, and friendship, all while having the face of a teenager. How can she be taken seriously when she is IDd for paracetamol? Through Babys hilarious troubles as a result of looking younger than she is, we learn that many of her insecurities come from people who perceive her as a child. But does she really view herself as an adult, or is she struggling to shake the child inside?

An accessible overview of technical theatre to help performers and creatives get the most out of their tech when short on time. Gain a basic understanding of lighting and sound from professional technician, lighting designer, and director Jessica Parritt. Who could benefit from this course? Anyone who interacts with technicians: actors, theatre-makers, directors, producers, installation artists, and people interested in technical theatre. How does it work? The course is one half-day of theory and introduction to terminology, followed by a half-day of practical work with lights. What do you gain? The ability to communicate with technicians, an understanding of technical principles, and a greater appreciation for the technical process in theatre. This course will run from 10am-5pm Spaces are limited! For any further questions please email [email protected]

Written, Directed & Produced by Miranda Lapworth Love isnt always easily understood. Least of all by those suffering from it. Lou and Jack have a long history with their own jokes and silly games evolved over the years. Jack counters Lous spikiness and morose pessimism at her recent diagnosis with good humour and midnight feasts. His greatest challenge is guiding his own birthday dinner through the choppy waters of Lou and their daughter, Marianas, antagonism, cheerfully abetted by Marianas partner, Isobel. But their world of banter and brave resolve comes crashing down on a rainy night; lifelong bitterness and anger finally boil over and hidden truths creep into the light.

Written by Dan Blick Castles is an intense examination of a romantic relationship over time. The play follows Jonny and Rain as they embark on their romantic journey together, following them as they navigate their insecurities, past traumas and attempts to understand one another. Castles illustrates the manner in which romantic relationships deeply affect and inform our behaviour, shaping us as individuals, as well as exploring the nuances of vulnerability, compatibility and true intimacy within this context. When Rain and Jonny make a pact of commitment to one another, promising to live truthfully amidst the fervour of their youth, they willingly open themselves to the pain of heartbreak, desperate to confide in their shared belief that love is all they need. Castles is written by Dan Blick - whose previous works as a writer include Lake George, Telos and Akrasia - and is produced by Telos Ensemble, a production company founded by Mitchell Pope and Dan Blick in 2023. Telos Ensembles theatre productions have had multiple Off-Broadway runs in New York, and their first feature film - Black Lake - is currently in post-production. Telos Ensembles most recent UK event was the London edition of their bimonthly Purgatory reading series in April 2025 at the Omnibus Theatre in Clapham, marking its international debut following three sold out events in New York.