An Inspector Calls

by J B Priestley

25 October - 3 November 2007

This classic British drama still packs a punch as evidenced by its very successful run in London not so long ago.

Self-made businessman and pillar of the local community Arthur Birling is gathered with his family to celebrate daughter Sheila's engagement to Gerald, the son of a business rival. The happy occasion is interrupted by a visit from a mysterious Police Inspector, who tells the family of a young woman's suicide. The family are all convinced they have nothing to do with the girl's death but the Inspector seems to think otherwise. His revelations un-nerve them and soon they begin to realise that not everything is as it seems.

Oleanna

by David Mamet

29 November - 8 December 2007

The Miller Centre debut for Mamet, the most successful American dramatist of the last 30 years.

In Act I, Mr. Mamet locks one man and one woman in an office where, depending on one's point of view, an act of sexual harassment does or does not occur. In Act II, the antagonists, a middle-aged university professor and an undergraduate student, return to the scene of the alleged crime to try to settle their case without benefit of counsel, surrogates or, at times, common sense, with explosive results. Whose side will you be on?

The Happiest Days of Your Life

by John Dighton

10 - 19 January 2008

This classic farce sees a girls' school being accidentally billeted with a boys' school. The boys' school is expecting a visit from the Governors, the girls' school a visit from parents - on the same day! The only way to solve the problem is to keep the two sets of visitors apart and only show them what they are expecting to see. Naturally this results in chaos and confusion all round with predictably hilarious consequences. A joyful evening of fun from the screenwriter of 'The Man in the White Suit' and 'Roman Holiday'. "Anyone for hockey Miss Gossage?"

Happy Jack / September in the Rain

by John Godber

14 - 23 February 2008

John Godber admits in his 'Forward' to the volume of his complete works that these two plays are his favourites.

The two plays are companion pieces concerning the marriage of Jack and Liz who come from a mining village in West Yorkshire. Jack is a miner, he has been all his life and Liz is his wife who worries about him and has done all her life. We see them at different stages of their marriage but in no chronological order.

The two plays are full of humour, frayed tempers, disguised love and, yes, a bit of sentimentality which never did anyone any harm and makes for a good night out.

My Boy Jack

by David Haig

3 - 12 April 2008

This touching and heartwarming play by David Haig visits the family of Rudyard Kipling before, during and after World War One. Kipling, by now a very famous writer, is a staunch defender of The Empire and Britain's military power. He is desperate for his son Jack to join up, in spite of his poor eyesight, so that he may prove himself a man. The rest of the play follows Kipling as he deals with the inevitable consequences of war and its effect on his family and his own long held convictions. This terrific play does, however, contain some strong language.

Skylight

by David Hare

1 - 10 May 2008

A young teacher, Kyra, is quietly getting on with her life in her 'difficult' inner London school when her former boss and lover, a successful restaurateur, makes a dramatic re-appearance. He is now a widower and his visit to Kyra re-ignites not just old passions but also the old differences. As Tom and Kyra replay their lives they seek to discover the exact nature of the love they once had and discover that things weren't always as they seemed to be.

A powerful and moving play from one of the foremost British playrights of recent years.

Whodunnit

by Anthony Shaffer

5 - 14 June 2008

It is a dark and stormy night and six strangers and a butler have gathered in the gloomy country house of a wealthy lawyer. It appears that someone is about to be murdered and, naturally, everyone in the room has a motive! What follows is a riotous parody of Agatha Christie style murder mysteries, with more twists than a corkscrew and the full collection of eccentric stereotypes. Eventually the Detective arrives from Scotland Yard to solve the crime and explain the mystery to everyone - or does he?

A delightful, fun-filled evening from the author of 'Sleuth'.

Life x 3

.by Yasmin Reza

10 - 19 July 2008

One calamitous dinner party, three perspectives. Henry and Sonia are settling down to a quiet evening in when Henry's boss and his wife arrive for a dinner party - 24 hours early! In addition Henry's boss brings news that throws his professional life in turmoil. As the social discomfort grows the alchohol flows and the insults begin to fly. Soon everyone is behaving badly. Reza, the writer of 'Art', gives us three completely different perspectives on this scene of social disaster and offers up a play that is not only very funny, but also skilfully dissects the relationships of the main characters.