Spring 2025 Production - 'The Ladykillers' by Graham Linehan

The Marlborough's Spring 2025 production is Graham Linehan's stage version of the classic Ealing Studios film comedy 'The Ladykillers' directed by William Wells. This production will be in memory of Kevin Wright.

 Kevin Wright, Set Designer

 William Wells, Director

'The Ladykillers' is a classic black comedy; a sweet little old lady, alone in her house, is pitted against a gang of criminal misfits who will stop at nothing. Posing as amateur musicians, Professor Marcus and his gang rent rooms in the lopsided house of sweet but strict Mrs Wilberforce. The villains plot to involve her, unwittingly, in Marcus' brilliantly conceived heist job. The police are left stumped but Mrs Wilberforce becomes wise to their ruse and Marcus concludes that there is only one way to keep the old lady quiet. With only her parrot, General Gordon, to help her, Mrs Wilberforce is alone with five desperate men. But who will be forced to face the music?

And - who will be playing the parrot?

The Marlborough Dramatic Club's production will be held on the Memorial Hall stage back at Brentwood School 10-12 April 2025. (Thursday and Friday 7:30pm, Saturday matinee 2:30pm)

As you may know, we have been planning to produce this show for a number of years and have been working on the set that length of time too. The late Kevin Wright, a former committee member in charge of the barn and set design, conceived the design for The Ladykillers' set and corraled together those of our members who are handy with tools to build his vision at the barn from summer 2020 to summer 2021. Click here for an article with more photos on the time spent building the set at the barn.

COMING SOON: The fabulous flyer for the production that shows all the production details, kindly designed for us by Paul Sparrowham. 

COMING SOON: News about our cast

COMING SOON: Ticket booking will open in late February / early March.

This production of 'The Ladykillers' is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.

The Barn - opening of Pat's Pavilion!

At the beginning of November 2024, the Club gathered at the barn, with members of the family of the lovely late Patsy-Ann (Patricia Staley), to officially open the new shed that was bought using money donated to the Marlborough Dramatic Club in Pat's memory.

Over the Summer and early Autumn, the committee had spent time clearing an area of the barn to house a new shed in which the club's costumes and some of the more delicate props can be safely stored, with less risk of being affected by being in the open barn. The barn itself is waterproof and has a brand new tin roof, but we do find that it can get dusty, so we have been wanting an extra shed for a while. Pat's legacy enabled us to get going with this plan. 

A nice big space, within the barn, for the new shed:

The committee did some research and settled on a shed 6x8 feet with a door on the short end, so we can walk in and see clothing rails of costumes either side. We decided on a plastic shed as it would be less easy for any rogue rodents to gnaw through.

On 28 October, a few committee members met at the barn to build the shed. COMING SOON - a time lapse video of the workers building the shed. 

On 2 November, we gathered to officially open the new shed, which Pat's family adorned with a 'blue plaque' 

Pat's Plaque:

Harry Morrison had the honour of cutting the ribbon to open the shed as the gathering celebrated with fizz, and hot drinks (the latter kindly provided by the Club next door.) 

Harry cutting the ribbon:

In 2025, the committee will all be back in the barn to begin filling the shed with costumes and props.

Thank you dear Patsy-Ann for your kind gift to better protect the club's belongings. 

Photos by Steve Bearpark. 

Autumn 2025 Production - 'Variation on a Theme' by Terence Rattigan

The Marlborough are pleased to announce that our Autumn show will be on 23-25 October. Director June Fitzgerald and the club will whisk you to a villa in south France for Terence Rattigan’s emotionally charged story of desire and disillusionment, ‘Variation on a Theme’.

Inspired by La Dame aux Camelias, and set amidst the glamorous and exotic society of the 1950s French Riviera, Variation on a Theme revolves around the tempestuous love affair between Rose, a beautiful and worldly socialite, and Ron, a young ballet dancer with a keen eye for social advancement.

Rose is persuaded by Ron’s choreographer and mentor, Sam, to sacrifice her personal happiness for the sake of her young lover’s success and career. But as Rose’s health deteriorates, and Ron is faced with the loveless reality of their separation, they finally face up to their need to be needed. A forgotten classic by “one of the supreme dramatists of the 20th century” (Michael Billington, Guardian), Terence Rattigan’s Variation on a Theme was revived in February 2014 at the Finborough Theatre. The production, its first in more than fifty years, starred twice Olivier Award nominated Rachael Stirling. The play’s original 1958 premiere was directed by John Gielgud and starred Margaret Leighton and Jeremy Brett.

COMING SOON: Roles available in the cast and Spring audition dates will be publicised in due course.

Copy of the script

TEN TIMES TABLE - a look back at our Autumn 2024 production

Now that the Marlborough's Autumn 2024 production of 'Ten Times Table' by Alan Ayckbourn is over - here is a look at how it all came together: Click here to see a selection of photos from the rehearsals Click here to meet the cast Click here to see a selection of candid production photos taken during opening night Click here to see a few images of the cast and crew backstage during show week. Click here for the official NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association) review Click here to see a PDF of the programme Click here for the article with all the booking information