QT Theatre

There’s lots of activity on our FaceBook page right now! And lots of ‘likes’ and ‘shares’, too! Rehearsals are now in their final stages for our next production which takes place from 22nd to 25th November! Absent Friends, written by Alan Ayckbourn, is a true reflection of life in the 1970s and we are having a lot of fun exploring the styles of the era.
Sourcing some props and costumes is proving relatively easy but others, such as a 1970s carrycot on wheels, not so easy. Anyone got one? Please get in touch with me if you have!
So, what’s the story ………? Diana has organised a tea party for Colin, an old friend of her husband Paul. Colin’s fiancé has recently drowned and the aim is to cheer him up with a gathering of old friends Paul, John and Gordon. Gordon is, typically, ill and his wife Marge turns up instead, while Paul and John are less than enthusiastic about the party. All this hides deep problems: Paul has had a brief affair with John’s wife Evelyn – who has brought her baby to the party; Marge was desperate for a child of her own but has transferred her maternal instincts onto an increasingly dependent and accident-prone Gordon; Diana is desperately unhappy and is bullied by Paul, misses her children who, having been sent to boarding school by their father are now at University; John is aware of Evelyn’s affair with Paul, but is dependent on Paul for employment. Both John and Paul are so uncomfortable with the idea of meeting Colin that they play down their friendship to the point of almost non-existence.
The majority of this emerges before Colin has even arrived and just as matters threaten to erupt, the man himself turns up and everyone awkwardly tries to both be nice to him and to get on with each other. But all have seriously misjudged Colin, who is seriously happy. He is blissful in the memory of the time he spent with his fiancé; annoyingly happy in fact.
His apparent satisfaction with his life, despite his loss, merely highlights the depths to which all those around have sunk and his attempts to sort out their problems merely creates further rifts in the already damaged relationships of the other couples. Colin is largely oblivious to everything deteriorating around him and finally recalls that Paul once secretly took one of Diana’s handkerchiefs, when they were first in love. Paul reveals he still has it… and uses it to clean the car. Diana, practically at the edge anyway, snaps and ………… you’ll have to come along to see it, to discover the next bit!!!!
We do hope that you will want to come along to see this very different offering from us; tickets are selling fast! Tickets, priced at £9.00 (Concessions £8.00) are available by phoning Dorothy on 0798 996 0014. The play will start at 7.30pm and there will be a raffle every night and refreshments available. Any further information about QTs can be found by checking out our website, www.qttheatregp.co.uk, our FaceBook page Syston QT Theatre Group, or emailing qtsyston@gmail.com.
The Old Chapel is situated on Chapel Street, a turning off the High Street and almost opposite Hair Design by Wayne; there is a large free car park next-door and plenty of other free parking nearby.
Jude Latham – Chairperson, QT Theatre Group