CAST

Mother Figure

Lucy - Carmen Betteridge
Rosemary - Krista Stearns
Terry - Martyn Barmby
Harry - Phil Matcham

Directed by Emma Stratton

Drinking Companion

Paul - Emma Stratton
Harry - Phil Matcham
Waiter - Shaun Baker
Bernice - Clare Roberts

Directed by Andy Hamilton

Between Mouthfuls

Waiter - Anthony Worssam
Pearce - Rob Buck
Mrs Pearce - Julia Higgins
Martin - Nick Chapman
Polly - Thea Tetley

Directed by Nikki Williams

Gosforth's Fete

Milly - Clare Roberts
Mrs Pearce - Julia Higgins
Gosforth - John Lofthouse
Vicar - Rob Buck
Stewart - Pete Picton

Directed by Dan Muirden

A Talk In The Park

Arthur - Phil Matcham
Beryl - Sara Nash
Charles - Anthony Worssam
Doreen - Merry Graham
Ernest - Ed Palmer

CREW

Directed by Anna Dwyer

Produced by Shaun Baker
Stage Managed by Daryl Hutchings
Set Design and Construction by Mark Higgins
Lighting by Phil Herrey and John Gale
Sound by Christophe Jouin
Props by Amanda McCrory and John Gale
Costumes by members of the company

PRODUCTION NOTES

Confusions, a series of five interconnected one-act plays, was first staged in 1976 and played by just five actors. The scenes are all loosely linked by characters or locations, but more subtly through the comon underlying themes of obsession, isolation and the basic desire for companionship.

Ayckbourn is essentially a chornicler and editor of human behaviour. He juxtaposes the thoughts and dialogue of his characters in order to portray a faithful record of their lives. This is not a random exercise but the product of a process of sensitive selection on his part. We are invited to become eavesdroppers on people and situations which are carefully orchestrated with delicate theatrical ingenuity. These painstakingly created suburban problems displayed on the stage for our benefit thus take on a greater significance. They become capable of being transformed into symbols of universal insecurities and anxieties. They are Hamlet's "mirror held up to nature" reflecting, through comedy and farce, the often tragic undertones of our contemporary society.