Stage: April in Eastbourne
Eastbourne’s Congress and Devonshire Park Theatres announce an exciting drama programme for April
Spring in Eastbounre sees a great season of theatre for all audiences from classic comedies, West End hits and mysteries. Here are a few highlights…
LOSING THE PLOT
A brand new comedy written and directed by John Godber. On 1 February Jack Munroe walked out on his job, his wife and his teenage children. After travelling Europe for three months to write his much promised novel and live the life of an artist, he returned with no novel, no money and no idea why he’d left. In a world which is just on the edge, are we all losing the plot?
Devonshire Park Theatre, Thursday 4–Saturday 6 April
CHARLEY’S AUNT
Farcical fun in this ever popular comedy presented by Creative Cow (The Rivals). It is 1892 and dashing Oxford undergraduates, Jack and Charley are preparing to propose to Amy and Kitty, but a chaperone is needed, Charley’s Aunt is arriving from Brazil (where the nuts come from) and will happily serve the purpose. But things are never that easy…
Devonshire Park Theatre, Tuesday 9–Saturday 13 April
NOISES OFF
Unmissable comedy from The Old Vic and West-End smash hit Noises Off when it comes to Eastbourne following its triumphant and critically acclaimed sell-out run in London. Hailed as one of the greatest British comedies ever written, Michael Frayn’s multi award-winning backstage farce serves up a riotous double bill; a play within a play. Stars Neil Pearson (Drop Dead Donkey, Bridget Jones).
Congress Theatre, Tuesday 16–Saturday 20 April
BLONDE POISON
The award-winning play returns starring Elizabeth Counsell. During the Second World War, Stella Goldschlag worked for the Gestapo as a spy known as ‘Blonde Poison’. Accused of informing on more than three thousand Jews, although Aryan looking, with beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes, she was herself Jewish. Today, in her early 70s, she waits nervously to be interviewed by an international journalist. Today she will finally speak out in her own defence.
Devonshire Park Theatre, Wednesday 17 April 2013
OLIVER REED: WILD THING
In this hugely acclaimed and blistering one-man show join legendary hell-raiser Oliver Reed as he knocks back a few drinks and shares his incredible life story. From the boyhood excitement of learning he was a descendent of Peter the Great, through the success of Oliver!, boozy adventures with Keith Moon and disastrous chat show appearances – this was a life well lived. But although Ollie may appear an unstoppable force of nature, this is Malta in 1999, and time is fast running out for the ‘Wild Thing’.
Devonshire Park Theatre, Thursday 18 April
THE PITMEN PAINTERS
The award winning Pitmen Painters returns, direct from the West End, following sell-out seasons at the National Theatre, in the West End and on Broadway, written by Lee Hall, creator of Billy Elliot.
In 1934, a group of Ashington miners hired a professor to teach an art appreciation evening class. Rapidly abandoning theory in favour of practice, the pitmen began to paint. Within a few years the most avant-garde artists became their friends and their work was acquired by prestigious collections; but every day they worked, as before, down the mine. Examining the lives of a group of ordinary men who do extraordinary things, The Pitmen Painters is a humorous, deeply moving and timely look at art, class and politics. Winner of the Evening Standard award for Best New Play.
Devonshire Park Theatre, Monday 29 April–Saturday 4 May 2013
Box office 01323 412000
