Stage: Nothing Ventured

Highlights from one of the city’s brightest theatres

I’m always impressed by the programming of The New Venture Theatre. It is ambitious, brave and bright, and this spring sees them on top form with a series of plays by top writers in their formative years.
In February they will be presenting a double bill of works by Peter Shaffer. Shaffer is probably best known for major works like Amadeus and Equus, two brilliant plays that received international acclaim and went on to be made into hugely successful films.
But earlier in his career, Shaffer penned works which New Venture describe as “Domestic Comedies”. In The Private Ear, classical music fan Bob has a big date with Doreen but misguidedly also invites ladies’ man Ted along to cook and offer moral support. The resulting situation is embarrassingly humorous – no doubt we have all been a Bob, Ted or even Doreen at some point in our lives.
In the second half of this Shaffer double bill, they are presenting Black Comedy, again set in the 1960s and a classic farce, where wires are crossed as sculptor Bridsley attempts to sell some of his work to a millionaire whilst simutaneously asking Colonel Malkeet for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Add borrowed antiques and an interfering neighbour, not to mention a clutch of other unexpected guests, and the result is hilarious mayhem.
I love a good farce, a much maligned and neglected form, and this promises to be a night of chaotic comedy.
The Private Ear and Black Comedy, 20–28 Feb

In March look out for Benefactors by Michael Frayn, another favourite author and playwrite. Frayn has an extraordinary way with words and humour and this is again an early work from the man who penned Copenhagen, Balmoral and Noises Off.
The play asks; what do we want? What does anybody want? “Nice little semis with nice little gardens?” But David cannot build the people of Basuto Road “nice little semis”, as he needs to provide more housing, not less.
Written in 1984, set in the late 1960s and early ‘70s, Benefactors depicts a time of great change in society, from personal relationships to architecture. With cynicism and a dry, witty humour it explores what people really want and the possibility that helping others is inviting more trouble than it’s worth.

When architect David takes on a regeneration project in a “twilight” area, delays and obstacles make it more and more likely that he will have to build towers that he doesn’t really want to build and no-one wants to live in. At the same time, unhappy housewife Jane decides to take on the regeneration of their neighbours’ lives by persuading them to work for David. But just how helpful is this?
As the couple’s lives become more inter-twined it would appear as inevitable as the high rise blocks that the foundation of their relationships will be rocked.
Benefactors by Michael Frayn won the Evening Standard Award for Best Play and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play in 1984.
Benefactors will be performed in the Studio Theatre, 20–28 March 2015
Tickets for the shows can be purchased online at www.newventure.org.uk – for further details phone Box Office Information on 01273 746118