• Jane
• andrew
• geoff
• sally
• sarah
• vicar
• audrey
• edgar

• Director
• Stage Management
• Lighting Design
• sound design
• Lighting & Sound
• Continuity
• Set design
• wardrobe
• programme/Poster design

• sandra haynes
• alan lade
• damian sutton
• lindsey holledge
• sharon olieff
• john hamilton
• kay wetherilt
• stephen newberry

• mary young
• gill watson, alan clifford
• paddy turner
• dave stansbury
• brenda hanham
• stella dench
• dorothy hemsley
• marie mason & the cast
• alan lade

A GOOD JOKE SHARED BY ALL Review by Shirley Linsell

ANDREW and Jane’s house featured in The Little Theatre’s latest production is not one estate agents would find easy to sell. You see it’s accident prone. A number of people have died there in unfortunate and embarrassing circumstances and when their daughter’s boyfriend Geoff arrives things really start to get difficult. Geoff is unaware of the house’s history and due to misunderstandings he thinks something sinister is going on so when the local vicar drops in he feels its his duty to protect him. Into this mix add Andrew’s sister Sarah, his daughter Sally, Geoff s mum and dad, a TV repair man and a wheelbarrow and then it’s a series of mini disasters. Andrew is played by Alan Lade with his usual skill portraying an insensitive man and a very strong one, he carries a body in a wheelbarrow very well. Jane is played by Sandra Haynes and I have never seen this actress in a better role. She reminded me of those slightly dippy heroines of the 40's movies, her facial expressions were a joy. Damian Sutton showed Geoff s bewilderment and anxiety to great effect. The delightful portrayal of the vicar by John Hamilton I particularly enjoyed. Sharon Olieff made the sister scatty and again insensitive to good effect. Lindsey Holledge makes a welcome return as Sally and is very good. Kay Wetherilt and Stephen Newbury make the most of the smaller roles as Geoff’s parents and help to add to the fun.
The set, and lighting were as usual great and Margaret Kennedy’s direction was so very very good. She kept the pace and still got in all the laughs. This company goes from strength to strength — what a great night out.
The Bafta this time goes to Sandra Haynes. She was for me a revelation.

Review by Fran Tegg

Beyond A Joke, a comedy by Derek Benfield and presented by Seaford Little Theatre, performed to a full house on Wednesday 28th May.
Set in Jane and Andrews pleasant country house, it appears their abode has a tendency to be very accident prone with six people having already died there in unfortunate circumstances.
Geoff, the boyfriend of their daughter Sally arrives for the weekend and unfortunately over-hears a conversation between Jane and Andrew about the accidents’ and starts to believe there is something more sinister going on. Over the course of the weekend, two more accidents’ happen and when Geoff's parents make an unexpected visit, further confusion and panic takes hold.
This hilarious comedy was one not to miss - a first class production and a laugh a minute! The jokes and delivery were well pitched whilst the dialogue between the characters was very authentic. Both Jane played by Sandra Haynes and Andrew played by Alan Lade gave excellent performances and highly comical too - a touch of the FaultyTowers I thought. Geoff, played by Damian Sutton gave a convincing performance as the perplexed witness, whilst Sally - the daughter was played well by Lindsey Holledge who kept the confusion going to the end.
Sharon Olieff played a very entertaining Sarah whilst John Hamilton portrayed a wonderful, laid back vicar and very much at ease being pushed around the stage in a wheel barrow! Performances by Stephen Newberry as Edgar and Kay Wetherilt as Audrey were also very well delivered.
Margaret Kennedy’s direction captured the humour and comedy of this farcical play brilliantly. The set design by Dorothy Hemsley was authentic whilst the lighting by PaddyTurner and sound by David Stansbury proved very effective. Combined with the 80’s stylc wardrobe organised by Marie Mason, the production was very polished and an overall success.