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Neighbourhood Watch
By:
Date performed:
Alan Ayckbourn
February 2014

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Details
 This highly acclaimed new release was first presented in Scarborough in 2011 before transferring to London and New York. Alan Ayckbourn's hilarious causionary tale of taking the law into your own hands in his 75th play.

More than any other contemporary playwright, Ayckbourn is a master of observation and has a genius for understanding the nuances of British life. Neighbourhood Watch deals with social differences; protection of property and fear of crime. It can properly be described as “darker” than earlier Ayckbourn plays but the Britain of 2014 is a much darker world than when Ayckbourn started writing nearly fifty years ago.

Review, The Star 22February 2014
Paul Tyree
Ross Bannister as Martin delivers a wonderful performance in the lead role. He is assured and funny and has a natural stage presence. Also excellent is Siobhan Daley as his sister in a performance that gets evermore menacing as the evening progresses.

Perhaps best of all though is Jenn Aspinall as Magda, a put-upon, beaten wife who eventually moves in with Martin and Hilda for protection. Hers is a performance that takes us out of farce territory and gives us a hint of the real tragedy behind the laughter. At one point she delivers a monologue that held the entire audience and gave us a moment of real sadness and power. Also likeable are Sarah Fox as Amy, a sexually rampant wife who eventually snares Martin, and Kevin Cheeseright as Rod, a right wing 'string 'em up' nut who also provides much hilarity throughout the night. It has to be said that all of the cast Perform well in a very likeable Ayckbourn piece.

The evening is full of laughter and the Tudor Players can be proud of producing a wonderful night.



Photographs


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Cast
Backstage
Martin Massie Ross Banister
Hilda Massie Siobhan Daley
Luther Bradley John Fereday
Magda Bradley Jenn Aspinall
Gareth Janner John Moran
Amy Janner Sarah Fox
Rod Trusser Kevin Cheeseright
Dorothy Doggett Andrea Howard

Director Phil Gascoyne
Set design Hansel D'Roza
Peter Howard
Set construction Bryan Ashcroft
Hansel D'Roza
Peter Howard
John Jakins
Paul Kelly
Graham Ward
Stage manager Hansel D'Roza
Stage crew Anthony Maycock
Graham Ward
Sound Bryan Ashcroft
John Jakins
Lighting Paul Kelly
Paul Screaton
Properties Bridget Ball
Continuity Edwina Gascoyne
Front of House Charlotte Gascoyne
Peter Howard
Ticket Secratary Janet D'Roza