Stables Theatre Hastings

It’s 18 months since The Stables got its own Improv group and it’s going from strength to strength with a pool of 18 participants and regular monthly shows coming to The Stables’ Gwen Watford performance space from the start of June. Tim Kendrick, Scott Kingsnorth and Aisling Teodorescu recently chatted to Stuart Baillie about the group, its inception and how improv works. It’s a great podcast with a lot of laughter. Catch the first of the monthly shows on June 14th.

It’s always fascinating to sit down with Ross Drury for chat, there’s always so much going with his Spun Glass Theatre company and at The Stade Hall which Ross operates. In this podcast we hear about recent developments - including a new writer in residence - and about how Ross is committed to making theatre and performance accessible to all. Ross will be directing Quiz at The Stables next year.

Hastings born Richard Lock talks about his five year project to bring his play Vincent to the stage. Van Gogh wrote more than 800 letters to his brother Theo and it's using those letters that Richard has created a play that will shine fresh light on the great artist and leave the audience looking at Van Gogh in a way they had not considered him before.

Wilf Truscott from The Stables Youth Board talks about the work he does to encourage young people, who might not otherwise come to the theatre, through the door with a range of workshops and opportunities.

Darren Boyd has spent almost three decades working as an actor in TV and theatre. But what many people don't know is that Darren's love of acting began right here on the stage of The Stables. As he takes on his new role as Patron of The Stables he took time out of a busy schedule to reflect on his career and to recall his first tenantive steps on stage.

While on a cruise, Peter and Debbie meet Elsa, a strange but enchanting American woman and in her eyes their best friend. When she invites herself to stay with them a few months later, they finally look her up and discover her deadly secret but it’s too late! As Elsa quickly makes herself at home the two must find a way to get rid of her politely, and not let her cook them dinner. A frightfully funny and satirical look at the middle-class English instinct to always be good hosts, The Unfriend was first performed at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester in 2022, before a run in the West End in 2023. This modern comedy of manners is the first stage play written by Steven Moffat, an award-winning writer for Doctor Who, Sherlock and Dracula. Approximate run time including interval – 1 hour 55 minutes.

Young people talking about their youth club and all that they like about their time at the club

Anne (known by everyone as Annie) Edwards is a well known figure around The Stables; she’s as at home on the stage as a performer as she is manning the box office or keeping the diary in order. Earlier this summer as part of the Scene and Heard festival Annie was nominated as one of the Female Heroes, she was nominated by Victoria Fay who said there was no one else more deserving of the recognition and described her as ‘…the oracle of the The Stables.’ As part of the exhibition that was set up in the art gallery a soundscape was created in which Jane Midwinter interviewed each of the heroes and also spoke to those who nominated them. In this podcast we’ve selected Annie’s interview which we are sure you’ll enjoy and we’re pretty certain you’ll find out things about her that didn’t know!

Everyone knows about 9/11 not so many know that when the US closed its airspace, 38 planes carrying nearly 7,000 passengers from around the world were unexpectedly diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, nearly doubling the town’s population overnight. Come From Away is a heart-warming and multi award-winning musical, based on this remarkable true story. The show follows both the stranded 'come from aways' and the townspeople who opened their homes, schools, and hearts to care for them. Amid fear and uncertainty, strangers form deep connections, friendships, and even love. The musical celebrates human kindness, resilience, and community spirit in the face of tragedy – and gives us hope in today’s unsettled world.

The One Good Thing or Are Ya Patrick Swayze, in conversation with writer Joe Bravaco by Stables Theatre Hastings

Peter Mould is more than just a well known face around The Stables Theatre, he has been capturing amazing images of the shows and the actors in them for nearly a quarter of a century. So it was great fun to sit down and talk to the man behind the lens and find out that the soon to be 80-year-old has been taking puctures since he was just 14.

This absurdist tragicomedy expands upon the exploits of the ill-fated courtiers Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. This exhilarating new version presents the play with just four actors, in a rollercoaster of humour and poignancy. An amateur production brought to you by award-winning Different Theatre. Supported by The Cotton Theatre Trust. Directed by Sam Chittenden (Meet Me At Dawn). Featuring Ben Baeza, Morgan Corby, Ross Gurney-Randall and Nancy Logan.

Cage Birds/White Lead by Stables Theatre Hastings

Set in the 1960s Murder, Maragret and Me imagines the conversations between two formidable women. Agatha Christie the ‘Queen of Crime’ is not thrilled that her dearest creation Miss Marple will be played by ‘funniest woman alive’ Margaret Rutherford. Rutherford herself is mortified about the prospect of being involved with a film which depicts murder. Both carry secrets that they would rather not reveal and Christie turns sleuth to uncover the secret that Rutherford hid to ensure her reputation remained intact. The two women form an unlikely friendship and they are helped along the way by mysterious ‘spinster’ who bears more than a passing resemblance to a familiar detective.

Chris New and the Stable’s regular acting group are pleased to present their third new play here at the Stable’s Theatre ’SIR’. Following the success of the heartbreaking Harvest and the hilarious Power of Love, Chris is writing a large-cast production for the main stage, with parts specifically written for each acting group participant, irrespective of their prior experience.

Mayfly explores rebirth in the aftermath of tragedy. Mayfly premiered at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, in April 2018, winning Joe White the Off-West End Award for Most Promising Playwright in 2019. Set in a Shropshire village this tender and wise play is suffused with grief, loss and unexpected laughs in which a family searches for new beginnings. Ben thinks his family might be better off without him, but his wife Cat has read in her stars: "Today a very special person will appear from out the blue". Their daughter Loops is getting ready for a date. It’s her first one, and she has everything crossed. This production contains adult themes and language and scenes that some may find upsetting – there is smoking in this production – Age suggestion 12+

Patrick Kealey has been described as "...a masterful performer, his renditions of the different characters... are superb." I've said before that I love meeting interesting people and Patrick Kealey is certainly that. An actor, director, producer and soon to be published author the 71 year old says he can look back on a life that he's lived on his own terms, with few regrets. He's directing After Miss Julie at The Stables and shortly after that he'll be back on stage with his one-man play The Life and Rhymes of Archy and Mehitabel which we talk about at the end of this interview. Patrick has theatre running through his veins, he is passionate about what he does and he's sad to see the state of his industry with theatres and production companies closing, life for young actors today genuinely isn't like it used to be. So sit back, relax and enjoy a fascinating portrait of an actors life and how they eek out a living when work is in short supply and phone isn't ringing

'It’s like Kafka, but much funnier’ Through the exasperated voice of Archy, failed poet now reincarnated and trapped in the body of a cockroach, Don Marquis created a brilliant witty satirical insect eye view of humans and their endless follies - both hilarious and piercingly, painfully astute. Classic humour from New York’s jazz age ‘Best Actor - Buxton Fringe Festival 2024’ "Kealey is a masterful performer, and his renditions of the different characters, especially Tom, the old theatre cat, are superb. His delivery of Marquis’ humorous tales kept the audience chuckling appreciatively throughout and made this a performance not to be missed" Georgina Blair. Buxton Fringe Review

It's election night 1945 and the working class is about to elect a new Labour government and herald a seismic change in British society that will alter the old order for good. Meanwhile in the bowels of a large country house, beautiful privileged Julie, daughter of an aristocrat, is playing a dangerous seductive game with John, his lordship's chauffeur. So begins Patrick Marber's brilliant update and adaptation of August Strindberg's 19th century classic Miss Julie. What follows is a night of brutal psychological cat and mouse, explored through Marber's typically searing dialogue. Themes of class, sex and money are dynamically explored and build over one fateful night to an explosive climax. This is an unmissable opportunity to see a great play reinterpreted for our times by an equally great contemporary playwright with a wonderful trio of Stables actors ready to bring it dramatically to life.

In this podcast we interview a young professional dancer in training, Matthew Potulski, to really learn what it takes to become a dancer in the modern industry. With insights into his journey through education and personal anecdotes about how it's affected him and his life, we lay out, for anyone interested, what becoming a dancer is really like. This is part of a series of podcasts being hosted by members of the Stables Youth Board to enable young people to understand and be inspired by the wide variety of pathways and professions in the performing arts industry.

The Stables Theatre has just launched this year's new play writing competition. The search is on once again for new talent who have created an original piece of writing for the stage. In this podcast Stuart Baillie and Ben Randall talk about the history of the competition and about Ben's hopes for this year. You've got until the 15th of November to get your entries in, check out www.stablestheatre.co.uk for full details.

What's Going On at the Stables Theatre by Stables Theatre Hastings

“You’re the woman I watch from my train. I call you Jess. He’s Jason and you’re Jess. You have everything I lost. You’re everything I should have been.” Rachel Watson longs for a different life. Her only escape is the perfect couple she watches through the train window every day, happy and in love. Or so it appears. When Rachel learns that the woman she’s been secretly watching has suddenly disappeared, she finds herself as a witness and even a suspect in a thrilling mystery in which she will face bigger revelations than she could ever have anticipated.

"There's a strange place called grief where all the rules have changed!" On the face of it Meet Me At Dawn, written by Scottish Playwright Zinnie Harris is a simple enough story, partners Robyn and Helen find themselves marooned on a beach after a boating accident. But the two gradually realise that all is not as it seems and the usual laws of time and space have been abandoned. Meet me at Dawn is indeed a multi layered play and comes to The Stables stage from October 1st to the 5th.

The end, the beginning and the music in between... Last FIve Years is the emotional and intimate musical deconstruction of a love affair and marriage taking place over a five-year period. Jamie is a talented up-and-coming novelist who falls in love with Cathy, a struggling actress. As Rolling Sone said about this play, it: "Knocks you back on your heels. Just like love".

In 2016 something shocking was found at William Shakespeare’s grave. This resulted in questions being asked that could not be answered. Bard Times takes us back through time to points in history that are mirthful, entertaining and tragic, but which could have all happened and may give insight into the complex and mysterious life and death of the bard known as William Shakespeare.

First performed to sell-out audiences back in May, Every Brilliant Thing is back very much by public demand! Every Brilliant Thing is about resilience and hope. When mum’s in the hospital and dad says she finds it hard to be happy, there’s not much a seven year old can do other than make a list of every brilliant thing… 1. Ice cream 2. Water fights 3. Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV These are the first three items on a list of every brilliant thing in the world worth living for. Duncan MacMillan’s play pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to be a child of a suicidal mother and the lengths we go for those we love. The story explores depression and hope, uncertainty and change, confusion and joy, heartbreak and anger, relationships and solitude, risk and resistance, guilt and forgiveness. Throughout, The Storyteller interacts with audience members to tell about life with their mother’s depression as a backdrop, including the effects it has on their life and relationships. Every Brilliant Thing is a life-affirming story of how to achieve hope through focusing on the smallest miracles of life.

Angela Pell is a writer for film and TV whose credits include Snow Cake, starring Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman, Gifted, starring Rhys Ifans, and adapted 'Close To Me' a six part drama series for C4 - a lot of which was filmed in Hastings'. She lives locally and members of The Stables Youth Board recently had the opportunity to interview her – here is the result.

Stuart Baillie meets Ross Drury, director of Game plan, on stage from Tuesday 21st - Saturday 25th May. The interview discusses the play itself and Ross talks frankly about his career, he prefers directing and bluntly says he's a 'rubbish' actor who can't deliver lines! As for Game Plan, is it a comedy or is it a tragedy? Ross says it's down to you, the audience, to decide. It has the hallmarks of a classic tragedy and the style of a farce When former businesswoman Lynette falls on hard times, after her million pound business has collapsed and her husband has left her, daughter Sorrel decides to take matters into her own hands and advertises herself online. Alas the encounter with her first client, a retired dry cleaner, doesn't go to plan! Set in the throws of the early noughties, Nokia phones and pink champagne are the back drop to an uncomfortable dark-hearted farce of cracked morality, where everything is up for sale.

Every Brilliant Thing is about resilience and hope and addresses aspects of mental health. When mum’s in the hospital and dad says she finds it hard to be happy, there’s not much a seven year old can do… 1. Ice cream 2. Water fights 3. Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV These are the first three items on a list of every brilliant thing in the world worth living for. Duncan MacMillan’s play Every Brilliant Thing pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to be a child of a suicidal mother and the lengths we go for those we love. The story explores depression and hope, uncertainty and change, confusion and joy, heartbreak and anger, relationships and solitude, risk and resistance, guilt and forgiveness. Throughout, The Storyteller interacts with audience members to tell about life with their mother’s depression as a backdrop, including the effects it has on their life and relationships. Every Brilliant Thing is a life-affirming story of how to achieve hope through focusing on the smallest miracles of life.

The Cherry Orchard, Chekov's last play from April 12th to 20th

Stuart Baillie and Ben Randall chat about what's next up at The Stables and that's Chekov’s last play, The Cherry Orchard (Friday 12th to Saturday 20th April). It's set on a Russian estate at the turn of the 20th century. Serfs have been liberated and revolution is knocking at the door. In addition they discuss the vital role that volunteers play in keeping The Stables the vibrant place that it is. There's time too for a chat about the new pay writing competition. Check out our new monthly column in the Hastings Independent Press, you can pick up your free copy from The Stables box office

Entertaining Mr Sloane is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its London debut. A brother and sister both fall for a handsome young stranger who enters their lives. Will they succumb to his charms? Will they discover his murderous past? Can this play still be as sexy, subversive and provocative as it was 60 years ago? Come to the show and find out!

Doubt - A Parable is a play with a powerful message and has just finished a run at The Stables Theatre in Hastings. Minutes after they've come off stage from the final performance the cast share their thoughts. Listen to the full Doubt – A Parable podcast by clicking on this link... https://on.soundcloud.com/jQ1cK

The creative team behind last years' in the round and stripped back production of 'Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf' at The Stables Theatre, come together again to present Doubt – A Parable. Directed by Hugo Trebels and assisted by Jamie Seaton, Doubt – A Parable promises to be another exciting and thought provoking evening at the theatre. Hear all about it in this podcast.

The story of one couple; William and Margaret/Billy and Maggie. Past and present collide and entwine as we see their life together unfold. From the early days of their marriage through to their later years when the reality of a terminal illness offers another choice, replacing the option of a drawn-out, painful death with an unexpected hope for the future. "There are going to be moments like this where I have to know you can jump when I ask you to jump. And you did." You’ll cry, but you’ll smile too, at this beautiful play that is by turns funny, hopeful, painful, bittersweet, and ultimately life-affirming.

Johnny has a beautiful wife, a beautiful home, and a promotion on the horizon. Judy is revelling in the joys of domesticity; making cakes, cocktails, and homemade marmalade. But cracks are starting to appear in this beautiful façade which threatens their domestic bliss.

In 1978 when the Queen Mother was in Hastings to open The Stables' impressive new extension a former groom who had once lived and worked in the building was interviewed. He'd been on a holiday in the town just at the time the new extension was being opened so was invited along to the opening. Sadly what we have here is all that is left of the interview but if anyone can shed any light on who the people involved in it are, we'd be delighted to know.

A fast moving kaleidoscope of drama with more than a hundred characters trying to make sense of Love and Information. Someone sneezes. Someone can’t get a signal. Someone shares a secret. Someone won’t answer the door. Someone put an elephant on the stairs. Someone’s not ready to talk. Someone is her brother’s mother. Someone hates irrational numbers. Someone told the police. Someone’s never felt like this before. Written by Caryl Churchill, directed by Ross Drury and coming to The Stables soon!

Join Bev Lee Harling for a sharing of stories and music drawn from the suds of the Old Town wash house to the mystery of the missing fishermen, a show that has ben inspired by Bev's exploration of her Hastings family roots. Bev will take you for a stroll through the heart of Hastings Old Town, meeting recently discovered ancestors from the local fishing community. Through the eyes of the women of Hastings, she'll uncover a new perspective on community connection, ancestry, families past and present.

Hugh Whitemore tells Turing’s story in this mesmerising play, combining humour with compassion, and skilfully interweaving different timescales to build up a complete picture of Turing and those around him. During the war we see the code breaking genius at work; given personal authority by Churchill himself for all the resources he needs. After the war we see Turing’s continuing passion for research as he develops the modern computer; at the same time getting progressively entangled in the law after he confesses to his homosexuality. The play provides real insight into the dilemmas faced by a genius who refused to compromise his personal standpoint; not just by the man himself, but by his family, his professional colleagues and The State’s preoccupation with national security.

Chris New not only has three plays gracing The Stables' stage this year, he's been running a series of actors' workshops too that he's found rewarding in a number of ways: "I'm learning more than you are," he tells his students. Here Chris talks to Stuart Baillie about his love for teaching and how it helps him understand himself as an actor.

The Stables Theatre celebrated its 60th anniversary back in 2019. The history of the theatre and how it came in to existence in the first place is a fascinating one. Here, Stuart Baillie looks at those early years and some of the ‘big characters’ who helped make it all happen in the first place.

There's a great three months worth of entertainment in store at The Stables Theatre in Hastings between May and July and the theatre's very own PAG-man Ben Randall considers some of the highlights and discusses his own time in the spotlight, in the world of stand-up comedy.

After scoring a hit with Dig, the first in a trilogy of plays, Chris New is preparing to launch Dog Song at The Stables in early May. Here he talks about the pleasing reaction he got to Dig and how the process of writing Dog Song has been an altogether different experience. To hear more from Chris click this link https://soundcloud.com/stables-theatre-hastings/the-life-and-times-of-chris-new?si=7c89beb84e034f72b95c26abd65bd9a3&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

In this podcast we discuss the black comedy First Bus to Ballinabeg with its leading actors Aisling Tigwell and Liam Banks. It's coming to The Stables between Friday February 3rd until Saturday February 11th. Hear writer Sean J Hume and director Jenny Lloyd-Lyons discuss the play... https://soundcloud.com/stables-theatre-hastings/first-bus-to-ballinabeg?si=b7324402e02b4fef81afb2cfdfaeb1a3&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing First Bus to Ballinabeg is another example of new writing, hear Ben Randall and Stuart Baillie discuss The Stables new writing competition by following this link... https://soundcloud.com/stables-theatre-hastings/gold-dust-the-stables-play-writing-competition?si=d0af62f257174143a48137603cb0a7f3&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Chris New sees himself as just a jobbing actor but once you've listened to this interview we're sure you'll agree he is much more than that. His first love is theatre because he relishes the link that gives him to his audience, he became an actor because one of his teachers told him he couldn't, his career has been "an act of contrary revenge" he says. He's coming to The Stables in 2023 to run workshops for actors – he loves to teach. Then beyond that he'll be staging three plays he's in the process of writing. But it back and listen to Stuart Baillie's interview with Chris as he retraces his story and recalls the people who have inspired and encouraged him and how being diagnosed with autism in his 40s has given him a whole new perspective on his life.

2022 was not just a year for celebration at The Stables Theatre and Arts Centre as it sparked back in to life after the enforced closures brought on by the pandemic, it was a year that set the scene for what is to come. In this episode Stuart Baillie talks to Stables Chair Neil Sellman, writer Ben Randall, performer and director Hugo Trebells, Bobbi Sutton who is part of the program advisory group and out from behind the scenes was sound technician Dave Rowland. There was lots to cover and we hope you enjoy recalling some of your favourites from last year and starting to plan what you want to come and see in 2023 To hear Ben Randall talk about the whole concept of the new writers competition click on this link https://soundcloud.com/stables-theatre-hastings/gold-dust-the-stables-play-writing-competition?si=9cf14247cdfd477c824fc3d79f1b4f04&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

If you're an aspiring playwright it's tough and expensive to get your work on stage. So to encourage new writing talent The Stables Theatre Hastings launched a new competition to uncover new works and new writers. We've seen Whiskey and Soda by Ben Randall – one of the first winners of the competition – on stage this year and in early 2023 First Bus to Ballinabeg by Sean Hume, another winner, will have its run. It's a big prize. The writers have access to all the facilities of The Stables Theatre and in this interview Ben, who is now overseeing the development of the competition, explains just how much that means and how it makes the almost impossible, possible.

Combining the colour of Disney with the vivacity of Hollywood is one of the descriptions of Honk! It's a show that has been seen by an estimated six million people who have packed the seats of theatres across the world where around 8,000 productions of the show have been staged. Honk was the winner of the Best Musical in the 2000 Olivier Awards! With music by George Stiles and lyrics by Anthony Drewe Honk is coming to The Stables later this month. It's delightful and very funny, it’s a celebration of being different, and is sure to lift your spirits this Christmas if you come to see it. A young, talented, energetic ensemble cast are behind this production. Its writers are also responsible for the new stage versions of ‘Mary Poppins’ and Half A Sixpence’. Other descriptions of Honk include: “Marvellously funny, frequently touching, and constantly magical theatre piece" "A great score and witty lyrics" "A lovely musical for parents and children, a perfect mix for people of all ages." Creative Team: Director – Chris Lacey – Musical Director – Oscar Smith Choreographer – Jackie Hutt Design – Dee Harvey