Past Productions

Experienced Ratae director Malcolm Wardle successfully delivered Ratae’s May 2010 production, in the form of the farce Don’t Dress for Dinner.

 

For the 60th Anniversary production Mary Jones directed an adaption by Rob Bettinson of Catherine Cookson’s “The Fifteen Streets”. The production played to large audiences every night, despite some poor weather, and featured a large cast of members and friends of the society. Founding member Arthur Potterton was in attendance to give his support.

 

Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite was the choice of director Alan Chambers for the October 2009 Ratae production. This was a group of 3 separate plays, all set in suite 719 of the Plaza Hotel in New York.

 

During May 2009 the characters of ’THEFT’ were observed during their preparations for a raid on the home of an unsuspecting couple. Photographic evidence of their deeds are now available.

 

Besides the regular yearly schedule of 3 full-length plays Ratae often takes part in the 1-Act Festival. The 2009 entry was Out in the Morning Dew.

 

Ratae certainly proved that “there’s no business like ‘snow’ business” as cast, crew and audience all battled through the heaviest snowfalls for 18 years to take part in Pack of Lies. Directed by Janice Muddimer in February 2009 this intriguing and ingenious play (based on real life) told a story of an ordinary family mixed up with Russian spies in 1960’s London.

 

The October 2008 production gave Alan Chambers the opportunity to bring to the Ratae audiences that great favourite Blithe Spirit.

 

The comedy The House of Frankenstein! was the directorial debut for Colin Woods, performed in May 2008. It featured a large cast, which saw first-timers appearing alongside many stalwarts.

 

Murder in Company was the Ratae production for Feb 2008, under the direction of Maggie Law.

 

The first ever production of The Shoebox Mystery took place in October 2007. Written by Northamptonshire playwright Arthur Aldrich it featured some new members to the Ratae team

 

The May 2007 production was “The Day After the Fair” by Frank Harvey, based upon a short story by Thomas Hardy and directed by Alan Chambers. Earlier in 2007 saw Malcolm Wardle direct “That’s Life” for the society. The May play in 2006 was Something to Hide, under the direction of Mary Jones.

 

For ad-hoc rehearsal pictures from other past productions take a look at our scrapbook pages.

 

We also have a list of major productions, going right back to the very first one in January 1950.