A new dark comedy thriller which emerged from a lockdown idea is being premiered at St George’s Theatre and Sheringham Little Theatre this summer.
My Other Half is the brainchild of the Sheringham’s technical apprentice Chris Sainton-Clark, who wrote and self-published the drama – then secured an Arts Council grant and crowdfunding to bring it to life on stage,
It features young couple in their 20s, H and B, living together in a flat, who switch bodies in a freak event which gives them a clearer insight into each other’s lives and what shaped them.
Chris explained: “During lockdown I wanted to do something creative – and realised that in a lot of relationships each partner does not always know what the other is going through.
“The body swap means they learn about each other – with lots of twists and turns along the way.”
Chris, 21 from Corpusty, has acted but his theatre career has mainly been in technical work including stage management, and he is keen to put his experience to good use putting his creative ideas into the spotlight.
The drama, which also goes on to St George’s Theatre in Great Yarmouth stars Megan Artherton, Charlie Randall and Daisy den Englese – with some voice acting from Chris.
He is “surprised and delighted” to win a £2500 Arts Council grant to fund the performances, on top of £700 worth of support from friends and the community in a crowdfunding drive.
“I originally wrote My Other Half as a short film script, but through working at Sheringham Little Theatre and St George’s Theatre in Great Yarmouth – and the encouragement of director Debbie Thompson – realised it would be ideal for the stage.
“I also hope the work is suitable for taking on tour and maybe to the Edinburgh Fringe,” added Chris who has set up his own drama company Raising Cain Productions.
Theatre director Debbie Thompson said: “Chris asked me to read his play and I was truly blown away. I think it’s a really interesting piece that in true thriller style keeps you guessing. I think audiences will love it.”
Rehearsals began in earnest this month for the shows which are at the Little Theatre on July 9 and 10 and St Georges on July 13-15 (all 7.30pm). Tickets at https://sheringhamlittletheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/1173610370 and https://stgeorgestheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/873623903
The script can be bought as an ebook or paperback from Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Other-Half-Play-One…
The Finding Emerson photo festival 2021 will be taking place at sites across Great Yarmouth on Saturday 5th June.
Two seminars will be happening at St George’s Theatre:
11:45 – 12:45 – Francis Hodgson in conversation with Harry Cory Wright, Ben Burdett and Debby Besford.
2:45 – 3:45 – Calvin Winner in conversation with Katie Hayward, Stephen Hyde, Mark Edwards and Katy Barron.
Tickets for both seminars can be booked on the Utter Nonsense website:
https://www.utternonsense.co.uk/seminar-one
As St George’s Theatre reopens from lockdown we want to make sure that all of our visitors feel safe and secure. We’ve put in a number of measures to help people feel safe and have been granted use of the ‘We’re Good to Go’ mark.
“We’re Good To Go” is the official UK mark to signal that a tourism and hospitality business has worked hard to follow Government and industry COVID-19 guidelines and has a process in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.
Learn more about the mark HERE
So book your tickets, safe in the knowledge that we’re doing our very best to keep you safe!
Seaside drama will unfold on Great Yarmouth seafront next week (June 1-2) as a new play has its premiere on the promenade.
Ghosted follows a group of teenagers when they delve into the disappearance of their friend.
The new work by Norfolk playwright James McDermott, who recently joined the EastEnders script team, is being staged outdoors – to conquer Covid restrictions and reflect the setting of the youngster’s coastal home town.
Its first ever performances are on June 1 and 2, with audience members asked to gather at St George’s Theatre to collect headsets which will help them follow the action as it moves around the streets – and to get extra information that helps the plot.
The audience will walk between scene locations stretching from near the Pirates Cove Adventure Golf to the Venetian Waterways each side of the Britannia Pier.
St George’s director Debbie Thompson said: “We are really excited about bringing this new drama to a Norfolk seafront. It was specially commissioned and James really knows the subject having grown up as a teenager in a Norfolk seaside town.”
The plot explores the friends’ characters, romances, and secrets which could explain the absence of their mate Ash whose clothes are found on the beach.
The cast is: Ashton Owen as Adam, Charlie Randall (Ash), Meg Artherton (Chloe), Meg Sharman (Fish), Oliver Westlake (Jake), Sam Thompson (Jet) and Amy English (Flo).
It is directed by experienced and acclaimed West End director, actor, writer and filmmaker Marcus Romer from Cambridge.
Buy your tickets HERE
