What's On

 In this new comedy by Simon Downing we find Falstaff, played by Giles Shenton (Old Herbaceous & Three Men in a Boat) in his bedroom in the Boars Head being nursed by Mistress Quickly.

The creditors arrive demanding payment. Will Falstaff resort to marrying Mistress Quickly in order to pay off his debts? Will he turn teetotal? Will he mellow in his old age?

Find out the answers to all these important questions that Shakespeare never bothered to answer and join Falstaff and Mistress Quickly for an evening of jollity, frivolity, a definite lack of coequality and more Shakespearean insults than ever previously heard on a theatrical stage!

KEEP ON MOVIN’ - An evening of stories on the theme of Journeys written and read by Gloucestershire authors 
Cotswold Playhouse Sunday 11 May at 7.30pm (doors 7.00pm) 
£12

Now in its fifteenth year, Stroud Short Stories 29th event will be an evening of extraordinary stories about Journeys of all kinds – physical, metaphorical, experiential etc.

As usual, ten stories will be selected - from the hundred or so usually submitted - to be read by their authors, who may be professional writers, skilled amateurs or even complete beginners, but all of whom are from Gloucestershire.

Proclaimed by the Cheltenham Literature Festival as ‘possibly the best short story event in the South West’, SSS’s considerable reputation is based on the unfailingly high quality of the stories read at its events.

Submissions will be judged this time by SSS organiser/editor John Holland, who was awarded the 2024 Stroud News & Journal Community Award for his Contribution to the Arts, and award-winning short story author/novelist Chloe Turner.

Introduced and MC’ed by John Holland.
As usual, the demand for tickets will be high. 
More information is on the SSS website - stroudshortstories.blogspot.com

KEY DATES
Sunday 16 February - Open for submissions which are free as always
Sunday 30 March - Submissions close
Wednesday 9 April - The ten authors and their stories are announced
Friday 11 April - Tickets go on sale from the Cotswold Playhouse website

Professional G&S company Forbear! Theatre return to Stroud with their fantasy reimagining of 'The Mikado', after having presented 'HMS Pinafore' and ‘The Grand Duke’ last Autumn.  

In ‘The Mikado’, a wandering minstrel agrees to die at the hands of the Lord High Executioner in exchange for one month of marriage with the love of his life. However, when he reveals his secret past to his new companions, there begins a desperate and hilarious battle to save themselves from being boiled alive.

Minimal changes have been made to the text in order to bring this fantasy kingdom to life, with the same madcap characters, plot, and iconic songs that have been loved for generations.

CODA is an award-winning touring company celebrated for its exceptional performances of the most beloved songs from both the West End and Broadway stages. With a passion for musical theatre and a commitment to excellence, CODA has captivated audiences across the UK with its vibrant productions, bringing to life some of the greatest hits from iconic shows that have defined the genre for decades.

At the heart of CODA's success are two extraordinary vocalists: Soprano Gemma Ashley and Baritone Mark ‘#ManInTheHat’ James. 
Gemma Ashley's soaring, crystalline vocals combined with Mark James' rich, commanding baritone create a powerful dynamic on stage. Their performances are filled with emotion, technical brilliance, and a deep connection to the music, ensuring audiences are swept away with every note. Together, they breathe new life into classic songs, offering an unforgettable musical experience.

CODA's repertoire spans the golden age of musical theatre to modern-day masterpieces, with show-stopping numbers from productions such as Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Little Shop of Horrors, My Fair Lady, Grease, and many more. Whether it's the heart-wrenching drama of Les Misérables or the upbeat nostalgia of Grease, CODA's performances evoke the magic, drama, and joy that have made these musicals enduring favorites.

With their award-winning talent and passion for storytelling, CODA is more than a performance—it's a celebration of the timeless beauty of musical theatre, expertly delivered by two of the finest vocalists in the industry. 

Join them for an unforgettable journey through the songs that have touched hearts for generations.

The Critic (2024): Sun 25 May 6.30pm

London, 1934. Jimmy Erskine (McKellen) is the most feared theatre critic of the age. He lives as flamboyantly as he writes and takes pleasure in savagely taking down any actor who fails to meet his standards. When the owner of the Daily Chronicle newspaper dies, and his son David Brooke (Strong) takes over, Jimmy quickly finds himself at odds with his new boss and his position under threat. In an attempt to preserve the power and influence he holds so sacred, Jimmy strikes a faustian pact with struggling actress Nina Land (Arterton), entangling them and Brooke in a thrilling but deadly web of desire, blackmail and betrayal.

Certification: 15

The Sound of Music
Richard Rodgers (Music), Oscar Hammerstein II (Lyrics), Howard Lindsay & Russell Crouse (Book)

Set in 1938 Austria, The Sound of Music tells the story of Maria, a free-spirited young woman who becomes governess to the von Trapp family while deciding whether to join a convent. Maria quickly bonds with the seven children, using music and playfulness to bring joy back into their strict house-hold, overseen by their widowed father, Captain Georg von Trapp. Initially stern, the Captain sof-tens and falls in love with Maria, and she with him.

Based on the real von Trapp family singers, this timeless musical has captivated audiences since its 1959 Broadway debut, winning five Tony Awards. The 1965 film adaptation, starring Julie An-drews and Christopher Plummer, remains a beloved classic.

The Cotswold Players are thrilled to present this feel-good show on the 60th anniversary of the film, and we warmly welcome you to the Cotswold Playhouse!

A wonderful comedy written and performed by Mark Carey. It’s “Dad’s Army meets The Vicar of Dibley!”

George Crocker is keen to liven up his dull life so he decides to join the village Drama Club. What happens then turns his world upside down!

Set during the Second World War this original, and inspiring show is suitable for anyone 9 years old and above. 

“The quality of acting and writing is as good as any you will see. A deep and nuanced story. Every character drips with personality and charm.” The Cheltenham Standard 

“A great little show. It’s “Dads’ Army meets “The Vicar of Dibley”. London Metro

“A delight, a lovely and very humorous play that fully merited the standing ovation.” Stratford Herald

“Mark Carey shows amazing dexterity and comic skill in playing all 17 parts.” The Stage

Four struggling bohemians — a poet, a painter, a musician, and a philosopher — share a cramped attic in Paris. It's Christmas Eve, the city is bitterly cold, and their lives are warmed only by friendship, art, and fleeting moments of joy. But everything changes when a quiet knock at the door introduces Mimì, a gentle seamstress searching for a candlelight — and sparking a powerful love at first sight with Rodolfo, the poet.

Yet as quickly as love blooms, the shadows gather. Mimì is gravely ill, and Rodolfo, unable to provide the care she needs, is left haunted by his helplessness.

In this poignant reimagining, Cardiff Cotswold Opera sets Puccini’s timeless tale in the post-war world of 1919 Paris — a city reeling from conflict and on the cusp of a devastating pandemic. Against this backdrop of fragile hope and looming tragedy, La Bohème becomes more than a love story: it’s a reflection on resilience, sacrifice, and the fleeting beauty of life.

£20 full price, £15 concessions, and £5 for students and those under 18.  Anyone under 10 comes in free (but still needs to book a seat!)

2025 marks the 250^th anniversary year of Jane Austen, and what better to way to celebrate her life than to delve into the world of one of her finest novels.

The Dashwood sisters have a very different approach to their love lives. Elinor has much more Sense, but Marianne has a great deal of Sensibility. Whilst uninterested in the affections of a middle-aged man Marianne just can’t help herself when a dashing young hero appears on the scene.

Hero’s, heartbreak and debonair villains, all topped off with a dashing duel, will remind you why Austen was a master of her craft.

A cast of five actors and DOTS renowned comedic style make this comedy of manners a production not to be missed.

My Dad: The Woman, The Myth, The Legend. 
By Greedy Pig Theatre Company 

Jamie’s going to be a dad. He’s over-prepared, unpredictable and only slightly on the brink of a nervous breakdown. The only thing left to do is tell his dad. But that’s where it gets a bit complicated…   

After all, Jamie’s dad isn’t the most conventional father in the world. For one thing, she’s a woman. For another, she’s unruly, and has very different ideas about parenting. She’s trying her best - and so’s Jamie. But the baby's on its way, and sh*t’s about to hit the fan. 

Based on a true story, ‘My Dad: The Woman, The Myth, The Legend’ is a riotous and honest dive into unconventional family life. With laugh-out-loud comedy and hard-hitting vulnerability, Greedy Pig Theatre Company (Peacock, Be.) invites you to join them for this bold, new play – and don’t be late! The clock is ticking… 

Age rating: 14+ (Strong language, and depictions of violence/suicide)
For a full list of content warnings please visit https://www.greedypigtheatrecompany.com/ 

Instagram: @greedypigtheatrecompany 

Tom Stoppard

First performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1966, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead cemented Sir Tom Stoppard’s reputation as one of Britain’s finest comedy playwrights.
This is a retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet with two very crucial differences. Firstly, it is told from the point of view of two minor characters, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who pop up briefly and periodically in Shakespeare’s play to advance the plot. Secondly, Stoppard has taken what is arguably Shakespeare’s most grim tragedy, full of death, madness, jealousy and rage and turned it into a comedy!

Whilst struggling to understand where they are, what they are doing and even which one is Rosencrantz and which Guildenstern, the story unfolds. We meet a disreputable raggle-taggle troupe of musical Tragedians and their enigmatic and bawdy leader, the original cast of Hamlet, including: the wicked usurping Uncle Claudius; Hamlet’s amoral and conflicted mother, Gertrude; the tragic weeping Ophelia; and the counterfeiting Hamlet himself.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, aided and abetted by the Tragedians, and betrayed by Hamlet, grapple with the increasingly absurd plot as they journey towards their inescapable fate.

It is, by turns, riotously funny, deeply disturbing and heartbreakingly sad, and remains as fresh and relevant today as when it was first unleashed on an unsuspecting and bemused public!

Live Wire & Roughhouse Theatre Companies present
Jane Eyre: an autobiography

In the face of the isolation and abandonment of a loveless childhood, Jane Eyre refuses to bend to the will of her abusers. But does she achieve the independence and equality that she craves, and does her resistance change anything?

Hailed as a “brilliantly engaging piece of drama” and “a theatrical tour de force”, Live Wire and Roughhouse Theatres’ inventive exploration of the status of women in society make this critically acclaimed dramatisation as relevant today as Charlotte  Bronte’s original novel was 178 years ago.

“Here is a company of technical brilliance, with a rare gift for bringing classics to life with loyalty, energy and intrigue.” FEMALE ARTS 

“This is the way to introduce recalcitrant students of literature to the classics and in particular the Victorian novel.”  BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE