Past Productions

When news arrives that a Government Inspector is on his way to a small Russian town the corrupt and complaisant local officials are thrown into a frenzy. In their panic, they mistake a gormless, penniless and down-on-his-luck skiver as the said Inspector - with hilarious results. Widely held to be Russia's greatest comedy, Nikolai Gogol's timeless play is as fresh, feisty and funny today as it was at its first performance (it even inspired a famous episode of Fawlty Towers.) RoughCast's fast-paced production relishes the play's every farcical, satirical and hysterical twist and turn. ... Go to production page

"We are the only love-gods!"

...exclaims Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, as he embarks on one of "Hercules' labours" and attempts a love-match between Beatrice and Benedick (if they can stop their 'merry war' for long enough, that is...) With plots of a rather different nature, Don John, the prince's disgruntled brother, attempts to cause mischief wherever he can... Directed by Sarah Gray, our production was set on a cruise liner in the 1930's. There were many familiar faces in the cast but we were also delighted to welcome some new actors too. ... Go to production page

A Joint Venture between Open Space and RoughCast Theatre Companies A comedy thriller with a literary twist. Set in a hotel on the south coast of England in the mid 1920’s. Cast includes Open Space and RoughCast favourites. It is 1925, and renowned crimewriter Audrey Dobbs is in love with Lord Basil Bouncy, the aristocratic detective she has created. But when she is persuaded to develop his relationship with another of her characters – the brilliant novelist Lydia Tempest – things begin to go horribly wrong, and her attempts to deal with the situation by hasty re-writing lead to disaster. Set in a hydro hotel on the South Coast, Revenge en Suite is a delightful comedy thriller with a literary twist, and features a colourful cast of eccentric characters. But who is actually writing the plot...? ... Go to production page

"Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York"

With these immortal lines, on to the stage comes Shakespeare's most charismatic and most complete villain. And before the audience can draw breath, Richard of Gloucester, youngest brother to the newly-crowned king, has already begun to map out his bloody and corpse-strewn path to the throne. RoughCast's typically high-energy and fast-paced performance ensures that the audience will take as much delight in Richard's blackly humorous rise to power as Richard does himself; and then be enthralled as the brutal tyrant (like so many before and since) desperately tries to hang on to power.

Additional Programme Notes

Click to enlarge [gallery ids="409"] ... Go to production page

When Shakespeare includes not one, but two sets of identical twins (twin servants and twin masters separated in infancy), what can result but the most hilarious series of mistakes? Add to the mix a wayward husband, a domineering wife and frustrated sister, a father under sentence of death, accusations of theft, infidelity and fraud, and you have the recipe for one of Shakespeare's most entertaining and accessible plays. RoughCast capture the sheer exuberance of the play in a frenetic and fast-moving production set in the sultry Eastern Mediterranean, complemented by colourful live music and featuring an "A list" of local acting talent. ... Go to production page

Roughcast Theatre Company present John Ford's controversial Caroline era classic 'Tis Pity She's A Whore. In great Shakespearean tradition the play follows two star-crossed lovers who are destined not to be together. A revenge tragedy stuffed with Sex, Swords and ... Siblings. ... Go to production page

A magical comedy of alchemy, devilry and desire. In a crypt in 14th century France Justina, an alchemist, and her husband Fernando are engaged in a hapless and frustrating search for the Philosopher's Stone. Justina dreams that with the stone she will be able to save the world from itself and bring a new era of peace and equality (Fernando would settle for enough money for a decent meal). So when the Devil offers Justina the stone in return for her soul, the temptation is too great. Now everything she wishes for can come true, can't it? As well as being a very funny and highly entertaining comedy, Playing with Fire also explores our eternal desires for wealth, love, community and justice.

Additional Programme Notes

Click to enlarge [gallery ids="406"] ... Go to production page

What happens when a bunch of shipwrecked mariners wash up on an island peopled by the indolent rich who spend their time in love intrigues? The cat is very much put among the pigeons and the old love order is turned upside down. But the lovers must watch out, there are pranksters about! Twelfth Night is a play about love and self love, about who we are and what we are about. Following their successful tour of King Lear, RoughCast Theatre Company staged an outside production of this Shakespeare favourite featuring those much loved characters Malvolio, Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Aguecheek. The play is set loosely in the early 1980s, a time of New Romantics and the beginnings of modern Goths. In contrast to today, it was a time of excess. Greed was good. And we find people in this play who have wealth enough to do little more than spend their time navel gazing about themselves and the state of their emotions. We also find people who, though not wealthy themselves, are social hangers-on who have nothing better to do than play tricks on others. It is very much the world of the Hoorahs. But into this self-contained world come people with real emotions and bring it back down to Earth. ... Go to production page

Following the success of their highly-regarded production of Hamlet in 2005, RoughCast returned to Shakespeare with a fast-paced and dynamic production of arguably his greatest play - King Lear. Pride, vanity and complacency are confronted by loyalty, wisdom and truth as Lear is forced to see the reality of his roles as king and father. King Lear thinks he can retain the status and perks of kingship while giving all the power and responsibility for the kingdom to his daughters Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. Once he loses his power, he sees its true value. His misjudgement of his daughters sends him mad and his country follows into civil war. Family conflict, political backstabbing, war, madness, murder, dauntless heroes, humour, pathos, sibling rivalry, not to mention extreme weather events - King Lear has them all, and remains as relevant as ever. ... Go to production page

In conjunction with Eyeswrite, Roughcast staged a series of short plays by local writers in September 2008. This was similar to Secret Lives in 2006. There are thirteen plays in all and they will be spread across a matinee and an evening performance. As there are two performance days, it will be possible to see all the plays either in one day or over two weekends. The plays are mixed in length with some humorous and some serious. They vary from very small casts of two or three to larger ensemble pieces. There should be something for everyone!

Afternoon Performances

• Hard Rain
• The Seventh Train
• Too Much Sugar
• A Question Of Identity
• A Long Look Back
• The Interview
• At Markenhams

Evening Performances

• A Whole New Start
• Howard Takes the Stage
• Marching Home
• The Girl in Pink Earrings
• How Many Strawberries Grow in the Sea?
• Angels

... Go to production page