<img src='' title='Event Category: Drama' alt='' id='templ_icon_' width='' height='' /> Event Category: Drama

The Giant Killers is the critically acclaimed, inspiring true story of Football’s greatest ever underdog.

Set in 1870s Lancashire, amidst the poverty and social unrest caused by the cotton famine, Darwen FC rose up to become a shining beacon of hope for their town.

The first workers to ever compete in the FA Cup, a competition that has been exclusively played by the country’s wealthiest gentlemen to this point, they will face challenges both on and off the pitch.

This isn’t a tale of how the rich upper classes generously shared their game with the world – this is the truth. The workers have had their game – the old mob style football taken from them – they’ve had their incomes squashed but now they’ve found a space where they are allowed to fight back. In the early rounds they are drawn against The Remnants – an opportunity to become the FA Cup’s first-ever Giant Killers.

But if they win they face the game’s greatest Giants – The Old Etonians.

While the workers of the town prepare to strike, the football team becomes their representative – a chance to show the world that they are worth more than what they are being given and that they are just as good as their wealthy opponents.

Four actors bring to life the incredible cup run that would change not just football, but the country – forever.

Part love story, part social history, part recreation of the greatest football match you’ve never heard of.

The Giant Killers is a rip-roaring show full of spirit and passion that will ignite a fire in everyone – whether you know the offside rule or not.

14+ age guidance

Back by popular demand

A spine-tingling evening guaranteed for those who like to feel the winter chills for real.

Hauntings is an evening of three tales of the supernatural from two of the world’s greatest writers of ghost stories, E.F. Benson and M.R. James.

The award-winning Gerard Logan will take you to world of invisible, but terrifyingly present, spirits.

The evening includes M.R. James’ Oh, Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad in which a medieval spirit terrorizes an arrogant professor.

“Logan is astounding….He takes a strong script and flies it to the stars”

Edinburgh Festival 2016 Review

“Watching Logan work is like being privy to a wonder of nature…”

Edinburgh Festival 2015 Review

Performed by Gerard Logan

Directed by GARETH ARMSTRONG – Music by SIMON SLATER

A funny, touching and at times savage portrait of a family full of longing that’s losing its grip – The Last of the Haussmans examines the fate of the revolutionary generation.

Anarchic, feisty but growing old, high-society drop-out Judy Haussman remains in spirit with the ashrams of the 1960s, while holding court in her dilapidated art deco house on the Devon coast.

After an operation, she’s joined by her wayward offspring, her sharp-eyed granddaughter, a local doctor and a troubled teenager who makes use of the family’s crumbling swimming pool. Over a few sweltering months they alternately cling to and flee a chaotic world of all-day drinking, infatuations, long-held resentments, free love and failure.

Stephen Beresford’s play The Last of the Haussmans was first staged at the National Theatre, London, in 2012, in a production starring Julie Walters and Rory Kinnear.

Now, don’t miss this much-anticipated Stafford Players production.

Please note, this production has themes of an adult nature and strong language. Age 16+

A festive edition of fictional TV show Movies and Memories honouring the 1946 Christmas favourite, ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’, exploring how the movie journeyed from Hollywood failure to feel-good, festive film success in this new theatrical adaptation. Based on the original screenplay by Frank Capra and source material “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren.

Starring you as the live studio audience, a small cast with a selection of wigs and props will take you behind the scenes of this festive classic.

Expect a tickling of the funny bones and a tugging of the heartstrings in this new Christmas production.

Three classic ghost stories – live on stage!

Vengeful spirits, murderous revenants and gruesome promises kept from beyond the grave – every horror imaginable is conjured in this uniquely terrifying experience. Nightmares is a gothic show that will leave you quaking in your seat… and dying for more!

The show features three of the most spine-tingling tales ever written – ‘The Judge’s House’ by Bram Stoker, ‘The Kit-Bag’ by Algernon Blackwood and ‘John Charrington’s Wedding’ by E Nesbit.

These pleasing terrors are brought to you by The Book of Darkness & Light, who have toured the length and breadth of the country with their unique brand of ghost story theatre for the past nine years.

14+ age guidance

The case of the Enfield Poltergeist in 1977 has long captured the public’s imagination. This dramatisation of those events focuses on the very human stories behind the lurid press headlines.
After the tragic death of his daughter, Maurice Grosse joins the Society for Psychical Research in London. But while investigating the Enfield Poltergeist in 1977, he is haunted by coincidences surrounding paranormal activity that appears to be centred around one particular girl.

Based on the true events of the infamous Enfield Poltergeist case, this is a journey of redemption, and the chance to lay old ghosts to rest.

Kiera Rhodes and Paul Voodini portray troubled characters, thrown together within the walls of a supposedly haunted council house in Enfield, who must not only solve the mystery of the poltergeist, but also find peace with their own tragic pasts.

Age guidance: This performance is recommended for ages 15+

Content warning: This performance contains strong language; themes surrounding death and the loss of a child; one instance of strobe lighting and several loud noises.

Duration: This performance is 50 minutes long with no interval.

“Could you get away with murder?”

Following the success of Crime Viral’s sell out UK serial killer tour – research psychologist and psychopathy expert Cheish Merryweather will be bringing to the stage for the very first time – MURDER: STAGED.

Did you know that 90% of people believe they can get away with murder – are you one of them? There will be a live psychopath test on the night to find out.

The ‘CSI effect’ has created a new type of killer – one that is forensically aware and is out to mislead an investigation.

This evening will explore the lies embedded in crime scenes and share the expertise from those who dig deep for the truth. You will investigate the five types of stagers: The Planner, The Creator, The Cleaner, The Concealer, The Inflictor.

Featuring forensics, reconstructed real-life crime scene walk-throughs and a deep dive into cases that have not been seen on stage live before. This is an unmissable evening for any true crime fan.

‘Singin’ I’m No A Billy, He’s A Tim’ is a phenomenon in Scotland where it has sold out countless nationwide tours, a sensation at the Edinburgh Festival and now touring internationally.

Written by Des Dillon an Directed by Stephen Cafferty. With Scott Kyle (Outlander, Angels Share, Kajaki and Winner of Stage Award for Acting Excellence), Colin Little (River City, Fried, Gasping, The Secret Agent) and James Miller.

Israeli vs Palestinian, Catholic vs Protestant, Celtic vs Rangers…When tribal factions clash can reason ever prevail?

What happens when on the day of the Old Firm Match, you lock up a Celtic and Rangers fan in a cell together?

Fireworks! And a weird kind of unity.

AGE 16+ : Show contains strong language.

Philip Markham, a publisher of children’s books, is asked by his business partner, Henry Lodge, if he can borrow the flat for the evening to gallivant with his latest girlfriend. As Philip and his wife will be out, he reluctantly agrees.

At the same time, Joanna Markham is being persuaded by Linda Lodge to let her borrow the empty flat in order to entertain her lover. With some misgivings, Joanna agrees. What nobody knows is that the interior designer who has been decorating the flat for the past three months has decided that this is the night that he and the au pair girl will try out the new oval bed.

When the Markhams’ evening out is cancelled, it is too late to let any of the parties know and three sets of hopeful lovers all converge on the bedroom at the same time. The situation is further complicated by the arrival of Olive Harriet Smythe, a straightlaced authoress of children’s books.

The frantic efforts of the Markhams to hide the amorous goings-on and, at the same time sign up Miss Smythe, lead to a hectic and hilarious evening.

From the award-winning creators of Austen’s Women, A Christmas Carol, I, Elizabeth, Female Gothic, Christmas Gothic, and A Room of One’s Own.

Austen’s Women are back – in a brand-new solo comedy show! Devil-may-care Lady Susan, the coquettish black widow, hunting down not one, but two, fortunes; oppressed, rebellious daughter Frederica; long-suffering sister-in-law Catherine; family matriarch Mrs De Courcy; and insouciant best friend, Alicia.

Return to the Regency (or rather, Georgian) in this wickedly funny tale of society and the women trapped within it; their struggles, their desires, their temptations and manipulations – and at the vanguard, Lady Susan: charming, scheming, witty, and powerful; taking on society and making it her own. But has she met her match?

Based on Jane Austen’s first full-length work from 1794, the piece is performed by Rebecca Vaughan and directed by Andrew Margerison. This is Austen as you’ve never seen her before!

Created in collaboration with The Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead.