Two Rivers Theatre Company performed the premiere of a new play, ‘And…. Curtain’, by Ashley Burgoyne at The Studio at Eastern Angles Thursday 30th October 2025.
It’s always interesting going to see a brand new play because you obviously don’t know what to expect. While it’s vitally important to support new writing in the theatre you do take a chance if you go and see something that you don’t know.
But I would urge you to go and take a chance on this new play.
Set in a theatre, we meet four couples as they gradually arrive to see a performance of an Alan Ayckbourn comedy and we follow their stories and interactions before, during the interval and after the play.
This is a play about human nature and the social manners of being out in public. Our first couple, Ted and June, played by Steve Roche and Claire Turner, arrive very early so June can avoid any awkward physical interaction with anyone else on her row. Claire as June is wonderfully ‘buttoned up’, dutifully answering calls from her sisters and trying to keep everyone happy, and Steve’s Ted, who just wants a few pints and a quiet night out, is dryly sarcastic.
Next to arrive are Bernard and Celia, played by Mike Henderson and Petra Risbridger. Celia, dearly loves Bernard, but he has some health issues and she’s is a terrible fusspot over him. Petra plays Celia with an almost childlike charm, covering her anxiety with nervous laughter and Mike’s Bernard is cleverly understated, covering his increasing discomfort to spare his wife the worry.
Simon Hooton as Gavin and Nicky Sara Seabrook as Maddy are next in the auditorium. Gavin is preoccupied with work whereas Maddy just wants a lovely night out. Out of all the four couples they are probably the most conventional people at the start and their natural performances reflect this, although Gavin does go on rather a life changing journey by the end of the play. Maddy’s dress is mentioned a couple of times as being too revealing but it really wasn’t and that jarred with me somewhat.
There were lots of laughs with some snappy and witty dialogue but I felt the pace lacked a little, which could have been first night nerves. However, once our last couple arrived the pace picked up and the play really got going.
Joseph, played by Phil Cory and his mother Enid played by Caryn Owen bring a huge amount of light and shade to the piece. Like something from the 1980s sitcom Sorry, Joseph is trapped at home with his 80 year old mother and can’t escape, or can he?
Phil and Caryn have incredible chemistry in their roles, with Enid’s vicious, domineering and demanding nature stifling and controlling Joseph, who is not without his own dark side.
Given all the action takes place in the auditorium of a theatre in rows of seats it doesn’t feel static at all and that is down to the direction by Kay Friars who keeps the action flowing.
It’s so good to see new writing being performed in the theatre and conversely great to see a playwright give an amateur theatre company the chance at a premiere of their work. Congratulations to Two Rivers Theatre Company and Ashley Burgoyne on this collaboration.
And….Curtain at The Studio@EasternAngles plays on Friday 31st October at 7.30pm and a matinee on Saturday 1st November at 2.30pm.
To book tickets go to the Eastern Angles Website
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