Photo Credit: Mike Kwasniak
A Guest Review by Wendy Boother – 4th September 2026 New Wolsey Theatre
A talented accordion player was performing on arrival, which set the scene and took us back 100 years to the late Victorian era. Eastern Angles loves a local Suffolk story and Norfolk also came across well in the text.
The book, written by L P Hartley was published in 1953, and opens with “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” Now, that sets a challenge for any director planning to present a film or a play, don’t you think?
Photo Credit: Mike Kwasniak
A 14 year old boy from a modest background is invited to stay for the summer with a school friend from a wealthy family at Brendham Hall. He meets people from the aristocracy, a nearby farm, and has the opportunity to experience new things such as a cricket match, a village concert, and he learns to swim. The apparently simple task of exchanging notes between two lovers becomes so much more. This is a coming of age tale, told from the diary he wrote at the time, and yet, this play is also an analysis of how memories and misunderstandings can affect a teenager for the rest of his life.
Howard Saddler is well cast in the lead role, using great expressions and gestures to enact his childhood memories. I enjoyed the slow deliberate speech of Jack Solloway as the tenant farmer and Hilary Greatorex as his lover who is torn between two worlds.
Photo Credit: Mike Kwasniak
The storytelling, narration and scene setting movement of all the cast worked well too. The sound and lighting design from Warehouse Digital really did bring the actions of the cast to life and gave movement and emphasis to the set.
Overall, I think the director completed the challenge. My guest and I thoroughly enjoyed this evening and the New Wolsey staff were attentive as usual.
The Go Between by Eastern Angles is on tour across Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex until 19th September.
To find out dates and venues and to book tickets visit the Eastern Angles Website or call the Box Office on 01473 211498
SUFFOLK THEATRE 