Other People
by Lightbox Theatretheatre, comedy
Lightbox Theatre presents Countdown and Mill Hill, a pair of rarely-seen comic gems from Alan Ayckbourn and John Mortimer.
about the production
Other People is a 50 minute comic double-bill for lunchtime. Countdown - an early work with many of the hallmarks of Ayckbourn's later plays. A long-married couple nurse their petty, comic grievances over the evening tea, reflecting on a happier past but unable quite to bridge the gap that now exists. Mill Hill - bored housewife Denise takes her would-be lover home for the afternoon. No sooner has he revealed his fetish for Elizabethan role-play than Denise’s husband returns from the surgery. The absurdity builds and builds to a comic finale with shades of Carry On.
about the artist
Lightbox Theatre brings to life stories that are untold or overlooked. From revivals of classic plays to stories not yet scripted which resonate with our world, we create bold, exciting and ambitious work.
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stage dimensions
width: 3 metres
height: 2 metres
depth: 2 metres
PA
40 channel Lighting desk
Can be staged in any configuration, with minimal set.
This is an ideal show for:
- Time-pressed office workers, who want a lunchtime treat.
- Older people, who may feel more comfortable going out to the theatre during the day than in the evening, and for whom Ayckbourn and Mortimer are very familiar names
- Shoppers, who can combine a day in town with a quick trip to the theatre.
The low price point, lunchtime programming and light tone mean that this show may attract new audiences.
...a brace of delightful comedies by two of our most esteemed playwrights. Lightbox Theatre’s expert staging delicately and subtlely tickles our fantasies and pushes all our self-recognition buttons. Thoroughly entertaining Other People is a great way to set up your afternoon’s work, or play, or your everyday routine or, even perhaps, your own personal private peccadillo that you always assumed other people would not know about. It’s fun and it’s true and it’s well worth a visit.
...these charming new productions of Ayckbourn’s Countdown and Mortimer’sMill Hill feel very of-the-moment. Seeing these two plays together is a chance to rediscover rare comic gems by two of our leading writers. The choice of plays in Other People presents a rather pessimistic view of marriage but combines the more subtle and emotional comedy of Ayckbourn with the sillier pitch of Mortimer’s piece. For those pressed for time, at 45 minutes this is a charming introduction to “Lunchtime Theatre” – let’s hope it catches on.
Congrats on such a super, hilarious production I just loved Mill Hill! Very cleverly done and laugh-out-loud funny. Wonderful what playwrights like Ayckbourn and Mortimer can do in such short pieces!!!! the shows are fantastic – perfect for lunchtime theatre. I really enjoyed the shows so hopefully you will be back soon!
There is nothing in our production that would be unsuitable for audience members with access requirements. It is a production that could easily be captioned.
We are happy to offer post-show Q&As, and during our run at the St James we organised a group outing to see the show for a group of mental health service users with whom we had previously run story-telling workshops. The nature of a lunchtime show is that audiences are often in a hurry to get back to other commitments, but we are happy to consider any wrap-around activities suggested by a venue.
£700 per show, based on a six day run. Lightbox is not VAT registered.
