New Era Theatre Club |
Last Production
Duet For One, 20th to 29th March 2008
Sorry, we can't give you the details of the dates of future productions! That's because we're a Theatre Club, and you have to be a member (there are good reasons for this). See Audience Membership below for how to become a member.
Review of Duet For One
20th to 29th March 2008.
Here is the NWN review.
Powerful two-handerNew Era Players: Duet for One, at New Era Theatre, Wash Common, from Thursday March 20 to Saturday March 22, and Tuesday March 25 to Saturday March 29. New Era Players always produce interesting and diverse work and their latest play was a challenging piece of theatre. Tom Kempinski's Duet for One is loosely-based on the career of the cellist Jacqueline du Pré, who suffered from multiple sclerosis and died from the crippling disease at the age of 42. Stephanie Abrahams' life has revolved around music since she was six. She has become a talented concert violinist and married to a gifted composer - a perfect match. But Stephanie has developed MS and her husband suggests that she needs help to deal with this horrific disease and sends her to a leading psychiatrist. The play is presented as a series of six therapeutic sessions. When we first meet wheelchair-bound Stephanie, sensitively yet powerfully-played by Lisa Harrington, she is upbeat, coping well with her illness; even though she can no longer play the violin, she can still teach. Tim Oldham was totally convincing as the detached professional, Dr Feldman, trying to help Stephanie come to terms with her problems and fleeting thoughts of suicide. He suggests a drug regime and so this duet begins. As Stephanie's condition worsens, she lapses into depression, denial and eventually giving up her beloved music to become her husband's secretary Dr Feldman probes her past; it is uncomfortable for her as we learn about her strict, disapproving father and her over-sensitive mother. As each scene is developed, Stephanie's emotions rollercoast between defiance, anger and resolution, as the ever-caring yet challenging Feldman probes deeper into her psyche, asking questions about her sex life and thoughts for the future, and tries to provide coping strategies for her. She responds to this with a venomous attack and admits to having an affair with a 'totter'. The final scene acts as a musical coda. Stephanie is more in control of her life, she appears better and announces that she wants to end her therapy sessions. But the audience realize that this is an illusion and her death is inevitable. Both actors gave moving and compelling performances under the able direction of Stephen Bennett. Thought-provoking theatre. ROBIN STRAPP |
About New Era
This small, friendly and very successful theatre club was established in Wash Common in 1978 (click here for a map). We produce several plays each year covering a wide variety of theatrical styles.
Players membership
Share the experience of performing on stage; join the challenge of set-building or the creativity of costume design; enjoy the teamwork in whatever direction your talents take you. You could be an active participant in our future productions, or join us for play readings, workshops, theatre outings and a variety of social events. Whether you are experienced or just have bags of enthusiasm, you can be assured of a warm welcome.
If you are interested in becoming an acting member contact Nicola Sowden via or 01635 521 397.
Audience membership
To see our productions, you have to be a member of the New Era Theatre Club. Please contact our Box Office on 07919 916009 for more information.
Past productions
- Habeas Corpus
- The Caretaker
- Juno & the Paycock
- Le Malade Imaginaire
- Steel Magnolias
- The Dresser
- Quartermaine's Terms
- The Real Thing
- The Contractor
- The Prisoner of 2nd Avenue
- Educating Rita
- Shadow of a Gunman
- Born in the Gardens
- Ring Round the Moon
- Rose
- The Plough & the Stars
- Under Milk Wood
- Arsenic and Old Lace
- The Birthday Party
- God's Favourite
- Dancing at Lughnasa
- Loot
- Hay Fever
- Night School; Landscape; Victoria Station
- Love Letters
- Our Town
- Wyrd Sisters
- Happy Families
- Letter from a General
- Lysistrata
- The Crucible
- Charley's Aunt, September 2000
- A Woman in Mind, December 2000
- Cider With Rosie, March 2001
- Suddenly At Home, June 2001
- Rattle of a Simple Man, September 2001
- The Fire Raisers, December 2001
- Next to a Stranger, March 2002
- The Red Hot Donahue Sisters Discover Droitwich, June 2002
- Les Liaisons Dangereuses, September 2002
- Daisy Pulls it Off, December 2002
- Shakers, March 2003
- Pygmalion, June 2003
- Maskerade, September 2003
- The Murder of Maria Martin, or The Red Barn, November 2003
- The Beauty Queen of Leenane, March 2004
- Solitaire, a set of monologues, June 2004
- Shadowlands, September 2004
- The Miser, November 2004
- The Playboy of the Western World, March 2005
- This Happy Breed, June 2005
- Single Spies, September 2005
- Arms and the Man, December 2005
- The Winslow Boy, March 2006
- A Murder Is Announced, June 2006
- Art, September 2006
- The Philadelphia Story, November 2006
- The Trojan Women, March 2007
- Make Way for Lucia, March 2007
- Playhouse Creatures, November 2007