by Harold Pinter

23rd to 25th April 2026 | Broadbent Theatre, Wickenby

We love tackling challenging plays head on; in the past we’ve staged Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett and No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre, amongst other little known and unusual works.

So we relished the opportunity to stage Harold Pinter’s classic The Birthday Party when Julia Ross offered to direct it.

Described as “a comedy of menace”, The Birthday Party is an important milestone in the Theatre of the Absurd movement of the 1950s and 1960s, yet its themes still resonate today: ambiguity, a lack of meaning, paranoia, order versus chaos, the fragility of identity and memory, guilt and transgression.

Julia assembled a strong, experienced cast and backstage team and produced a memorable show which was very well received by our audiences. By selling 215 tickets over three nights we made a reasonable profit and demonstrated that there is an audience out there for the classics – however challenging the play might at first appear!

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“I’m not entirely sure what just hit me, but it was brilliant. Baffling and bizarre, in the hands of Common Ground Theatre Company Pinter’s The Birthday Party was definitely brilliant.

“I’m not sure anyone is truly meant to know what to make of this play, but 70 years on its oppressive air feels both topical and curiously fresh. And an array of amazing seasoned actors make it both uncomfortably unnerving and reassuringly solid. 

“Top billing for Mr Ashberry’s moustachioed loucheness, Mr Wood’s menacing everything, Miss Charlton’s exquisite presence and a poised physicality that sustained an awkward tension throughout. 

“Oh, and not forgetting the larger than life flying ducks that characterise the entire piece’s otherworldliness and displacement.” – Jason Hippisley

“Like other absurdist plays from the 1950s, The Birthday Party has achieved a sort of cult status because, “they certainly don’t write ’em like that anymore!” And Harold Pinter, in my opinion, wears the crown when it comes to leading us down a winding path only to find ourselves back where we started.

“The production was brilliantly directed by Julia Ross, who had the confidence to let her troupe of actors explore the text without inhibition. That was only possible because, without exception, every single cast member was at the top of their game.

“It is impossible to single anyone out but Jez Ashberry as Goldberg and Richard Wood as McCann gave me the heebie-jeebies during the interrogation of Stanley, our hero, played magnificently by Harry Petrie.

“All in all, a wonderful night at the theatre.” – Jerry Smith

“I’d seen The Birthday Party a couple of times before over the years – one professional and one amateur production – and this one stands out for me.

“I loved the way the cast and director pulled out more of the humour than most Pinter productions do, and the relationship work between the characters was really engaging.” – Tim Connolly

“Congratulations to everyone involved in The Birthday Party. It was excellently done with such attention to characterisation and fabulous performances from all. You created a great piece of theatre with an ever-palpable sense of tension and disorientation and it was thoroughly absorbing.” – Ruth Hewitt

“Friday night finds me at the theatre. I didn’t have a clue what was going on, apparently that’s Harold Pinter for you, but the acting was excellent. Well done Jez Ashberry, Laura Gillard  and all at Common Ground Theatre Company.” – Tracey Joyce

“It was a wonderful production, with some highly skilled local actors. I saw the BBC film years ago with Pinter himself playing Goldberg and had forgotten how funny it was! Inspired acting kept the audience on the edge of their seats! Congratulations everybody.” – Katie Greathead

“We did our homework and got a lot out of it. We really enjoyed it and the challenges it presented. The actors and the scenery were brilliant. Took me back to the 1950s furniture and attitudes. Great stuff.” C&P

“Stunning performance!” – Martin Cooper 

“Brilliantly cast and executed.” – Patrick Markham

“Fabulous show!” – Tracy Ingram 

“Great performances, really enjoyed last night.” – Janet Sutherland 

“An excellent production, fine actors!” – Diana and David

“A great play by a great cast last night at the Broadbent theatre. A wonderful evening, thank you all.” – Eileen Finningley