Two short plays: Come Into the Garden, Maud & Still Life

9th to 11th October 2025 | Broadbent Theatre, Wickenby

The 1945 film Brief Encounter quickly became a classic British movie and a box office smash, described by many as a true masterpiece. The inimitable Noël Coward wrote the screenplay, but it was based on a short play he had written and starred in a decade earlier: Still Life.

We have long wanted to tell the story of Alec and Laura’s doomed love affair on the stage, so we jumped at the chance to produce it. We paired it with another short Coward play, Come Into the Garden, Maud, which deals with related themes of love, marriage, duty and temptation.

This production required two different casts, two directors and two sets flexible enough to be changed over during a short 20-minute interval. As expected, our stage manager Nick and the stage crew made this feat look easy.

We pride ourselves on being a welcoming theatre company free of cliques and jealousies when new members join. So it was particularly pleasing to cast eight newcomers in our company of 14 actors and also recruit a new set builder and a new props wizard!

But it was not all plain sailing: from the day of the audition to opening night three cast members had to pull out for one very good reason or another. We are deeply grateful therefore to Su Toogood, who produced the show, directed Maud, took charge of props and costumes and then volunteered two days before we opened to take on the part of Stanley, not a bit daunted by the fact that she was well outside her comfort zone playing the amorous and cheeky young station boy!

The show attracted audiences totalling 257 and the reviews were positive:

“Fantastic night last night, congratulations to everyone. Brilliant performances and productions.” – John Edmondson

“It is a wonderful double bill, brilliantly staged and beautifully acted. The ever-tightening anquish between Alec and Laura in Still Life is palpable and the dynamics in playing out Coward’s sharp characterisations in the opener were very impressive by all four players. Great work (as ever) Common Ground Theatre Company.” – Jason Hippisley

“I came to watch this evening, they were both very good, but the emotion of the couple in Still Life was palpable, and the contrast of the darkness and light with the antics at the café counter was superb. Well done to all involved.” 
– Anna Maria Vesey

“What a fabulous night last night at the Broadbent Theatre. So many of my friends up on the stage in Noël Coward’s double bill: Anita Quigley playing the free-spirited Maud, Su Toogood a very funny stand-in for one of the actors, the beautiful Fraya Bethany Grove, not forgetting the unstoppable Jez Ashberry. Everybody was so good.” 
–  Jerry Smith 

“Just wanted to say the plays I saw on Thursday [were both] absolutely phenomenal. Common Ground really do live up to standards so looking forward to seeing what you bring to life next.” – Ben Harris

“Superb production, well done guys!” – Malcolm Tresadern

by Florian Zeller, translated by Christopher Hampton

10th to 12th April 2025 | Broadbent Theatre, Wickenby

The Father is a unique and unsettling play which shows us the world through the eyes of an elderly man with dementia. Common Ground is not a company that shies away from challenging theatre, and by choosing this play we were rewarded with a production that was memorable, moving and confusing in equal measure.

The play is notable for its inventive dramatic form, which mirrors André’s increasing mental confusion by playing with our expectations of space and time. The audience is forced to see life through André’s eyes and to experience the dislocation, anxiety and vulnerability associated with his dementia. 

Director Jez Ashberry assembled an experienced and surefooted cast for this production which featured two newcomers – Jerry Smith and Harry Petrie – and the return of several Common Ground favourites! We were also pleased to welcome back our set designer and stage manager Nick Dunnett after a brief sabbatical.

We were gratified by the positive responses of our audiences – not least a standing ovation on the Friday evening! – and pleased with the review published by TheatreReviews.

What our audiences said:

“A stunning portrayal of such a difficult subject. Well done to all for tackling this in such a moving and humbling way.”
– Claire Cheetham

“A tour de force. Jerry Smith and Laura Turner shine brightly in a production filled with heartbreak, gentle humour, fear and surprise. Blew me away.” – Laura Martin

“Loved this, very thought provoking. I woke this morning still trying to work it out, which it seems is what the writer wanted. Very, very good performance by all.” – Peter Martin

“Wow! Just watched the most incredible performance at the Broadbent Theatre. What a show. A beautiful script exquisitely performed. I can’t recommend seeing The Father highly enough. An amazing, emotional play.” – Kirsty Tysoe

“An outstanding performance, a masterclass in acting. Not often you get standing ovations in amateur theatre but thoroughly deserved. Worthy of a West End stage.” – Malcolm Tresadern

“A thought-provoking play, entertaining too. Brilliantly acted and definitely worth it!” – David Jon

“Wow! The Father was sublime and thoroughly deserved the standing ovation it received tonight.” – Kerri McGarrigle

“The performances, staging and the pure theatricality of the piece were truly captivating.” – John Hewer

“It’s a most sensational show, very movingly acted.” – Jason Hippisley

“OMG if you’re free tomorrow night you must go see. Take tissues. Had us all captivated from the start and crying at the end. The whole cast were outstanding, you should all be very proud.” – Susan Munro 

by Willy Russell

19th to 21st September 2024 | Broadbent Theatre, Wickenby

Educating Rita is not a play to be undertaken lightly: two and a half hours of poignant drama, two actors and one set. But we never shirk a challenge, and our production of this Willy Russell classic will go down as one of our best.

That’s thanks in large part to the excellent direction of Su Toogood and to some outstanding performances by our two actors: Lincoln theatre veteran Colin Brimblecombe, appearing in a Common Ground production for just the second time, and relative newcomer Gi Vasey. They were utterly convincing as Frank, the washed up university tutor, and Rita, the working class hairdresser desperate for an education to change her life.

These two fine actors struck up a rapport and a chemistry which was plain for all to see, so that our audiences were by turns moved and amused by their growing, sometimes painful, relationship.

The stage at the Broadbent Theatre was transformed into Frank’s untidy, idiosyncratic, book-stuffed office, thanks to some sterling work by another newcomer to Common Ground, Roger Saunders, and his set-building crew.

We broke our own record for ticket sales at the Broadbent, selling out on two evenings out of three and attracting a total audience of 278. As you can see from the audience responses below, the production was very well received!

* * * * *

“Amazing production. I haven’t enjoyed a play at the theatre this much in years.” – Joanne Horrocks

“It’s a sensational triumph by two incredibly gifted actors bringing immense energy to a still strongly resonant script. Thanks Common Ground Theatre Company, you continue to deliver the excellence you’re justly renowned for.” – Jason Hippisley

“Wow! What a production. We thoroughly enjoyed it. We loved the two actors – amazing.”

“A fantastic production, superb acting from both actors, I thoroughly enjoyed it.” – Anna Maria Vesey

“It was a wonderful production. Thoroughly enjoyed it!” – Gina Ashforth

“The whole experience was fantastic! Congratulations to [Su Toogood] for the talent and inspiration you have given to your team and to the actors for their stunning performances!” – Clare Lee

“Amazing. Such fun.” – Julia Hepburn

“Absolutely loved this.” – Peter Martin

“If you’re going, you’re in for a treat. Colin and Gi are so, so good.” – Cath Hayden

“Such an incredible show, both actors are so very talented and I enjoyed this so much both times.” – Ben Harris

“Absolutely amazing performances – well done everyone involved in the production. Excellent casting, fabulous evening.” – Jane White

“Wonderful show! Willy Russell would be dead proud of your production! Cast were amazing and obviously very well directed. Couldn’t believe Gi is not a Scouser! Great job all round.” – Anne

“Fantastic performance on opening night – well done all.” – Mark Bainbridge

“We did enjoy Educating Rita – outstanding acting!” – Diana and David

“Terrific performances from both actors, well done.” – Karen Ryan

by Michael Dennis

11th to 13th April 2024 | Broadbent Theatre, Wickenby

It was a bold decision for us to stage an unknown play about bad sci-fi and navigating love and friendship in the LGBTQ+ community – but we’re glad we did, because Dark Sublime was one of our best and most memorable productions.

Director Vicky Ashberry first saw Dark Sublime in London in 2019, chiefly because she’s a fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the lead role of Marianne was being played in this world premiere by Marina Sirtis, aka Counsellor Deanna Troi.

Dark Sublime is the title of the 1980s TV sci-fi series in which the lead character Marianne starred many years ago; nowadays her star is on the wane, but she’s reminded of her days as the villainous Ragana when she meets Oli, a young fan who’s as lost in unrequited love as she is.

The play gave us some great roles for older women and the chance to show off some fantastic sound and lighting effects as the action switched from the present day to action scenes from the TV series.

As is often the case with Common Ground, we welcomed a number of new faces: four of the six actors cast in Dark Sublime were completely new to our group, including James Ross playing the rakish Bob (Vykar in the TV show), the ship’s computer played by John Edmondson, Suzanne played by Jemma De Ath, and newcomer Bianca Hutchings, who pulled off the difficult trick of playing the young Oli with panache.

Sadly we didn’t attract large audiences, but those who supported us seemed to enjoy the show, and we got some very good reviews!

* * * * *

“I was a little bit sceptical reading the highlights and the sci-fi element of this play before heading out to Wickenby last night in the dark to see the opening night of Dark Sublime at the Broadbent Theatre, but I needn’t have worried. The play was moving, funny, dramatic and had quite a bit of humour.

“It was fabulous to see one of our previous CAODS actors Pamela Marnie (most recently Sweeney Todd), plus some other friends that many will remember from the Jesus Christ Superstar days in 2015 and a number of other great actors come together to bring such a story to life. Not so much sci-fi but a rare personal drama about an older gay woman trying to find her place and identity in a changing world, with plenty of laughs – particularly aimed at the world of showbiz – and some interesting questions about the nature of ‘fandom’.

“Pamela Marnie was brilliant, and I take my ‘Sweeney wig’ off to her for remembering all those lines while drinking so much alcohol (or hopefully not alcohol) on stage! It was lovely to also see Jemma De Ath and Anita Quigley. In fact the whole cast was brilliant, despite Vykar making me jump coming through the side door!” – Eira Hammond

* * * * *

“I was there as an audience member last night!  WOW!… Love… love… loved – Dark Sublime.  Outstanding performance by all the cast.  ‘Performance’ undersells each and every one playing their ‘believable’ character; they didn’t ‘perform’, they were their character! 

“This beautiful theatre so deserves to be supported.  It’s like a tardis.  The exterior in no way reflects the interior – a quaint, beautiful, real theatre when you first step inside!  

 “I absolutely loved the play. I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t that! It was so well performed and executed by everyone on stage!” – Sam

* * * * *

“This show is absolutely amazing!”

“An excellent performance”

“Fantastic show – don’t miss out!”

“The show was absolutely fabulous last night and I can’t wait to see it again. The cast is incredible.”

by Amanda Whittington

11th to 13th May 2023 | Broadbent Theatre, Wickenby

The cast and crew who staged Ladies’ Day in May 2022 enjoyed it so much that director Su Toogood couldn’t resist getting the old gang together for an encore!

In Ladies Down Under our four fish filleters spend their winnings on the trip of a lifetime to Australia, where Jan aims to be reunited with Joe, their old boss.

Kate Bartlett, Anita Quigley, Fraya Grove, Nicole Doyle and David Hitchings all reprised their roles from the first play in the series, while some new faces were added to the cast, including debutant Jay Harrison.

Director Su Toogood employed a minimalist set which provided a counterpoint to the visual fireworks in the finale set during the Sydney gay and lesbian Mardi Gras.

An enjoyable production for cast, crew and audiences alike!