Premieres and star in seaside summer season

A pair of premieres feature in this summer’s sizzling drama season at Sheringham Little Theatre, which also opens with a familiar face from film and TV.

The season opens with I Am Hamlet (July 29 – August 5), a comic thriller combining fun with dark plot twists as young actor auditions for the lead role in Shakespeare’s tragedy. It co-stars Steve Speirs, who has appeared in Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean, who will also do an audience with session. He is a friend of theatre director Debbie Thompson after the two studied drama at university together.

Shanty (August 8-12) is a brand new comedy, with music, centred around a seaside family trying to overcome its hardships – including business problems and bereavement – by forming a band. It is penned by up-and-coming North Norfolk playwright, poet and EastEnders scriptwriter James McDermott.

Hound of the Baskervilles (August 15-19) is a comedy spoof of the Sherlock Holmes moors murder, which legend also says draws inspiration for its setting from author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s visit to Cromer Hall.

Run for Your Man is a new twist on Ray Cooney’s classic farce Run for Your Wife, but with the two-timing taxi-driver switched to a woman. Again this will be the UK’s first ever performance of this drama (August 22-26).

The season closes with Private Lives (August 29-September 2), Noel Coward’s intimate witty comedy involving a divorced couple who find themselves in adjoining hotel rooms while the man, Elyot Chase, is on honeymoon with his new, mismatched, wife.

Theatre director Debbie Thompson said: “Our 2023 summer season has a different look as well the first time we have had two premieres and a celebrity!

“The shows are a mix of new twists on familiar stories, a spoof for families, an ‘audience with’ our film star Steve Speirs, and a musical drama with a strong north Norfolk seaside flavour. We are really excited.”

For tickets and information click here or the box office 01263 822347.