The Rondo Theatre is the setting for a production of a comedy drama this week set on an island in which four women get lost on an island in the Lake District. Sheila’s Island is the latest play from Tim Firth and runs from The play runs Wed 1 – Sat 4 Nov nightly at 7.30pm. Somehow, while participating in a company team building weekend, Sheila has unwittingly stranded her team o f middle managers on an island in the middle of Derwent Water in the Lake District. They are not amused! No food, soaking wet, mobile battery dead and some very odd noises in the undergrowth. Is someone stalking them? Are there murderous pike in the lake ? Why won’t Julie’s
husband return her call? And why does the rescue boat have a disco on it? From the writer who brought us Calendar Girls and Kinky Boots comes a comedy about fog, friendships, survival and one cold sausage.
Sheila’s Island Cast details
Leah Brine playing Julie
Leah is a bath-based actor and creator with an Acting BA from Bath Spa University. Her most recent role was Maria in The Government Inspector for Playing Up. Alongside her passion for performing, Leah is also a writer and enjoys directing and stage managing. Leah’s thoughts on Julie: “We all have a little bit of Julie in us and it may be a part of ourselves that is shown little kindness. I think we need to be nicer to our inner Julie’s, otherwise who knows what she’s capable of…’
Diluki O’Beirne playing Fay
Diluki is a respected local actress who is now appearing in her second production for Playing Up, following last year’s The Government Inspector. She has also worked successfully with Bath Dramas, The Rondo Theatre company and Rapscallion Theatre company over many years in roles such as Constance in She Stoops to Conquer; Cinderella in panto and, notably in her acclaimed portrayal of Camilla Batmangheligdh in Angel of Peckham by local playwright Clare Reddaway. She describes Fay as: “a vulnerable yet hopeful, keen birdwatcher who has turned to faith at a time of crisis. But what happens when that faith is tested?”
Caroline Murray playing Denise
Caroline is one of Playing Up’s most prolific actresses having appeared in 11 productions over 18 years. She has also stage managed, help build and paint sets and scenery and even run sound (never to be repeated!!). She last appeared with Playing Up in Black Comedy in 2022 and since then has managed to squeeze in Lady Macbeth (Macbeth) and Ruth (Blithe Spirit) for the Bradfordians, Catherine (Memory of Water) for the Rondo Theatre Company and ‘Chuckle with Chekov’ with the Chalfield Players. Caroline is also a seasoned singer performing with various choirs in and around Bath and with Trowbridge Musical Theatre. She will next be on stage as Margaret in Carrie The Musical at the Rondo in February 2024 for Luna Theatrics. She describes Denise as: “The woman you love to hate. She doesn’t suffer fools gladly and has had to work hard all her life. She’s honest to the point of brutal but I think there is a supressed Denise in all of us screaming to get out….if only we were brave enough to live with the consequences!!! ”
Anne Hipperson playing Sheila
Anne is one of the founders of Playing Up and has appeared in countless productions, playing leading roles such as Martha in Who’s Afraid of Viginia Woolf and, more recently, Our Man in Havana (Millie and others) as well as the judge in The Government Inspector. She has been in the chorus, directed, stage managed, devised and co-written The Dreadful Penny, designed sets, publicity and props, sourced costumes and produced many of the company’s shows over the 20 years since we launched. She describes Sheila as: “The optimistically cheerful leader of the group. Her dependable nature, avoidance of conflict and relentless commitment to look on the bright side comes under severe pressure during the night’s events!”
The play runs Wed 1 – Sat 4 Nov • 7:30pm
Tickets from https://rondotheatre.co.uk/ TicketSource Booking Line – 0333 666 3366
The Rondo Theatre, St. Saviours Road, BATH, BA1 6RT
Full £15 Concs £12 • Community Theatre
Presented by Playing Up Theatre Company