Edward Pinfold is a promising young playwright and husband of the late Ruby Pinfold, a talented but tempestuous actress. Tragically, Ruby is found dead in bed: an overdose of naughty pills and booze. An inquest concluded that Ruby died as a result of suicide at an after-show party while celebrating a successful season of Hamlet. A year later, Edward remains deeply affected and has moved into the dingy attic room of one of his oldest actor friends, Alex, who is gay. We join the story on the first anniversary of the death of Ruby. May she rest in peace.

Alex tries to distract Edward from his self-pity by introducing him to Glenda, a younger aspiring actress, who is also currently single. This plan may have worked but Ruby, Edward's dear departed wife, decides that this is the moment to make a reappearance to clear her name and find out who poisoned her.

Edward is tasked with unmasking the killer in this funny, typically David Tristram, twisted take on a classic storyline. Ruby has a plan for Edward to write a play about the events of the night that she died and for him to invite all the main suspects to take part in a play reading to flush out her killer. As Alex states, “Echoes of Hamlet – If you’re going to rip off a play you may as well make it a good-un!”

It is billed as a “Haunting Comedy”.

Oliver!

Book, Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart

Director: John Drummond

Musical Director: Maurice Reid

Oliver follows the journey of an orphaned boy named Oliver Twist. After escaping from a workhouse and meeting a group of juvenile criminals led by the cunning Fagin, Oliver becomes entangled in a world of theft and mischief. However, his inherent goodness and innocence make him an unlikely protagonist in this dark setting. As he navigates the challenges of the criminal underworld and encounters memorable characters like the Artful Dodger and the sinister Bill Sikes, Oliver’s tale weaves a narrative of resilience, friendship, and the pursuit of a better life.

Suitable for all ages - Family Discount packages available - Wheelchair access available.

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the show starts.

A licensed bar and refreshments are available at the venue.

We accept cash, eftpos and paywave is available for door sales and the bar.

Blackadder Goes Forth

Book tickets through iTicket.

Blackadder Goes Forth is the fourth series of the immensely popular BBC show written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton. The show won the British Academy Television Award for Best Comedy and now it’s being brought to the stage in Whakatane.

We find Captain Edmund Blackadder stuck in the trenches of the Great War alongside the particularly stupid Private S. Baldrick, and the ridiculously optimistic Lieutenant George. To make matters worse he is under the inept command of General Melchett and staff officer Captain Darling.

To avoid the ever present danger of being sent over the top to almost certain death, Blackadder must come up with a series of cunning plans, each of them doomed to failure until he finally resorts to pretending to be mad. But as he wryly notes ‘Who’d notice another mad man around here?’