'Public Hall' plays to a packed Public Hall

Even the 5As production team were staggered by the turnout at the Public Hall for Colin Cliffe's new work, The Public Hall. Getting confused already? Well, it was a play, with a little music, made up of four short playlets, showing the events held in the Public Hall throughout the year.

We enjoyed the table top sale, where the vicar was embroiled in selling questionable dvds; the Scouts and Guides decided to join forces, and the 21st century, with predictable results; a wedding reception saw unwanted gate crashers and reluctant guests aplenty, and finally, in a beautifully played piece, we had a secretive look behind the scenes as a Panto was rehearsed.

Paul Turner, as the vicar, increasingly dodgy and suggestive, was a comic masterpiece. Where does Colin Cliffe dream up such unlikely characters, we all pondered. David Davenport as the caretaker of the hall, James Whitehead as the Scoutmaster and Charlotte Guerin in charge of the Guides all used every comic opportunity to the full.

The cast clearly enjoyed every moment and the laughs were frequent. This was, we were told by another star of the show, Pete Webb – henpecked throughout by Sue, his wife, played by Helen Katterloher – the first ever play, other than Panto, performed by the 5As company in the Public Hall.

It was wonderful to see a packed hall enjoying so much local talent, of all ages, in a huge cast. The Festival has successfully added a full scale theatrical production to its repertoire. After last night's success, let's hope the 5As company can rise to the occasion, year after year, at every Festival.

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