Ladies Day

Ladies Day

The Woolgatherers

The Little Theatre

25th June 2026.

 

Amanda Whittington's Ladies' Day remains a wonderfully observant comedy, full of humour, warmth and poignant moments beneath the laughter.  Following encouragement from Joe (Evan Dunn) the factory supervisor the four friends from a fish-packing factory as they escape the routine of everyday life for a day at Royal Ascot to celebrate Pearl's retirement, the play explores friendship, dreams and second chances with great affection.

Director Gareth Jones, ably assisted by Helen Brickwood, understood the balance between comedy and pathos, allowing the characters and relationships to develop naturally. Their direction gave the four leading ladies the confidence and freedom to establish believable friendships, ensuring that each character had the opportunity to shine while never losing sight of the strength of the ensemble. The set though minimal was perfect, you felt you were at a racecourse. At the entrance gate the girls had no tickets, Fred (Roger Hesketh) a ticket tote failed to sell them his overpriced tickets. Amazingly Shelley finds a purse containing four tickets, of course they went straight in.

The performances from the four principals portraying Jan (Rebekah Tolcher), Linda (Natasha Williams), Shelley (Dominique Peach) and Pearl (Julie Khayati) were enthusiastic, engaging and full of excellent comic timing. Their camaraderie was entirely convincing, creating the impression that these women had worked alongside one another for many years. The dialogue flowed effortlessly, and the audience quickly became invested in their adventures at Royal Ascot.

Linda's encounter with the disillusioned young jockey, Patrick (Sam Endeacott), was one of the production's more touching moments. Sam gave Patrick an appealing vulnerability, and together the pair created a believable and sensitive relationship that provided a welcome contrast to the comedy surrounding it.

Shelley's outrageous attempts to attract the attention of television presenter Jim McCormack (Evan Dunn) brought many laughs. Evan was suitably confident and polished as the celebrity presenter, providing an excellent foil for Shelley's ambitious dreams of television fame.

Pearl's unexpected reunion with her long-time secret admirer, Barry (Terry Collister), added warmth and tenderness to the story, while Kevin (Elliot Kinnear), as fellow racegoer had lost all his money. Together, the supporting cast complemented the four leading ladies without ever detracting from the central friendships that are at the heart of the play.

The production maintained a lively pace throughout, with the humour landing well while still allowing the more reflective moments the space they deserved. The transition from the fish factory to the glamour and excitement of Royal Ascot was handled confidently, creating an enjoyable sense of occasion.

Overall, this was a thoroughly entertaining production that captured both the wit and heart of Amanda Whittington's writing. Congratulations to Gareth Jones, Helen Brickwood, the cast and everyone involved behind the scenes for presenting an evening that was filled with laughter, warmth and genuine affection for these memorable characters.

 

Thank you, Woolgatherers, for my invitation to what was a splendid entertaining evening of live theatre.

 

Joanne Rymer

NODA

District 4

 

 

 

 

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