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No Sex Please - We're British!

Author: Adam Collishaw

Information

Date
21st November 2025
Society
Quarndon Amateur Dramatic Society
Venue
Quarndon Village Hall
Type of Production
Play
Director
Paul Makinson
Assistant Director
Chloe Finneran
Written By
Alistair Foot and Anthony Marriott

No Sex Please – We’re British! is a classic British farce built on delightful chaos and escalating misunderstandings. Newlyweds Mr and Mrs Hunter get far more than they bargained for when a delivery mix-up brings them a stash of illicit material instead of the elegant glassware they were expecting. What starts as an innocent mistake spirals into a whirlwind of panic, frantic cover-ups, surprise visitors, and increasingly desperate attempts to preserve their reputations!

Brooke Rampersaud gave a strong performance as Mrs Hunter, portraying the growing confusion and tension with believable warmth. Matthew Taylor as Mr Hunter was equally impressive, bringing an assured stage presence and a confident grasp of the character’s shifting emotions as the situation spiralled out of control, he handled both the verbal humour and the physical comedy with ease. Together, Brooke and Matthew created a convincing and engaging partnership.

John Lambert’s portrayal of Brian Runnicles was a true standout of the evening. His comic timing, facial expressions, and ability to sustain the frantic energy of his character were superb, a brilliant, genuinely funny performance.

Cheryl Roberts brought elegance and authority to Mrs Eleanor Hunter, playing the mother of Matthew’s character with grace and maternal tone. Richard Whitehorn was excellent as Mr Bromhead, capturing the suave, sophisticated air of the character with ease.

Jon Elliott as Mr Needham was another highlight, particularly during his hilariously awkward encounters with Susan and Barbara. Both Sonia Hardy (Susan) and Jo Attenborough (Barbara) were confident, lively, and very funny, adding great value to the comedy’s momentum.

Ed Watkins gave a good performance as the Superintendent and Andrew Barlow played both the delivery man and the news reporter well.

Director Paul Makinson and Assistant Director Chloe Finneran did a very good job delivering a strong production. Farce is never easy, but their attention to characterisation and timing resulted in a highly enjoyable evening.

The technical and backstage team also contributed enormously to the show’s success. Stage Manager Jo Attenborough kept everything running seamlessly. The set, built by Team QUADS, was excellent, authentic, detailed, and wonderfully reflective of the 1970s. The wallpaper, furniture, and overall design clearly showed real research and care.

Props by Sue Harrison were spot on, with period details such as the teasmaid, glasses, and decanters adding genuine authenticity. Costumes and hair also reflected the era.

Sound and lighting by Rob Snell were effective. The sound was clear throughout, diction was strong from all performers, and every line could be heard, always essential in farce.

The programme was well laid out and easy to read, and although the programme credited Prompt Debs Simpson, the cast’s delivery was confident enough that no prompting was required.

The audience responded warmly, with plenty of laughter throughout the evening and an excellent turnout from the community, all of whom clearly enjoyed a thoroughly entertaining night out.

The QUADS teamwork, commitment, and attention to detail were clear in this production. Congratulations to everyone involved. We look forward to seeing their next show, Stags and Hens, in May 2026.

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