Short, Sharp, Shocks

The Hall Players – Short, Sharp, Shocks.  22nd Oct 2025

The Hall Players, founded in 1961 by parishioners of St John Baptist Church in Preston, continue their long tradition of amateur theatre with this premiere of Short, Sharp, Shocks. Since their first performance over six decades ago, they have staged more than one hundred productions, including biennial pantomimes, charity performances, one-act play festivals, and popular murder nights. This production marked a notable milestone, as the Players were entrusted with the first public staging of Andy Bennison’s new dark comedy.

Structured as four interconnected scenes, each representing a character’s personal nightmare, Short, Sharp, Shocks explores moments of discomfort and absurdity. The Director (Steve Dobson) faced the unusual challenge of bringing an untested script to life with no previous production to reference. His interpretation drew directly from the text, establishing the world of the play with imagination. Each scene had a distinct mood, and the production succeeded in drawing contrasts between the characters while keeping a common thread throughout.

The cast gave engaging performances and had clearly worked on developing their individual characters. Melanie Murphy appeared throughout the play as the linking character who introduced the first scene, reappeared in each nightmare, and concluded the story at the end. Through changes in wig, costume, and accent, her appearances sometimes blended into the background, yet she provided the consistent thread that held the piece together. Across the four ‘nightmares’, the ensemble, Dave Brand, Angela Ross, Nigel Parsons, Dominic Swarbrick, James Clow, Howard Casson, Maureen Nickson, Clive Nixon, Diana Jackson, Frank Duxbury and Bethany Hamilton, showed commitment to the material and dedication in their portrayals. A few lines were lost at times and the prompt was heard on occasions, but the group kept the action moving and maintained audience engagement. The overall effect was one of teamwork and enthusiasm for a challenging new play that offered several twists and moments of dark humour.

The staging reflected careful thought, and small visual touches helped to shape the mood and guide the audience through the four vignettes. The set construction (Ian Kennedy, Dominic Swarbrick, Roy Lunio, Paul Armitt, Frank Duxbury, Clive Nixon, Mike Hogarth and Pete Dewdney) was straightforward but effective, allowing the space to adapt easily to each scene. The wallpaper remained constant, suggesting a shared environment, while simple alterations such as a change of cushions, a bag of knitting, a radio, or a desk gave each scene its own identity.  The props (Janet Casson, Lisa Swarbrick and Emma Coupe) were well chosen and contributed to defining each character’s world without overcrowding the stage. The three framed pictures on the rear wall changed with each scene, providing a simple visual cue to the character and setting. Costumes complemented these visual choices, helping to distinguish each character and support the tone of their individual story. The stage manager (Howard Casson) ensured smooth scene changes and continuity, keeping the production moving efficiently.

Lighting and sound were managed by the technical team (Pete Dewdney, Steve Hall, Antony Leadbetter, Chris Gay and Stephen Lawson). Both elements supported the changing atmosphere of the four scenes and helped maintain pace and focus. A few technical hitches occurred during the evening, but these were handled calmly by the cast. One actor’s quick recovery after a missed sound cue even prompted warm laughter from the audience, a moment that reflected good preparation and teamwork.

Audience attendance was good, and there was clear engagement throughout. Laughter and reaction varied from scene to scene, and the applause at the end recognised the company’s effort and the novelty of seeing a brand-new piece of writing.

Presenting a premiere is always demanding, and this production showed a clear sense of teamwork across all areas. The cast and production team worked together to realise the Director’s vision, supported by an organised backstage and technical crew. The Hall Players demonstrated a readiness to take creative risks and explore new material. Their commitment over the past seven weeks was evident, and they can take pride in bringing Andy Bennison’s play to the stage for the very first time.

 

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