Kind Hearts and Coronets

'Kind Hearts and Coronets' is a black comedy play adapted by Derek Webb from the original novel by Roy Horniman. The novel was turned into a popular Ealing Comedy film starring Alec Guinness in 1949. This film, incidentally, came 6th in the BFI list of ‘Best British Films Of The 20th Century’.

The Marlborough are happy to welcome Lindsey Crutchett, a longstanding and excellent acting member of the Marlborough, to her first directing role for the club. She last graced the Memorial Hall stage for us in 2025's production of 'The Ladykillers' as the undefeatable Mrs Wilberforce.

The show dates are 9-11 April 2026 at our usual theatre home of Brentwood School Memorial Hall. Thursday and Friday at 7:30pm and Saturday 2:30pm only.

Synopsis:

Archie Gascoyne Williams is a man on a mission. He comes from a long, illustrious (and very wealthy) family: that of the Gascoynes, through his mother. But she was disowned by the family because she married beneath her rank by marrying a travelling salesman in ladies underwear. Nevertheless, as Archie discovers, by the laws of heredity, he is in line to inherit the title of Earl Gascoyne, and thus the family fortunes, should the intervening Gascoynes die.

He decides to set about working his way up the family tree until he inherits that Gascoyne fortune by the simple expedient of murdering those members of the family that are in his way.  And, besides having his eyes set on the Gascoyne title, he also has his eye on Sibella –the extrovert, sexy sister of Archie’s best friend Grahame Hallward, as well as Edith Gascoyne, and a nursery maid. Life’s never simple, is it?