The Plot Thickens: A Big 'Thank You'

From October - December 2024 we toured The Plot Thickens to rural venues around the North West, North East, Cumbria, Yorkshire, Shropshire and Herefordshire. We visited 19 venues in 5 weeks and experienced everything rural touring has to offer! Lets have a look in the rear view mirror at what it all involved...

Firstly, we needed a script. For that, we turned to the very capable pens of Dave Payne and Dan Lovatt, who delivered a rollercoaster plot full of twists, turns and big laughs. At the heart of the piece is Madeleine, played with class, wit and impeccable comic timing by the inimitable Rachel Hartley. Either side of her, panicking about whether the van will get through the snow or if Tesco will be open after the show, were Peter Stone & Jake Urry.

This small but formidable team was all we had to get the show on the road, because this was our first tour without the aid of outside funding. It was tough at times with no director or technician, but we soldiered on and completed the tour with the help of some wonderful people and organisations that we'd like to take a moment to thank.

Peter Stone as Alex, trying not to lose the plot

Firstly a huge thanks go to the rural touring schemes who helped us bring the production to those 19 venues across the country. Highlights, CRTA, Spot On Lancashire, Blaize, Rural Arts, and Arts Alive were all fantastic partners. We’re so grateful for their support, and we look forward to working with them again in the future.

We were lucky enough to rehearse the show at two brilliant spaces: The Old Courts in Wigan and Tib Street Studios in Manchester. A special mention goes to Space to Create, a wonderful scheme run by Wigan Old Courts, which provided us with invaluable time and space. We’ll be sharing more about them in an upcoming blog post.

The Plot at it's very thickest

We also want to give a very big thank you to everyone who donated after performances to help keep the show on the road. Your generosity made a real difference. And to our online donors listed below—your contributions were deeply appreciated.

Jan Stone

Christine Jackson

Paul Naylor

Ali Hollindale

Gail Ferrin

Barry & Margaret Brannan

Richard Blomfield

Gordon Hosker

Annie Frost

Jane Chadwick

Alex Critchley

Paul Farrimond

Edward Thorp

Michael Shaw

Beverley Jowett

Our heartfelt thanks also go to our ever-supportive patron, Robin Fairfield, whose belief in the project means the world to us.

Of course, none of this would have happened without the brilliant duo of David Payne and Dan Lovatt, who gave us a script full of heart, laughter, and Jammie Dodgers. What a gift!

And finally, at the centre of it all was the indomitable Madeleine Pamplemousse. We needed an actor of exceptional comic skill to bring her to life. Enter Rachel Hartley, who captivated audiences from Morecambe to Bridlington with her hilarious and heartfelt performance. Rachel, we cannot thank you enough.