Sheila’s Island opened to a full house at Guide Bridge Theatre, with the comedy running in Audenshaw until Saturday, September 13.
Early audiences suggest the production is a hit, showing there’s plenty of appetite for live theatre and a good laugh.
Written by Tim Firth, the play follows four middle-aged professional women who find themselves in a nightmare scenario: stranded on a small island in the Lake District during what should have been a routine team-building exercise.
With no mobiles, no food and no way out, tensions rise – and the result is comedy at its finest.
Director Hazel Phillips drew strong performances from the cast. Maureen Copp was calm and composed as Sheila, constantly trying to hold the group together with reason.
Helen Macey earned plenty of laughs as Denise, her sharp timing and dry wit hitting the mark every time.
Claire White was perfectly prim as Julie, the HR manager whose own home life is far from perfect – a performance with a clear nod to Keeping Up Appearances.
And Quina Chapman shone as Fay, delightfully unpredictable and slightly unhinged, keeping the audience and fellow characters on their toes.
The staging also made an impression. An onstage pond initially raised eyebrows, but proved a clever touch that added to the humour and chaos as the story unfolded.
By the final curtain, the audience had enjoyed an evening of sharp comedy, polished performances and well-earned applause. With tickets already in short supply, anyone hoping to catch Sheila’s Island will need to act fast.