It's two stories for the price of fun (From Stroud News and Journal)

It's two stories for the price of fun

NOISES OFF, Michael Frayn's award-winning tour de farce-within-a-farce, is coming to the Cotswold Playhouse next week.

Presented by the Cotswold Players, it is an ambitious project for an amateur compay to be attempting; Noises Off is one of the most technically difficult plays to stage there is on a limited budget.

"We believe that The Cotswold Players are the first amateur company in the country to stage Noises Off on a two storey set," said Playhouse representative Claire Fairbairn. "The set requires the interior of a two storey house which is capable of rotating 180 degrees. It has been built by our Stage Manager, Rod Clifford, and his 12 member crew.

We are very proud of them and the fact that we - and Stroud - have a theatre with the capacity to put on such a demanding play."

Michael Frayn's witty comedy is two farces for the price of one. It follows a theatre company's production of Nothing On from final rehearsal to disastrous tour. The two farces interlink as the characters stumble from disaster on stage to a worse nightmare behind the scenes.

It is directed by John Knowles, making his debut at the Playhouse. He has directed plays all over the county and has taken shows to the Edinburgh Festival.

"He is an avid theatre buff and has seen Noises Off no less than 37 times!" said Claire Fairbairn.

Noises Off runs at the Cotswold Playhouse in Parliament Street from Monday, October 18 to Saturday, October 23 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from the Stroud Tourist Information Centre at the Subscription Rooms or on 01453 760960.