Little Grimleys - NODA Review

A double bill from Turnpike Community Theatre as they present The Little Grimley Players Present Strictly Sex Factor on Ice & Saving the Planet. David Tristram’s play looks at the inner working for amateur dramatics warts and all. If it’s going to go wrong it will in true dramatic style.

The audience seating was relaxed and cabaret style. The set was simple with a raised platform. A trestle and four plastic chairs you would find in a community hall. Blacks were either side of the stage allowing entrance and exits. Stage Left hung a cork notice board with leaflets about Pilates and the date telling us it was December. This changed in the second half to October. A coat was placed over one of the chairs and a reusable supermarket shopping bag was on the floor. Stage Left was a large Swiss cheese plant on the floor. Set Design and Construction was by Richard Pilkington. Lighting and Sound were all in keeping and the projection at the end on the back wall worked well within the story. Lead Technician was Stuart Hill. Properties which were by the cast all worked and added to the story. The cow was hilarious. Costumes all looked good and worked for each character.

Kate Sweeney directs and is also the Stage Manager. The laughs are abundant and the characters well defined from the start. You immediately realise the hierarchy and what the characters are about and how they interact with each other. There were a few first night nerves and hiccups with lines that I am sure will be ironed out as the week progresses. I would just point out that from an audience point of view prompts came from both sides. I’m not sure who was more confused - the actors or the audience. That aside the actors soon picked up the pace when it dropped and the audience were supportive.

Nicholas Worthington as Gordon was the one who came up with the harebrained ideas as he spoke them you just knew they were never going to work in a month of Sundays.  He appeared to be the leader but somehow gets out-manoeuvred by the others on the committee.

Sue Slack takes on the role of outspoken Margaret. As it says in the programme not afraid to make her opinions known and what’s more she is usually right. Aware she is the butt of the joke Sue gave us the indignant woman and was also a good sport with large pantomime cow head on. So funny.

Neil G plays Bernard. The master of making do on a shoestring staging a show. Ready with a quip at any moment using it like a sport. It says in the programme ‘unenthusiastic but committed’ - Neil played this to a ‘t’: His body language and facial expression varying from deadpan to glint in his eye when teasing worked well and bouncing off the other characters.

Anita Grace played Joyce. Joyce really has no idea what she is doing or maybe where she even is. The visualisation of her roller-skating escapade was hilarious. Anita delivered Joyce in bucket loads – by her facial expressions you could tell she didn’t understand what was happening and the question forming on her face before she even uttered a word was a delight to witness. Well played.

Thank you from my guest Matthew and I for the invite and hospitality for an enjoyable evening. Matthew won the raffle so added bonus.

Liz Hume-Dawson

District 5 Rep

17th September 2026

TBC