The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race

SEASON: 24th October - 1st November 2025

Written by: Agatha Christie
By Arrangement with ORiGiN™ Theatrical On Behalf of Samuel French A Concord Theatricals Company.

Directed by: Georgia Drewe

Clarissa, wife of diplomat Henry Hailsham-Brown, is adept at spinning tales of adventure but when a murder takes place in her drawing room, she finds live drama much harder to cope with. Desperate to dispose of the body before her husband arrives with an important politician, she enlists the help of her guests. Hilarity ensues when they are interrupted by the arrival of wry detective, Inspector Lord. Now Clarissa must keep the body hidden, convince the sceptical police inspector that there has been no murder, and, in the meantime, find out who has been murdered, why, and what the body is doing in her house...

What sets Spider’s Web apart from most specimens of its genre, is that its real motive is fun; all else – dropped clues, plot contrivances – is secondary.

Congratulations to the cast and production team on a wonderful way to conclude our 2025 season at The Zenith Theatre!

Spider’s Web

SEASON: 4th July - 12th July 2025

Written by: Agatha Christie
By Arrangement with ORiGiN™ Theatrical On Behalf of Samuel French A Concord Theatricals Company.

Directed by: Georgia Drewe

Clarissa, wife of diplomat Henry Hailsham-Brown, is adept at spinning tales of adventure but when a murder takes place in her drawing room, she finds live drama much harder to cope with. Desperate to dispose of the body before her husband arrives with an important politician, she enlists the help of her guests. Hilarity ensues when they are interrupted by the arrival of wry detective, Inspector Lord. Now Clarissa must keep the body hidden, convince the sceptical police inspector that there has been no murder, and, in the meantime, find out who has been murdered, why, and what the body is doing in her house...

What sets Spider’s Web apart from most specimens of its genre, is that its real motive is fun; all else – dropped clues, plot contrivances – is secondary.

Congratulations to the cast and production team on a fabulous season!

It’s Only a Play

SEASON: 14th March - 22nd March 2025

Written by: Terrence McNally
IT’S ONLY A PLAY is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)

Directed by: Joy Sweeney

It’s the opening night of The Golden Egg on Broadway, and the wealthy producer, Julia Budder is throwing a lavish party in her lavish Manhattan townhouse. Downstairs the celebrities are pouring in, but the real action is upstairs in the bedroom, where a group of insiders have staked themselves out to await the reviews. Fortunes and reputations will rely on them.

Fun, fast-paced and full of fabulous characters – could Broadway really be like this?.

Congratulations to the cast and production team on a fabulous start to our 2025 season at The Zenith Theatre!

The 39 Steps

SEASON: 30th October - 23rd November 2024

From the novel by John Buchan, adapted by Patrick Barlow

An Amateur Production By Arrangement with ORiGiN™ Theatrical on behalf of Samuel French - A Concord Theatricals Company

Directed by: David Allsopp

WINNER of 2 Tony© and Drama Desk Awards 2008;
WINNER of BEST NEW COMEDY - Laurence Olivier Awards 2007

Pulled into a web of intrigue and deceit, Richard Hannay must evade shadowy organisations, femmes fatales, corrupt constables and frisky farmers’ wives. Twisted into knots by skulduggery and suspicion, Hannay must solve the mystery of the 39 steps and save the motherland before it’s too late. Strap yourself in for this parody as four actors perform 139 roles in 100 minutes at breakneck speed. It’s Hitchcock made hilarious!

A ripping yarn of thrills, intrigue and unexpected romance. Can Richard Hannay rise to the occasion?

What a wonderful way to end our time in the Pymble Players theatre at Pymble - A SOLD OUT Season of The 39 Steps!

Sweet Road

SEASON: 7th August - 31st August 2024

Written by: Debra Oswald
By Arrangement with Cameron’s Management Pty Ltd as agents for the Author

Directed by: Rob & Leah White

In the outback, several stories cross paths on the road, in service stations, in caravan parks and while hitchhiking. Some of the travellers are trying blindly to find their destinations while others are trying to find a highway, any highway, to anywhere. But as their lives interweave and disperse and plans go awry, each of them discovers that the road they are travelling may not always take them where they expected, and if they are lucky, the destination may be more wonderful than any of them could ever have dreamed.

‘’Life isn’t always made up of dead, straight roads’’.

Congratulations to the Cast and Crew for a successful season!

The Spook

SEASON: 15th May - 8th June 2024

Written by: Melissa Reeves
By Arrangement with the Licensor, Melissa Reeves, c/- Fran Moore

Directed by: Casey Moon-Watton

In 1965 there doesn’t seem to be too much going on in the ranks of the South Bendigo Communist Party. Even the presence of young recruit Martin Porter has done little to inject life into the weekly grind. While Martin’s mum frets about his inexplicable abandonment of the church, short hair and the army reserve, George and Eli Tassekis welcome him into their family like a second son. But Martin is an ASIO spy and he’s about to get his new friends into serious trouble. Based on a true story from country Victoria, The Spook reveals the world of activity involving the Communist Party and ASIO in Australian society during the post war decades.

“Just a little chat... about the state of the world... There might be something you can do for your country.”

Congratulations to the Cast and Crew for a successful season!

SEASON: 21st February - 16th March 2024

Written by: L. DU GARDE PEACH & IAN HAY
An Amateur Production By Arrangement with ORiGiN™ Theatrical on behalf of Samuel French - A Concord Theatricals Company

Directed by: Margaret Olive

The Winters are a reputable, well-to-do household, proudly sustaining a generations-old tradition—of thievery.  All are quite contentedly living the larcenous good life. Then, a crisis of scandalous proportions crashes in on their existence. Peter, the brilliant young forger, and son of the clan, decides to go straight! 

Will the white sheep of the family continue ‘’his lapse into virtue’’? Or can he be brought back into the fold?

Congratulations to the Cast and Crew - It was a fabulous Season!!

Long Story Short

SEASON: 1st December - 3rd December 2023

Featuring the talented direction of Brendon Dart, Louise Deibe, Diane Howden, Tracey Okeby Lucan, Kirsty Semaan, Leah White and Rob White.

The show runs for approximately 90 minutes, with no interval.

8 separate plays - 8 different authors - 7 different directors.

GASLIGHT

This classic Victorian thriller is the dark tale of a marriage based on deceit and trickery.  Jack Manningham is slowly, deliberately, driving his gentle, devoted wife, Bella, to the brink of insanity with an insinuating kindness that masks more sinister motives. This play, which brought the term ‘gaslighting’ into the modern vocabulary, has some of the most suspenseful and heart-stopping scenes in modern theatre. 

You will be on the edge of your seat!

SEASON: 9th August - 3rd September 2023

Written by: Alan Ayckbourn
By Arrangement with ORiGiN™ Theatrical On Behalf of Samuel French A Concord Theatricals Company

Directed by: Gavin Critchley

Annie has arranged to spend an illicit weekend away with her sister Ruth’s husband Norman.  Her brother Reg and his wife Sarah have been asked to look after their invalid mother and the house without being aware of the real circumstances.  What ensues is a dysfunctional family gathering filled with confusion, conclusion-jumping and mayhem!  And very little food!!

This entertaining romp will have you in stitches. Not all (illicit) plans are best laid!

Our theatre is air-conditioned. We aim to address the comfort levels of our audience seated in all parts of the theatre, as well as our cast on stage and technical operators up in the Lights and Sound Box. If you do feel you might require a jacket or wrap, please bring one with you.

Congratulations to the Cast and Crew!

SEASON: 17th May - 11th June 2023

Written by: Andrew Bovell
Exclusively licenced by HLA Management Pty Ltd.

Directed by: Racquel Boyd

Life is seasonal, and those seasons bring change, challenge and hope.  Things I Know To Be True tells of a normal Australian family through the course of one year.  It’s a play about family resilience, and about love in its many forms; sometimes comforting and supportive, sometimes stifling and destructive.  But always love. 

A story told with warmth and humour as each season brings a turning point and the ramifications of the ensuing changes unfold. 

It’s all about love, trust and strength of character.

Congratulations to the Cast and Crew!!

SEASON: 22nd February - 19th March 2023

Written by: Joanna Murray-Smith
By arrangement with the author.

Directed by: David Allsopp

Winner of the Victorian Premier’s Award for Drama 2003

What happens when a group of smart, educated city people whose cynicism, complacency and self absorption carry them through life until their values and principles are challenged by some of their own?

When one couple in this close-knit group undergoes a spiritual epiphany, the fallout is shocking, revealing and highly entertaining.

How strong are our values and beliefs when truly tested?

The show runs for approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, including a 20 minutes interval.

Our theatre is air-conditioned. We aim to address the comfort levels of our audience seated in all parts of the theatre, as well as our cast on stage and technical operators up in the Lights and Sound Box. if you do feel you might require a jacket or wrap, please bring one with you.

Congratulations to the Cast and Crew - It was a fabulous Season!!