Brighton Open Air Theatre
July 19-22 2017
Dennis Potter’s remarkable telling of lost childhood innocence set in wartime Forest of Dean. Hilarious, and at times chilling, Potter’s classic play captures the joy, horror, anxiety and delight of children at play. ▶︎ ✭✭✭✭ - Brighton Argus
▶︎ "outstandingly performed by an excellent cast" - feedback form
▶︎ "This is by any standards a remarkable production that at BOAT has found its time
and avatar. Sheridan and Cook lead a production that takes Blue Remembered Hills back to somewhere near its source" -
▶︎ "Absolutely Amazing" - Trevor Jones, Brighton and Hove Arts Council
▶︎ "Outstanding performances" - Chichester Herald
▶︎ "Sadistic and ferocious ... tremendous pathos" - Brighton Argus
CAST
David Balfe: John Andy Bell: Peter Kate Stoner: Audrey
Tobias Clay: Donald Ben Pritchard: Willie Bee Mitchell-Turner: Angela Andrew Wesby : Raymond
Producer / Directors / Producers: Gary Cook & Nettie Sheridan
Brighton Open Air Theatre
August 29 - September 1 2018
Written 1950s, "The Crucible" takes place in Salem, Massachusetts during the 1692 Witch Trials. Paranoia, hysteria, and deceit grips the Puritan towns of New England. Miller uses the witch trials as a metaphor for the McCarthy communist 'witch hunts' of the 50s. With the current political situation of "fake news", confusion of ideals and a global rise of nationalism, we felt that there had never been a better time to revisit this incredible piece .
▶︎ "A fantastic production- huge congratulations to Nettie Sheridan, Gary Cook and all the cast. Some stunning and strong performances. This is my favourite version" - Audience Feedback
▶︎ "Compelling and dramatic, heartfelt ... enthralling ... as appropriate as it was seventy years ago"
▶︎ ★★★★ - Broadway Baby
▶︎ "Not just good but brilliant. We really enjoyed it" - Audience Feedback
▶︎ "This masterpiece of courageous refusal gets a rivetingly fine production ... energy radiates through a superbly lucid, passionately argued production" - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SHOW - Fringe Review
▶︎ A 200 mile round trip to see this ... it was worth every inch of the journey. I loved it. Congratulations to the performers and particularly the young members of the company. Thanks for a great show." - Audience Feedback
▶︎ "You know when you watch a great film or read a book and it stays with you long after you finished watching or reading... well this performance was just like that. Most excellent it was" - email to the Company
CAST
Conor Baum: Rev. Parris Andy Bell: John Proctor
Graham Hammett: Danforth Sarah Jeanpierre: Tituba
Jonathan Howlett: Hale Bee Mitchell-Turner: Elizabeth Proctor
Kate Stoner : Rebecca Nurse Jacqueline Harper: Judge Hathorne/Girl
Rosanna Bini: Abigail Williams. Charley Roberts: Mercy Lewis/Props/SM
Nancy Wesby: Mary Warren Katie Marshall: Susanna Walcott
Debbie Creissen: Ann Putnam / Martha Corey Heloise Bliss: Betty Parris Andrew Wesby: Giles Corey. Kuba Pabuniak: Cheever
Directors / Producers: Nettie Sheridan & Gary Cook
Brighton Open Air Theatre
July 24-27 2019
A love as wild as the wind, a passion that echoes through the ages... A thrilling adaptation of Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë's passionate and spellbinding tale of forbidden love and revenge.
▶︎ "Amazing! We loved it, enthralled from beginning to end" - Audience Feedback
▶︎ "It's more vividly mobile than any TV version... this production sails effortlessly into a top recommendation... there mightn't be a finer adaptation at BOAT this year. See it if you can" - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SHOW - Fringe Review
▶︎ "Well done crew and cast - really amazing adaptation" - email feedback
▶︎ "This production from Identity Theatre Company boasted a strong and talented cast, every actor balancing the darkness of the script with moments of sharp and sarcastic humour extremely well. A dark, memorable, confident production of Brontë’s novel, brought to the stage by a solid cast and tight direction from Nettie Sheridan and Gary Cook" - City Girl Review
▶︎ "Amazing performances and a stunning production... Identity go from strength to strength - Audience Feedback
▶︎ "Thoroughly enjoyed Identity's Wuthering Heights. Brilliantly cast, superb but subtle choreography by main characters Cathy and Heathcliff, the atmosphere of the moors well set... directors and cast made the most of the unique setting of the
venue to add magic to this wonderful tale of love and jealousy." - feedback email
CAST
Andy Bell: Mr Lockwood Kane Magee: Heathcliff
Pip Cook: Catherine Earnshaw
Bee Mitchell-Turner: Nelly Dean
Harry Armstrong: Hindley / Hareton Earnshaw Heloise Bliss: Isabella
Kate Stoner : Frances Earnshaw / Mary Carly Tennant: Catherine Linton Daniel Walford: Edgar Linton / Linton Heathcliff
Andrew Wesby: Joseph / Old Man Linton
Debbie Creissen: Lass / Servant / Ensemble / Directors' Assistant
Dena Lague: Movement Director
Directors / Producers: Gary Cook & Nettie Sheridan
The Unquiet Grave and Low Down In The Broom arranged and sung by:
Helen Toplis, Jo Simpson & Nancy Wesby
Worthing Theatre Trail
September 21, 22, 29 2019
While in no way autobiographical, Pity was sparked in my mind by the experience of caring for my mother as she suffered with early-onset dementia. Her often bizarre (and often hilarious) confusions and leaps of twisted narrative while suffering from this terrible disease was hard to cope with. But sometimes, just sometimes - they hinted at fantasies that seemed so real to her that I wondered - had that really happened to her? Was I sure of my own reality? Maybe I didn’t know my mother and her history at all? Maybe it was me that was confused, frightened and forgetful? Was it me? My sister, a visiting carer, completed the inspiration for me when she told me a (possibly apocryphal?) story she had been told during her training.- Gary
▶︎ "Pity - Brilliant - A must-see"
▶︎ "Loved Pity. Def go and see - strong performances"
▶︎ "Saw Identity Theatre's Pity in Worthing ... Excellent acting and a very thought provoking story line. Can 100% recommend it"
▶︎ "Very poignant and I thought Nettie and Debbie were brilliant, really lovely chemistry between them"
▶︎ "Congratulations to Debbie, Nettie and Gary. Excellently written. Beautifully and sensitively acted"
▶︎ "Shocking, heartfelt and sensitive writing and performance - a lean and very clever play."
▶︎ "Well worth a visit, they were both brilliant"
▶︎ "A moving performance by a strong cast"
CAST
Debbie Creissen: Katherine Nettie Sheridan: Julie
Nettie Sheridan: Director / Producer
Gary Cook: Author / Producer
Brighton Open Air Theatre
July 21-24 2021
(Scheduled for 2020, held over to 2021 due to COVID pandemic)
The pinnacle of Victorian Gothic - a classic text - mixture of horror, obsession, fantasy, fear of the unknown with a troubling sexual undertone throughout.
▶︎ "Creative use of the space with clever set construction and zoning. Acting fabulous from every single member of the cast, make-up outstanding, sound and lighting expertly done adding great atmosphere throughout. Another excellent production from Identity Theatre" - email to the Company
▶︎ "Directed by Nettie Sheridan and Gary Cook for Identity Theatre, Dracula marks a joyously dark return to BOAT ... this production reminding us of Identity's professional-level outstanding shows: Blue Remembered Hills (2017) The Crucible (2018) and Wuthering Heights. Identity Theatre’s a class apart; there’s enough of that here to show why – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SHOW - Fringe Review
▶︎ "Thrilling and with a lightness of touch suited to the outdoor space - with some genuinely funny touches for light relief!" - Audience feedback ▶︎ "Fabulous casting, direction, costumes and sound brings the eerie Gothic tale to the BOAT this week - catch it before it dissolves in smoke! - Audience feedback
CAST
Adam Macrae: Vlad Dracula Kane Magee: Jonathan Harker Ria Fay: Mina
Bee Mitchell-Turner: Florrie Heloise Bliss : Lucy / Bride
Trefor Levins: Renfield
Kate Stoner: Nurse Grice / Nurse Nisbett
Sam Razavi: Doctor Seward
Dave Balfe: Van Helsing
Andrew Wesby: Orderly Drinkwater
Directors / Producers: Nettie Sheridan & Gary Cook
Brighton Open Air Theatre
June 22-24 2023
New Inn, Hurstpierpoint
June 28-29 2023
A community is sleeping. Only we can see them - if you listen closely, you can hear their dreams…A blind sea captain yearns for his lost love, sailing the oceans of his youth, a landlady is in terror of guests, two passionate shopkeepers relish unrequited lust, the landlord, milkman, postman, fancy woman, layabout, optimistic elderly, blossoming youth and an entire town full of colourful characters are here…
▶︎ "We enjoyed it very much! Congratulations to all involved in this production." - "Watched this last night. It was wonderful! Made me laugh, made me cry. Just lovely." - "Was there today. Fab show." - "Go if you can, a great show!" "Wow - what a show! An absolute smash hit! Congratulations" - "What a smashing evening" - "Such a joy to watch at BOAT, break a leg for the second run!" - "Amazing performance of Under Milk Wood @BOATheatre, and especially magical that our real-life dusk coincided with the script as night fell on the village" - "Not to be missed!" - Emails to the Company
▶︎ "This beautifully-blocked procession of a town... This is an exciting production. outdoors and adding a new dimension to our experience... beautifully landed... Blazoned with wit. And warmth. Very warmly recommended too." HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SHOW - Fringe Review
▶︎ In action: Identity with their class act Under Milk Wood. A completely rapt full house here - Live audience tweet
▶︎ "Under milk wood was great last night! Really enjoyed it. As a big fan of the text I was amazed / you should be very proud - great pace too. Congrats and I look forward to seeing more from you folk." - Audience feedback
▶︎ "A canonic piece of literature by an acclaimed author and a poetic “play for words” all about dreams and poetry may seem intimidating - but Identity’s company manage to lure everyone in with their command and control of the beautiful language allowinng it to wash over the entranced audience in a dream like state. The outdoors setting is just magical - as the sun sets in the play, so does the actual sun. The 13-strong cast give full bodied and hearty performances, with sad moving moments contrasted with uplifting raucous folk singing at the pub; what more could you ask for while sitting outside in glorious weather!" - Email to website
CAST
Laura Scobie: First Voice
James Doyle: Second Voice, Mr Ogmore, Johnny Cristo
Sam Nixon: 3rd Neighbour, Polly Garter, Mrs Pugh
Kane Magee: Mr Mogg-Edwards, Mr Pugh, Dickie, Lord Cut-Glass
Harry Armstrong: Willy Nilly,
Ocky Milkman, Mr Beynon, Nogood Boyo, Sinbad
Trefor Levins: Captain Cat, Mr Waldo
Suse Crosby: 1st Neighbour, Mrs Ogmore-Pritchard, Bessie Bighead
Daisy-Grace Elborn: Gwennie, Matti Richards, Lily Smalls
Cathy Byrne: Gossamer Bynon, Mary Ann The Sailors, 2nd Woman
Andrew George: Mr Pritchard, Cherry Owen, Rev Eli Jenkins, Organ Morgan
Directors / Producers: Gary Cook & Nettie Sheridan
Brighton Open Air Theatre
August 7-10 2024
Neil Bartlett's beautiful interpretation of Charles Dickens' angry, funny, story of neglect, adventure, corruption and eventual triumph. An adaptation viewed through the distorting lens of Victorian Music Hall, reflecting the grimy, knockabout nature of ... well, you probably know the story of one of his best-loved characters - Oliver Twist.
▶︎ " The great strength of this production is ensemble storytelling and some first-rate performances" - Plays International Review
▶︎ "Co-directors Nettie Sheridan and Gary Cook have produced a creditable Dickens, some of his humour, lots of his darkness" - The Latest ▶︎ "Charles Dickens' depiction of Oliver Twist still resonates with contemporary realities. This adaption certainly got to the heart of the play - [and] Dickens also provides us with a complete and complex female character in Nancy (Flossie Noar)" - The Source
▶︎ "Absolutely brilliant performance! Well done" "It's such a wonderful adaptation." - Feedback to the BOAT
▶︎ "A great show. Well done to all involved, really enjoyed it".
"It was brilliant. Dark, funny and great characters".
"That was bloody brilliant" "Had a great evening … Thoroughly enjoyed it and loved all the characterisations"
"Congratulations on a thoroughly enjoyable show. Great casting and directing, and some surprisingly funny laugh out loud moments"
"Great performance ... priceless spontaneity"
"Fabulous cast, brilliant adaptation. Loved it"
"The whole cast and crew smashed it. Brilliant production and highly recommend you see it" "Standing ovation on opening night, we loved it"
"First-rate performances … Congratulations to everyone involved ... Moving and funny" "Such a talented cast and crew"
Feedback to the company by email and via website
CAST
Joanna Ackroyd: Mrs. Sowerberry / Maid. Andy Bell: Bill Sikes.
Cathy Byrne: Rose Brownlow.
Charlotte Collingbourne: Widow Corney (later Mrs. Bumble)
Susanne Crosby: Mr. Bumble. Zarrina Danaeva: Dodger (Artful).
Max Hopkins: Noah Claypole, Toby Crackit. Olivia Jeffery: Tom Chitlin.
Chloe McEwan: Charley Bates. Phil Nair-Brown: Mr Sowerberry / Mr Grimwig
Sam Nixon: Fagin. Flossie Noar: Nancy. Drew Paterson: Mr Brownlow / Mr Fang. Freya Sheridan: Charlotte Sowerberry / Jimmy Riddle. Lily Wilks : Oliver Twist.
Directors / Producers: Nettie Sheridan & Gary Cook
Wagner Hall, Brighton
October 23-26 2024
We were privileged to present this epic feminist masterpiece in Brighton. Funny, deeply sad, and relevant, THE WELKIN is set in 1759 but its reverberations continue to this day.
What the audiences said:
▶︎ a great production ... bloody brilliant ... a real achievement
▶︎ Intense and rich ... everyone was absolutely perfectly cast
▶︎ The ensemble worked together with such passion and love for the piece with every facet beautifully meaningful
▶︎ It was a pleasure and a privilege to watch the show. An outstanding production of a beautifully written, complex and very affecting play. Many congratulations!
▶︎ Brilliant cast, excellent direction and a really thought provoking piece
▶︎ What a play. What a story. Exquisitely brought to life.
▶︎ Another brilliant production and fabulously strong cast
▶︎ A remarkable achievement
▶︎ I was totally immersed in the story, and in awe of the whole production
What the critics said:
▶︎MUST SEE SHOW Identity excels with large ensembles. The sheer acting catches fire: not a weak link - FRINGE REVIEW
▶︎ An authentic and truthful production and an absolute joy to see: funny, shocking, inspiring, challenging, and heartbreaking; all at the same time. Universally strong ... an authentic and truthful production and an absolute joy to see: funny, shocking, inspiring, challenging, and heartbreaking; all at the same time - BRIGHTON SOURCE
▶︎ ★★★★★ The Welkin is an exceptional achievement for Identity Theatre ... weighty stuff, a dense text that requires dramatic dexterity, precision timing and the ability to deliver in equal part a searingly dark line or a comical moment - THE LATEST
CAST
Polly Jones - Sally Poppy Joanna Ackroyd - Elizabeth Luke
Kate Peltzer Dunn - Judith Brewer Ella Jay Morley - Ann Lavender
Sam Nixon - Charlotte Carey Lex Lake - Sarah Hollis
Izzy Neal - Hannah Rusted. Flossie Noar - Mary Middleton
Cathy Byrne - Helen Ludlow Joseph Bentley - Mr. Coombes
Laura Scobie - Kitty Givens Carl Lovejoy - Fred Poppy / Doctor / Justice
Debbie Creissen - Sarah Smith Zarrina Danaeva - Peg Carter
Isobel Stoner - Emma Jenkins Esme Ackroyd - Alice Wax / Katy Luke
Directors / Producers: Nettie Sheridan & Gary Cook
Brighton Open Air Theatre
June 11-14 2025
A satirical play with music that critiques World War I, highlighting the incompetence of military leadership and the immense human cost of the conflict. The play uses popular songs and verbatim text from the era to contrast the cheerful, patriotic facade with the grim realities faced by soldiers in the trenches. A powerful piece of documentary theatre that remains relevant for its anti-war message and exploration of the human experience during war time.
What the audiences said:
▶︎ "A fantastic show - well done to everyone involved!"
▶︎ "Terrific! Great voices too and so poignant"
▶︎ "Bloomin' timely production. Fabulous show!!!"
▶︎ "The actors and their voices were top quality"
▶︎ "Full of Heart and gusto, and so painfully tragic at the same time"
▶︎ "A fabulous evening watching 'Oh What a Lovely War' with some super talented performers"
▶︎ "Beautiful, funny, moving, poignant, thought provoking piece of work"
▶︎ "Bravo! We loved it... Congratulations on a fab production"
▶︎ "I enjoyed it so much, I decided to see it again [...] brilliant acting and brilliant singing"
▶︎ "What a great show - satire with a serious, sad and alarming message"
▶︎ "A fabulous production. This production was wonderfully presented on the BOAT stage. The actors and their voices were top quality"
▶︎ "One of the best shows at BOAT and a timely production"
What the critics said:
▶︎ MUST SEE SHOW "Identity never flinch ... this production sings ... A fifteen-strong cast glows - heart-stoppingly poignant. Theatre Workshop's aesthetic is revived. Transcendent theatre" - FRINGE REVIEW
▶︎ ★★★★★ - "An ambitious piece of theatre and here, in the capable hands of directors Nettie Sheridan and Gary Cook and their extraordinary ldentity Theatre company, it is brilliantly brought to life... How timely and now poignant it is to see this remarkable piece of innovative theatre revived by a local company who give it their all. By the end, as the sun set and the early summer cool of night set in, the chill was not just physical" - LATEST
CAST
(Ensemble roles throughout show) Joanna Ackroyd - Joseph Bentley -
James Bolton - Cathy Byrne - Suse Crosby Graham Hammett - Olivia Jeffery -
Carrie Lambe - Carl Lovejoy - Phil Nair-Brown Jimmy Schofield -
Laura Scobie - Sophie Sullivan - Andrew Wesby - Gerry Wicks
Directors / Producers: Nettie Sheridan & Gary Cook