Alan Ayckbourn's award winning and riotously funny play explores the attraction of the theatre for ordinary people, whose apparently unremarkable lives are revealed to be unexpectedly eventful. It's the mid 1980's and PALOS, The Pendon Amateur Light Operatic Society, are busy staging "The Beggars Opera". However, we soon discover that the real action is taking place behind the scenes.
This beautifully constructed satire bubbles with wit and laugh-out-loud humour and features some of Ayckbourn's most memorable characters..

Guy Jones (Joe McLaughlin ) is a quiet, unassuming and polite widower whose life is passing him by. That is, until he tries out for the amateur opera society's production of The Beggars Opera. Soon everyone wants a part of him and Guy just can't say no.

Dafydd ap Llewellyn (Gavin Redhead) is Welsh and proud of it. He's the formidable, power crazed driving force directing this production of The Beggars Opera.

Hannah Llewellyn (Heather Thompson) is a generous, loving woman whose unsatisfactory marriage to Daffyd is making her more and more desperate. Could Guy be the answer to her prayers?

Bridget Baines (Zoe Bartlett) is the Stage Manager. She also acts as prompt and general dogsbody. No-one messes with Bridget and gets away with it.

Mr Ames (Ian Nesbitt) is a mild mannered music teacher who can play almost anything on the piano. He's the Musical Director of PALOS and Daffydd's sidekick, but he doesn't have much to say.

Enid Washbrook (Brenda Rutter) is a nice, unobtrusive woman and the backbone of the society. She is married to Ted and is Linda's beleaguered mother

Ted Washbrook (Dave Wilkinson) Husband of Enid, he is a nice man who is totally unable to handle either his daughter or Dafydd, despite being the most talented member of PALOS.

Linda Washbrook (Amelia Armstrong) is a "spoilt princess" who has a lot more fire than her parents but she just isn't cut out to do battle with Bridget.

Rebecca Huntley-Pike (Pam Nesbitt) is the third wife of Jarvis. She's clearly the most stylish member of the company and very fond of alcohol.

Jarvis Huntley-Pike (David Kiely) likes the sound of his own voice and is prone to making bad jokes. He owns a plot of land which others are very interested in acquiring. Very astute but slightly crackers.

Fay Hubbard (Kathryn Hayes) is Ian's wife and femme fatale of PALOS. Founder member of the wooden spoon club and "very gregarious".

Ian Hubbard (Neil Rutter) is very ambitious and owns a building firm. He and his wife are seasoned swingers and are determined to advance in the world.

Crispin Usher (Ben Hill ) is a tough and hostile young man who lands the lead role in "The Beggars Opera". His "fondness" for both Linda and Bridget leads to a certain amount of friction.