Having recently enjoyed great success with the spookily hilarious ‘Spirit Level’, Ashtead Players will be turning to one of the masters of comedy for their next production – ‘Present Laughter’ by Noël Coward - which they will perform from 9 to 12 April 2025 at Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, Woodfield Lane, Ashtead KT21 2BE. Set in 1939, this comedy depicts a few days in the life of Garry Essendine, a suave, hedonistic and successful matinee idol, who is preparing for a tour of Africa whilst suffering from a mid-life crisis. Garry has a lot to deal with: women who want to seduce him, an eager new playwright desperate for his attention, his long-suffering secretary, the wife he hasn’t got round to divorcing and the rest of his household. Placating them all proves too much for Garry, as his life descends into farce on the eve of his departure for Africa. The play was written in 1939 and premiered in the early years of the Second World War, just as such privileged lives were threatened with fundamental social change. It has in recent years been enjoying a hugely successful award-winning revival in the West End. Director Sue Hawksfield said: “I think this is one of Noel Coward’s funniest plays. I was inspired to direct it when I read that he based the main character on himself, that’s obviously why Garry has the most lines in the play and is hardly off stage! Set against the backdrop of a looming Second World War it provides a challenge for props, costumes and set design but most of all for me and our talented actors to bring this play to life and make our audiences laugh.” Performances are at 7.45pm from Wednesday 9 to Saturday 12 April 2025 with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets are available on the door for £15 or in advance for £12 via https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ashteadplayers or box office 07598 121477. Ashtead Players have just celebrated 80 years of entertaining the residents of Ashtead and beyond and have an enviably distinguished artistic record. At the same time Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, where most of their productions have taken place, has celebrated its centenary, so it has been a momentous time all round. The group is always looking to welcome new members, whether acting, directing, backstage or front-of-house. For further information please visit the website www.ashteadplayers.co.uk or contact Sue on 07922 273406 or at ashteadplayers@gmail.com.

Spirit Level is a delightfully witty and poignant comedy by Pam Valentine. When famous crime writer Jack Cameron and his wife Susie drown in a boating accident they are refused entry into heaven, and so return to haunt their country cottage. Ghostly life is dull. Their only pleasure comes from spooking the estate agent and frightening away would-be tenants. Things change when Simon, an aspiring crime writer, and Flic, his pregnant wife move in. Simon has writer's block and Marcia, Flic's monstrous mother, is doing her best to separate them. Susie calls up her Guardian Angel who is not the angelic figure one would expect. She tells Jack to help Simon write his book, but by an unorthodox method which causes utter confusion. Christmas arrives, and so does a moment of crisis and Jack finds himself doing something that no card-carrying atheist would ever admit to. But will it help? Auditions are on Thursday 5th September 8pm at Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall (in the Marshall Room). Performance dates: 20-23 November 2024 Characters: Jack Cameron - Successful crime writer. Deceased. Susie Cameron - Jack’s wife. Also deceased. Together they are a successful sophisticated couple. Both middle aged+ Simon Willis - An aspiring crime writer. Felicity Willis - Simon’s pregnant wife. The new tenants, young and eager. Both 20s/30s Mark Webster - Estate agent. Pompous and pedantic. Middle aged+ Marcia Bradshaw - Felicity’s formidable mother, a terrible snob. 50s/60 Guardian Angel - rather eccentric and tweedy female Probably 50+ but could be any age