Play Reading: "When we are Married"
The Torrington Players are inviting audiences and would‑be performers alike to a fun, informal play reading night – a chance to try out a part, enjoy a classic script without the pressure of performance, and see whether being on (or near) the stage might be for you. These evenings are a great way to meet the group, build confidence and simply share a good story together.
The date: Monday July 6th, 7:30pm at Torrington Town Hall
Our play this time is "When We Are Married", classic J. B. Priestley: warm, funny and wonderfully theatrical, making it a perfect choice for a relaxed reading. Set in an Edwardian Yorkshire sitting room, the play brings together three well‑to‑do couples – the Helliwells, the Parkers and the Soppitts – who are proudly celebrating 25 years of married life. All three were wed on the same day, in the same chapel, by the same minister. Their carefully polished respectability takes a knock, however, when a nervous young chapel organist reveals that the clergyman who married them may not have been properly authorised after all. Suddenly these pillars of the community might not be married – and the gloves can come off.
Priestley populates the story with a rich set of characters: pompous husbands who are far less secure than they appear, wives who have been quietly simmering for years, and sharp‑eyed servants and visitors who are delighted to see the mighty fall. As tempers flare, secrets slip out and alliances shift, the couples are forced to ask themselves whether they actually want to stay together now that they are “free”.
Since its first production in the 1930s, "When We Are Married" has been regularly revived by professional theatres and amateur companies, thanks to its generous ensemble roles, fast‑moving comedy and affectionate skewering of small‑town pride. Audiences and critics have consistently enjoyed its mix of farce, sparkling dialogue and genuine heart, and it remains one of Priestley’s most popular comedies.
Our event will be an open play reading at The Town Hall, Torrington, on Monday 6 July at 7.30pm. Whether you fancy trying a part or simply listening from the audience, you’re very welcome to come along and discover why this much‑loved comedy has kept audiences laughing for nearly a century. All welcome – £5 adults, £2.50 students.