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Past Work

The shows that shaped us — from 1980 to today


Since 1980, the Torrington Players have staged well over a hundred productions — a body of work that reflects not just the ambition of the group, but the breadth of what theatre can be.

Scroll through the list below and the range is striking. Shakespeare rubs shoulders with Neil Simon. Alan Ayckbourn sits alongside Joan Littlewood. There are evenings of Chekhov short stories, a full-scale production of Oliver, a Farndale murder mystery, a world premiere of an original script, and everything in between. Drama, comedy, farce, musical, pantomime, classic and new — if it works on stage, chances are the Players have had a go at it.

Some highlights stand out. The community production of Oh What a Lovely War (2014) drew in schools, choirs, and local historians to mark the WW1 centenary. The Winter's Tale (2015) demonstrated that a North Devon amateur company can do Shakespeare and do it well. The Crucible (2017) showed a group willing to take on genuinely challenging material. And When Arthur Met His Deadline (2025) — an original script by our own Valerie Howes — proved that sometimes the most compelling work is the work you make yourself.

The full list below runs from our most recent production back to our very first in 1980. It is a record we are proud of — and it is nowhere near finished.


Year  

Title

Author

Venue

Category

Notes

2025

When Arthur Met His Deadline

Torrington Town Hall

Play

Comedy murder mystery in radio‑play style; probably original.

2022

Cry Witch!

ThePlough@StAnne’s, Barnstaple

Play

Witch‑trial style show with audience as jury.

2020

Christmas Crackers

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Revue

Festive sketches/variety show.

2019

Noises Off

Michael Frayn

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Farce; TP production.

2019

A Wife For All Reasons

Stephanie Easton

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Listed on site as 2019 production.

2017

The Crucible

Arthur Miller

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Classic drama.

2017

The Lady Killers

Graham Linehan

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Stage adaptation of Ealing comedy.

2016

Daisy Pulls it Off

Denise Deegan

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

School‑set comedy.

2015

The Winter's Tale

William Shakespeare

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Shakespeare.

2015

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Dale Wasserman

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Adaptation of Kesey novel.

2015

When Icicles Hang by the Wall

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Winter/seasonal play; details to confirm.

2014

Oh What a Lovely War!

Joan Littlewood & Theatre Workshop

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Musical

WW1 musical/revue; NODA and tech awards.

2014

Talking Heads

Alan Bennett

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Monologues; NODA award; mini‑tour.

2013

Female Transport

Steve Gooch

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Transportation drama.

2012

The Good Doctor

Neil Simon

The Plough Theatre, Torrington

Play

Chekhov adaptations.

2012

They Came from Mars...

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Comedy sci‑fi; exact script to confirm.

2011

Hobson's Choice

Harold Brighouse

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Classic comedy.

2011

Cold Comfort Farm

Paul Doust or similar (adapt.)

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Adaptation of Stella Gibbons novel.

2010

Steel Magnolias

Robert Harling

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

American drama.

2009

Allo Allo

Jeremy Lloyd & David Croft

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Stage version of TV series.

2009

Improbable Fiction

Alan Ayckbourn

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Comedy about writers.

2009

St George & the Dragon

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Short play/pageant; details to confirm.

2008

First Impressions

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Comedy/drama; script unknown.

2008

A Childs Christmas In Wales

Dylan Thomas (adapted)

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Revue

Seasonal storytelling/reading style show.

2008

Witness for the Prosecution

Agatha Christie

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Courtroom drama.

2007

The Un-Common Room

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Staff‑room/school comedy.

2007

Wyrd Sisters

Stephen Briggs

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Discworld stage adaptation.

2007

Sylvias Wedding

Jimmie Chinn

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Comedy.

2007

Anyone Backstage

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Revue

Backstage‑themed, probably sketch or mixed‑piece.

2007

Tales from Torrington Folk

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Revue

Devised folk‑story/music evening.

2006

A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens (adapted)

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Seasonal stage adaptation.

2006

Chase Me Up Farndale Avenue, Sil Vous Plait

David McGillivray & Walter Zerlin Jr

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Farndale Avenue spoof.

2006

The Vigil

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Small‑cast drama.

2005

The Happiest Days of your Life

John Dighton

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

School farce.

2005

The Illusion

Ray Ridgwell

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Original thriller by TP member.

2004

Loot

Joe Orton

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Black comedy.

2004

Dangerous Corner

J. B. Priestley

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Thriller/drama.

2003

Talking Heads

Alan Bennett

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Monologues; also toured villages.

2003

The Railway Children

E. Nesbit (adapted)

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Stage adaptation; adaptor to confirm.

2003

Murdered to Death

Peter Gordon

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Comic whodunnit.

2002

The Queens Consort

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Historical/period piece.

2001

Farndale Christmas Carol

David McGillivray & Walter Zerlin Jr

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Farndale spoof of “A Christmas Carol”.

2001

Beeping Slooty

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Comedy; author unknown.

2000

The Importance of being Earnest

Oscar Wilde

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Classic comedy.

2000

Oliver

Lionel Bart

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Musical

Musical based on Dickens.

2000

Cinderellas Millennium Ball

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Revue

Panto/variety‑style Christmas show.

1999

The Millennium Stone

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Probably locally written.

1999

Communicating Doors

Alan Ayckbourn

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Comedy thriller.

1998

Straight and Narrow

Jimmie Chinn

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Comedy‑drama.

1998

The Wizard of Oz

L. Frank Baum et al (adapted)

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Musical

Family musical.

1998

Music Hall

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Revue

Variety / music hall evening.

1997

Ten Times Table

Alan Ayckbourn

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Committee‑meeting comedy.

1996

A Stranger in Town

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Mystery/comedy.

1996

Nightmare

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Thriller/farce.

1995

Tom Jones

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Or musical adaptation; version to confirm.

1995

Lord Arthur Saviles Crime

Constance Cox or similar (adapt.)

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Adaptation of Wilde story.

1994

The Miracle Worker

William Gibson

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Helen Keller story.

1994

Oh What a Lovely War

Joan Littlewood & Theatre Workshop

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Musical

WW1 songs and sketches; NODA & tech awards.

1993

The Farndale Murder Mystery

David McGillivray & Walter Zerlin Jr

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Farndale Avenue comedy.

1993

There Goes the Bride

Ray Cooney & John Chapman

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Farce.

1992

Blythe Spirit

Noël Coward

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

(Blithe Spirit).

1992

The Masked Princess

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Revue

Youth/family or panto‑style show.

1991

Four Times One

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Probably four one‑act plays.

1991

A Month of Sundays

Bob Larbey

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Comedy‑drama.

1990

A Chorus of Disapproval

Alan Ayckbourn

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Musical‑society satire.

1990

Hay Fever

Noël Coward

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Classic comedy.

1989

Pack of Lies

Hugh Whitemore

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Espionage drama.

1988

Goodnight Mrs Puffin

Arthur Lovegrove

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Comedy.

1988

The Will to Live

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Drama; author unknown.

1987

Charleys Aunt

Brandon Thomas

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Classic farce.

1987

Surprise Package

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Comedy/farce.

1986

A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens (adapted)

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Seasonal adaptation.

1986

Haul for the Shore

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Nautical/local drama.

1985

Sailor Beware

Philip King & Falkland Cary

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Comedy.

1985

Cheeky Capers

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Revue

Light comedy/revue.

1984

The Magical Mazooma Machine

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Revue

Youth/fantasy show; likely mixed pieces.

1984

Big Bad Mouse

Alistair Foot & Anthony Marriott

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Comedy farce.

1983

Murder at the Vicarage

Agatha Christie

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Crime drama.

1982

A Letter from the General

Maurice McLoughlin

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Drama.

1983

Boeing-Boeing

Marc Camoletti

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Classic French farce.

1981

Cat On The Fiddle

John Dole / Jack Popplewell or similar

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Musical

Treated as musical; exact version to confirm.

1981

The House on the Cliff

The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

Play

Mystery/thriller.

1980

Mad About Men

Peter Blackmore

The Plough Community Centre

Play

First TP production; light comedy with mermaid theme.