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. |
