“Co-directors Emily Armstrong and Dexter Whitehead have come up with another sparkling piece of first-class entertainment for all ages with great songs and music, fine dancing and leads and wonderful costumes under wardrobe mistress Phebe Jackson.”
“It is a snapshot of a slice of society just after the war, a slice of social history…It is quite a task for an amateur company to put together a cast of this size and not have a weak performance or prompt in sight.”
“Director Claire Armstrong-Mills has let the play flow, at times amusing, at times shocking, with its sardonic asides and funny comments as real or game merge into one. It’s almost half a century old but director and cast have managed to keep it looking fresh and modern.”
“Sutton Arts has built quite a reputation for pantos but instead of it’s behind you, this year it’s more it’s in front of you as they are heading off down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City. And what a delight it is, a magical alternative to panto. This is a sparkling production with strong leads and classy music from a big band, no half measures here!”
“Six superb performances from a cast who bring the disparate characters to sparkling life in this splendid production. The result is an entertaining and satisfying evening of first class theatre.”
“There are times when an
amateur production is amateur only by the simple fact that no
one is paid in anything but applause and there was plenty of that in this most enjoyable journey through the mores of late Victorian society from the acerbic pen of Oscar Wilde. This production is one with wit, style and above all, elegant fun.”
“When it comes to panto this is the Hippodrome of amateur theatre in these parts, a big budget spectacular, well into five figures, full of glitz, glamour, fireworks and no little talent.”
“Director Faye Hatch has done a great job in holding back the horses and making sense of what is clearly an intense ride. The Deep Blue Sea packs so much into its running time, its tragically sad, occasionally amusing, but it is eternal in portraying the intensity and mental toll relationships can impact upon anyone. The ability to rise to the challenges of those either on a personal, or performance level or as a theatre company, have been faced and clearly met here and makes it a production well worth seeing.“
