‘Trouble at Sea: A Miss McSkimming Mystery’ – WAF 2021

Following our award-winning production of The Final Adventure of Frankie Fightwell by Chris Buxey (Stage Door New Writing Award 2018), we return to the Wandsworth Arts Fringe with a radio play recorded in front of a live audience (hilarious sound effects included).

Miss McSkimming takes to the high seas in her second adventure, presented by Blackshaw Theatre.  Expecting a pleasant transatlantic cruise, Miss McSkimming must instead deal with a missing companion and a series of mysterious thefts, all whilst trying to avoid panic amongst her fellow passengers.

A rollicking comedy with mysteries abounding, this piece promises to delight audiences, young and old!

You can listen to ‘Some Treachery: A Miss McSkimming Mystery‘, her first adventure, on our podcast.

The show will run alongside a series of educational outreach events – a radio playwriting and producing workshop, a Q&A with the show creators, and 1-3 internships for Wandsworth residents and students wanting to gain experience in producing theatre and radio.

About the writer, Richard Stratton

Richard Stratton has written several plays for Blackshaw Theatre Company, including Some Treachery: A Miss McSkimming Mystery and new adaptations of Alice in Wonderland and Gormenghast: Titus Groan.

Venue:

WAF Big Top
King George’s Park
Lower Field
Mapleton Road
SW18 4GA

Date: Saturday 3rd July, 1pm

Supported by Wandsworth Arts Fringe.

WAF 2020 option 3 - https___www.flickr.com_photos_theilr_

Looking back at…Black Shuck

by Duncan Hands

11-19th May 2016, The Bedford
11-15th October, The Old Red Lion Theatre

“Sea-eagle to coot, come in please, can you hear me? Over.”

“Yes, yes, bloody yes!”

Rucksacks… Check. Walkie-Talkies… Check. Hip flask… Check. Gun… gun?!

Ruminating on the local myth of ghostly dog ‘Black Shuck’, two (inept) would-be smugglers await a shipment on the Norfolk Coast. Join us, where comedy meets horror in this hour-long new play by Duncan Hands.

Another bit of new writing being championed by Blackshaw you say? It’s almost like we have an MO…Duncan Hands blended the mystical, farcical and mundane in this black comedy. Rachel Nott and Alexander Pankhurst’s onstage chemistry really brought the whole thing to life. Special mention goes to Andrew Crane for once again delivering the quality aural goods to create the spookiest of atmospheres.

engaging and dynamic…boundless energy and spirit…a little bit silly, a little bit scary and thoroughly worth a watch!

Theatre Bubble

a brilliantly written short piece…Rachel Nott is amazing…Art is played wonderfully by Alexander Pankhurst

London Theatre 1

a taut play that manages to walk the tightrope of genres but playing to the strength of all

Female Arts

CAST

Martha – Rachel Nott
Art – Alexander Pankhurst
Mr Big (voice only) – Tom Slatter
Fisherman (voice only) – Duncan Hands

CREATIVES

Director/Producer – Ellie Pitkin
Sound Design – Andrew Crane
Sound and Lightening Tech – Andrew Crane
Set and Costume Designer – Michelle Bristow
Set Builder – Tom Hurling
Design Assistant – Sophia Debus
Promotional Images – Robin Savage Photography
Production Photography – Richard Stratton

The Blackshaw Arts Hour – Episode 60

Some Treachery: A Miss McSkimming Mystery

by Richard Stratton

A radio play recorded in front of a live audience (hilarious sound effects included).

What at first seems like a trivial case soon reveals a plot that could shake the very foundations of the British Empire. With her faithful valet by her side, Miss McSkimming must deal with butlers, the police, mysterious men in the shadows and a hippo, to get to the bottom of what could be her biggest case yet.

A rollicking comedy with a chic lady investigator and mysteries abounding, this piece promises to delight audiences, young and old!

Performed by Jessica Bailes, Ellie Pitkin, Chris Starkey, Helen Stratton and Richard Stratton, with live foley from Andrew Crane and David Turnbull.

Recorded live at the Putney Arts Theatre on Saturday 13th May 2017, as part of the Wandsworth Arts Fringe.

Some Treachery – Interview with Cast & Creatives

‘Some Treachery: A Miss McSkimming Mystery’ is coming up soon!

A radio play recorded in front of a live audience (hilarious sound effects included).

What at first seems like a trivial case soon reveals a plot that could shake the very foundations of the British Empire. With her faithful valet by her side, Miss McSkimming must deal with butlers, the police, mysterious men in the shadows and a hippo, to get to the bottom of what could be her biggest case yet.

A rollicking comedy with a chic lady investigator and mysteries abounding, this piece promises to delight audiences, young and old!

Listen to the interview with cast & creatives –

 

BOOK NOW

New Writing Night – May 2016

Holding On

Written by George Johnston

Directed by Catherine Lord

Jack – Joseph Cullen

Emma – Sara Lynam

 

Trim

Written by James Barry

Directed by Ellie Pitkin

Performed by Charlotte Worthing

 

Deadlock 1917

Written by Luca Vigano

Directed by Miriam Lucia

Corporal – Daniel Oldroyd

Lieutenant – James Bonser

 

Bows and Arrows

Written by Lara Barbier

Directed by Stephen Bailey

Owen – Gus Kennedy Jacob

Eury – Natasha Colenso

 

Photos by Charlotte Discombe

 

Black Shuck: Reviews

great dynamic…definitely worth seeing, a funny & wonderfully unique story”

London Theatre Reviewer

 

“engaging and dynamic…boundless energy and spirit…a little bit silly, a little bit scary and thoroughly worth a watch!

Theatre Bubble

four-star-rating-black-hi

 

“a brilliantly written short piece…Rachel Nott is amazing…Art is played wonderfully by Alexander Pankhurst…A very enjoyable hour with a very entertaining script and very talented actors. Well worth a watch.”

London Theatre 1

four-star-rating-black-hi

 

“The chemistry of Nott and Pankhurst…make this thoroughly entertaining to watch…a taut play that manages to walk the tightrope of genres but playing to the strength of all

Female Arts

four-star-rating-black-hi

 

Black Shuck: Making the Set

Our delightful Designer for Black Shuck, Michelle Bristow, gives us a glimpse into the world of set building – you can come and see the set in situ, 11-19 May 2016 – book your tickets now!

Twitter header Black Shuck

We started out by mitre-ing (real word?) some of the timber so that we could make the structure for the bracing. It was hard!

The next part of the support structure, drilling the main upright piece to the bottom support piece.

Bracing pieces completed!

Laying out the pieces ready to have the holes drilled in to mark where the screws go, in order to be flat packed into my car and assembled at the venue.

Marking out the holes and numbering them, so its easy to match up the pieces at the get in.

Jacobean woodstain was the perfect colour, heres the groyne after two coats – 

The fun (and messy) part – painting! All ready for assembly next week.