Tom Needham's new play,
The Wreckers, played to a full house at Helmsley Arts Centre on February 20th and has held audiences in its grip at other venues before then and since.
It was a masterly bit of storytelling, as each character was laid bare and the desire to know what happens grew. This is a ghost story but we are never sure if there is really a ghost or if it is an elaborate game or simply hallucinatory. We never see one but.....
The play was well served by the actors, who conveyed the see-sawing emotions and unravelling relationships with an intense restraint.
The play was a good example of how little technical trickery one actually needs to grip the imagination. The art of suggestion, good timing and richly suggestive language. Well, that's quite a lot really.
The really, really good news is that we have another chance to see this play at Helmsley Arts Centre on Saturday March 6th at 7.30pm
Better still from our point of view, Clap Trap Productions has offered to donate all ticket receipts for that performance to the Arts Centre. An offer we accepeted with gratitude. Thanks CTP.
So do make sure you come to see it if you missed it first time round. To support them and the Centre and to have an excellent night out.
Here's what some people said about it:
"Very atmospheric, a great story and, as always, great acting"
"Absolutely riveting"
"Terrific piece of writing"
"It was like being in the same room as the four characters: almost feeling you shouldn’t be there, but not wanting to leave..."
"Everyone hurried back after the interval, we all couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen"
"It made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck"
"The woman in front of me leapt out of her chair!"
"far exceeded our already high expectations"
Book now.
Performing at Helmsley Arts Centre, Saturday 27th March at 7.30pm
