Noises Off (2026)

Noises Off
[[File: |300px]] Noises Off promotional image
Dates	14-16 May 2026
Venue	The Tower Theatre
Director	Aaron Birks
Producer	Rebekah Reynolds

The Folkestone-Hythe Operatic and Dramatic Society presented Noises Off by Michael Frayn on 14-16 May 2026 at The Tower Theatre, Folkestone. An amateur production by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.

Foreword

There are few who will deby that Theatre is funny. It's full of funny people with funny ideas that do funny things. That bloke whose birthday it is today as I write this knew a thing or two when he said all the world's a stage.

Theatre is also serious. It's full of serious people with serious ideas that do serious things.

The inevitable comedy that ensues when these two sets of people meet up and put on a play is almost beyond parody. Almost.

So, with all that in mind, welcome to FHODS' production of Noises Off, wherein this seriously funny cast have worked tirelessly to do waht this frankly perculiar but determined director told them to do, and have produced something seriously good.

Enjoy the show!

Aaron Birks Director

Quick Director's PS: I've made this production immersive, so whilst it has two intervals of twenty minutes each, performing onstage and throughout the theatre will take place during the intervals and the set changes will happen for your entertainment too. I'd therefore recommend you pre-order drinks at the bar for both intervals in advance.

• Clackett's Agony
• The Sex Maniac
• Selsdon's Old and Peculiar

Inspired by the 'Backside'

Playwright Michjael Frayn conceived the idea while watching one of his own farcecs from the wings, noting that the backstage chaos was funnier than the play in front.

Cast

• Vivienne Pattison as Belinda Blair/Flavia Brent
• Rose Briggs as Brooke Ashton/Vicki
• Clair Ellerby as Dotty Otley/Mrs Clackett
• Will Dean as Frederick Fellow/Phillip Brent
• Anthony Leyton as Garry LeJeune/Roger Tramplemain
• Murray Wilkinson as Lloyd Dallas
• Rebekah Reynolds as Poppy Norton-Taylor
• Paul Milton as Selsdon Mowbray/The Burglar
• Dylan Bryan as Tim Allgood

Production Team

• Director: Aaron Birks
• Producer: Rebekah Reynolds
• Stage Manager: Michael Pearce
• Deputy Stage Manager: Leigh Chambers & Aaron Birks
• Lighting Design: Eleanor Boyle
• Lighting Operation: Andy Hartley
• Sound Operation: Eleanor Boyle
• Set Design: Aaron Birks & Michael Pearce
• Technical Set Consultant: John Perrin
• Set Construction: Murray Wilkinson, John Perrin, Liz Perrin, Michael Pearce, Vivienne Pattison, Paul Milton, Anthony Leyton, Andy Hartley, Clair Ellerby, Mark Ellerby, Ben Forrest, John Kennett, Will Dean, Dylan Bryan, Rose Briggs, Tomy Birks, Andy Argyll, Aaron Birks, Marion Reynolds & Rebekah Reynolds
• Props: Myra Collingridge, Wendy Allum & Emma Franks
• Costume: Kate Richmond & Sheelagh Blackham
• Backstage: Michael Pearce, Andy Hartley, Dylan Bryan, Tony Birks, Aaron Birks, Camilla Bebell & John Kennett
• Prompt: Deborah Birks
• Design/Media: Malcolm Laye
• Photography & Marketing media design: Aaron Birks & Rebekah Reynolds
• FHODS Marketing: Merewyn Forrest

For The Tower Theatre

• Events & Marketing Manager: Michelle Hartley
• Front of House Manager: Gary Ingoldby-Spate
• Theatre Operations Lead: Andy Hartley
• Technical Theatre Lead: Eleanor Boyle

FHODS extends its thanks to the Front of House volunteers and Bar Team. Anyone interested in joining the team can contact Joanne Pearce at foh@towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk.

Thanks and Acknowledgements

• Emmie Rhodes for supplying an outraged girlfriend and Dotty's suitcases
• Marion Reynolds, Rebelah Reynolds and Aaron Birks for alternative rehearsal acquisition
• Cheriton Baptist Church & Hawkinge Village Hall for their excellent rehearsal spaces
• Burnap & Abel for Garry's office surroundings and incredulous co-worker Daryll
• Cargill's Folkestone for Brooke's myopic surroundings and worried optician Lauren
• Sammi for being the beat to our nonsense
• Sound FX by BBC Sounds Archive bbc.co.uk © copyright 2026 BBC