A production of While the Sun Shines will grace the Mary Wallace Theatre in Twickenham from the 15-22 March.
While the Sun Shines was written by Terence Rattigan in 1943, with this amateur production directed by Stuart Watson and presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd.
The play features Bobby, played by Jack Willard, who begged for leave from the Royal Navy to marry his fiancée, Lady Elizabeth. However, a beefy American airman had also fallen head-over-heels for the bride-to-be.
Mary Wallace Theatre general committee volunteer Rodney Figaro said: “It’s a nice, frothy, light hearted show.
“I always like to see our shows do well, Stuart is a new director to the society, and I’m eager for him to succeed.”
The play was written during the Second World War when Rattigan was serving in the Royal Air Force a tail gunner on a bomber over the north Atlantic hunting for submarines.
He wrote three plays during this time and most of his characters focussed on their regrets.
However, the characters focus on seizing the day and taking a chance while you can in While the Sun Shines, something which was not always easy for Rattigan due to him being a gay man in an era when homosexuality was criminalised in the UK.
It is also important to note that some characters and dialogue reflect stereotypes and attitudes of the time the play was written.
The theatre, which was opened by King Charles in May 1981, holds productions from The Richmond Shakespeare Society (RSS) charity and has a capacity of 84 seats.
Many of the previous shows have sold out, with prices for tickets starting at £16.
Willard said: “Despite the fact we might not be professionals, the local community is very supportive, encouraging and kind enough to come along and see the shows.”
This is Willard’s first RSS show, which brings excitement for him as well as the opportunity to learn from his castmates.
Watson, meanwhile, is an experienced director but this the first RSS show he has directed after acting in the production of Julius Caesar a few years ago.
Watson said: “There’s lots and lots of laughs to be found in pretty much every line.
“This is something that’s a passion and I spend a lot of time doing it.”
There are open auditions at the RSS which contain a variety of levels and skills, and around 30 people auditioned for the seven speaking roles for While the Sun Shines when it was cast in November.
Willard said: “A good rehearsal room is one where the director isn’t a dictator but is good at trusting his actors.
“Stuart is a real balance of being relentlessly positive and encouraging.”
The RSS was founded in 1934 by former actress and dancer Gladys Erickson and puts on eight productions of all kinds per year, two of which are Shakespeare plays.
With opportunities for everyone, the RSS contains the Young Actors company and the Juniors Actors Company which are taught by a professional actor and director with the aim to improve confidence and build on performance skills.
Within the theatre there is state-of-the-art lighting and sound control technology in the control gallery, along with an induction loop for hearing-aid users.
For anyone interested in getting involved, there are vacancies for volunteer roles in lighting and sound, stage management, costume making, set designers, and bar and front of house staff.
Picture credits: Richard Evans
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