Prestatyn theatre company stages Alan Bennett's Habeas Corpus

Jun 4 2008 by David Rutland, Rhyl Visitor

A PRESTATYN theatre company will be taking centre stage in Mold to put on a play about middle class sexual excess in the 1960s.

The Centre Stage Theatre company have been invited by the Rotary Club of Mold to stage the production at the Clwyd Theatr Cymru next month.

The invitation came after a successful performance of Fawlty Towers at the venue last year, when more than 90% of tickets were sold.

This year the troupe will perform Habeas Corpus, written by Alan Bennett.

“It’s a thinking man’s farce,” said company chairman Rob Armstrong. “It’s got all the farce elements including mistaken identities, disasters and lots of innuendo.

“The play covers two long afternoons at a doctor’s house in suburban Britain.

“It’s comedy mainly but it also has poignancy and we produced it to great success at Rhyl’s Little Theatre some years ago.”

Habeas Corpus follows the story of Dr Arthur Wicksteed, his family and the pursuit of objects of desire.

The play was first performed at the Lyric Theatre in London in 1973, with Alec Guinness and Margaret Courtenay in the lead roles.

The group, is now in its 23rd year and have previously taken on the challenge of sitcoms such as ’Allo ’allo and Are You Being Served.

Locally they have staged dramas and musicals including Sweeney Todd and A Christmas Carol. In 2006, members appeared on the BBC2 teatime quiz, Eggheads.

Habeas Corpus is directed by Rob and Julie Armstrong, who will also be taking roles alongside the 11 strong cast including Pete Bethell, Moira Evans, Dave and Alex Jones, Gareth Davies, Carole Ainsworth, Iona Vernon, Danny Walsh and Gwyn Davies.

The show will be performed at 7.45pm on June 5,6 and 7. Tickets are priced at £10 and available from the Clwyd Theatr Cymru box office on 0845 330 3565.