Saturday 21 February, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Swindon Arts Centre is pleased to announce that the legendary Prunella Scales is to star in the hilarious yet often unnerving show, Gertrude's Secret.
What is Gertrude’s terrible secret?
Lonely Gertrude waits for her daughter to call on her birthday but her daughter will get much more than she bargained for...
Alexander - football hooligan or something completely different?
Ten-year-old Emily, stranded alone in a seedy Amsterdam hotel room, may be facing a far worse fate...
Everything is perfect in Maureen's new relationship - or is it?
Cleaner Eva shares her tale as she manically scatters malapropisms around the theatre.
Ludicrous Desmond reveals his plans to own the best sex shop this side of Birmingham.
Frightfully posh Candida's life is transformed by her new Lithuanian au pair.
Tina relates her experiences of working in a tampon factory and losing her virginity in the station toilets.
The distinguished cast has included Prunella Scales, Natalie Cassidy, RSC regular Sion Tudor Owen, Sarah Lloyd of hit French TV series Allo T'es Ou, Christopher Knott (recently in the Patrick Stewart Macbeth going to Broadway in January) and 14-year-old Jerusha West.
"It's not just the writing that's impressive. Andrew Loudon's production is finely acted throughout"? **** -Daily Mail
"Scales once again astonishes" - Evening Standard
"Powerful performances" - Metro
"Persuasive performances" -The Times
"A very tight show" - BBC Radio 4
"Very dark...very real...very atmospheric - really worth seeing" - LBC
"West tells each story with an earnest economy and directness of detail that is always illuminating. You could feel the raw loneliness of Felicity Duncan's Maureen...while Prunella Scales' Gertrude offers a disturbing tale of domestic abuse that she finally cracks under." - The Stage
"These are very nicely written pieces, full of character and some are very moving. Prunella Scales is great casting for the Gertrude character." - Jane Tranter, BBC Controller of Drama
"13-year-old Jerusha West gives a performance of eerie composure as an innocent, curled up on a hotel bed, unaware as a young girl in a Balthus painting." - The Observer
Contains some strong language. Suitable for age 12 and up.
Tickets £15; Swindon Card £14; Party Booking £13.50; Theatre Treat £13; Early Bird.
Theatre Treat
Buy at least one ticket for two shows from the same category at the same time and qualify for discounted tickets, eg. Mutton and Stephen Amos and save £4.
Swindon Card
Concessions available.
Party Bookings
10+ get party rates.
For further information call 01793 614837 or visit www.swindon.gov.uk/partybookings
Early Bird
Discounted rate if booking before 31 December for Friends of Swindon Arts Ccentre members (FoSAC). FoSAC are entitled to reduced standby rate if tickets are available on the day of the show. To become a member of FoSAC visit www.swindon.gov.uk/fosac or call 01793 614837.
How to Book
Tickets are available from the Arts Centre Box Office:
The Arts Centre
Devizes Road
Old Town
Swindon
SN1 4BJ
Tel: 01793 614837
Box Office Opening Times
| Day |
Opening Times |
| Monday to Friday |
12 noon-5pm |
| Saturday |
10am-1pm |
| Bank Holidays |
Closed |
Printer Friendly |
Text Only |
Accessibility Guide
Set in a futuristic landscape, this fantasy action thriller tells the story of love which unfolds in the dreams of a soldier and the heart of a woman, as they search for innocence and confront their destiny both in reality and in their dreams. The show contains poetry, live music, dance and acrobatics.
From nationally-acclaimed company Blackeyed Theatre comes an inspiring production of Chekhov’s masterpiece. Exhuberant, hilarious and ultimately very touching.