Sheila’s Island Archives - North West End UK

Sheila’s Island – The King’s Arms, Salford

12Feb

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Sheila’s Island – The King’s Arms, Salford

Something quite special has been slowly brewing over the last couple of years at the King's Arms pub in Salford — and not just the excellent pint of Guinness. In this side-street boozer, incongruously wedged between Salford Central station and the bustling ring road, the husband-and-wife team of Colin and Lisa Connor have quietly established the tiny theatre nestled in the roof as a prime destination to see challenging and rewarding productions in the city centre. This dynamic duo have now taken the next step in their development by creating The Kings, a company of actors and creatives designed to showcase the wonderful talent our regional theatre network offers. First out of the blocks for The Kings is Sheila's Island by Tim Firth, a reworking of his earlier Neville's Island from 1...

16Feb

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Sheila’s Island – Rainhill Village Hall

It’s Bonfire night and Sheila (Rosetta Parker), Denise (Jo Webster), Julie (Sophie Brogan), and Fay (Lynn Aconley) are Team C in Pennine Mineral Water Ltd.’s annual outward-bound team-building weekend. Somehow, Sheila has been nominated team leader, and, using her cryptic crossword solving skills, has unwittingly stranded her team on an island in the Lake District. Our intrepid heroines find themselves manufacturing weapons from bras and spatulas and create a rescue flag with plastic plates and a toasting fork. Questions are asked; truths are told; dirty washing is aired: is it possible to build an adequate night shelter with a prom dress? What is Julie’s husband really up to in Aldi? And why are they on this team building exercise when they could be at a spa? The only one with al...

6Apr

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Sheila’s Island – Liverpool Playhouse

It’s Bonfire night and Sheila (Tracy Collier), Denise (Abigail Thaw), Julie (Rina Fatania), and Fay (Emily Jane Kerr) are Team C in Pennine Mineral Water Ltd.’s annual outward-bound team-building weekend. Somehow, Sheila has been nominated team leader, and, using her cryptic crossword solving skills, has unwittingly stranded her team on an island in the Lake District. Our intrepid heroines find themselves manufacturing weapons from cable ties and spatulas and create a rescue flag with plastic plates and a toasting fork. Questions are asked; truths are told; dirty washing is aired. Is it possible to build an adequate night shelter with a prom dress and a sleeveless jumper? What is Julie’s husband really up to in Aldi? And why are they on this bloody team building exercise when they...

30Mar

By Hazel BumbyNo Comments

North West

Sheila’s Island – The Lowry

Sheila’s Island is a sharp and charming new piece of comedy writing by Tim Firth (Calendar Girls, Kinky Boots) and is extremely funny and very well written… The Quays Theatre within The Lowry was the perfect setting for this one set play showcasing the talents of four very talented ladies. The set was simple yet very well designed and the sound and lighting never missed a beat. The cast were not wearing microphones but to be honest they didn’t need them. Projected and clear and not a word missed from the back of the stalls. Hair, make-up and costume were all on point for this present day setting. Now, a bit of background….. For Team C from Pennine Mineral Water Ltd, their team building weekend has well and truly been blown way off course. ...

2Mar

By Melissa JonesNo Comments

Scotland

Sheila’s Island – King’s Theatre

Tim Firth (Calendar Girls and Kinky boots) has been delighting audiences for decades with his productions. Now Sheila’s Island is an all-female reimagining of his earlier work, Neville’s Island is bringing his work to a brand new audience. Four middle aged middle management employees of Pennine Mineral Water Ltd, are on their annual outward bound team bonding weekend. Team leader Sheila has read the clues far too closely and her love a cryptic crossword has caused the ladies to end up in the middle of nowhere in the Lake District as the fog gathers in before Bonfire Night Weekend. As the days come and go, tensions rise, and communications devices fail. There’s not a crumb food in sight, just one sausage and relationships have become rather frayed. As Sheila (Judy Flynn) hauls herself...