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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250927T193000
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CREATED:20250513
LAST-MODIFIED:20250924
PRIORITY:5
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TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:Waiting for God
DESCRIPTION:by Michael Aitkens\n																\n															\n27th September – 4th October  2025 7.30pm\nThe art of growing old…  disgracefully \nDirectors Preview\nAfter five successful series during the 1990s, BBC sitcom Waiting for God has been adapted for stage by writer Michael Aitkens. The play follows the lives of those inhabiting the Bayview Retirement Home – a dreary, slow-paced residential home that proudly boasts ‘highlights’ such as a trips to Lourdes and Stonehenge in a ramshackle minibus. Resident Diana Trent is a woman who despises the title of senior citizen and all of the stereotypes that go with it. With no intention of slipping into old age quietly, Diana focuses her energy on making life for Bayview manager Harvey Baines as difficult as possible. When playful ex-accountant Tom Ballard moves into the adjacent apartment, Diana sees him as nothing but a boring man who’s lived a boring life. Eager to change her opinion, Tom decides to impress Diana by making a stand at dinnertime – declaring the food inedible and marching to wage war against Baines. Confronted by Tom’s promises to ‘disembowel himself on the steps of the town hall’, Baines resentfully increases budgeting on food, much to the delight of the other residents. Seeing an opportunity to gain a partner in crime, Diana forms an alliance with Tom and the pair embark on a number of adventures together. The play’s humour centres around growing old disgracefully and the delightful antics of its colourful characters.\nAll the favourite characters from the original series are reimagined facing the challenges that come with growing old disgracefully in the era of the silver surfer.\nAt Bayview Retirement Village, battle-axe extraordinaire Diana Trent conspires with new resident Tom Ballard to give the conniving manager his comeuppance through an hilarious conspiracy with unexpectedly heart-warming results.\nAfter five successful series during the 1990s, BBC sitcom Waiting for God has been adapted as a stand alone stage play by writer Michael Aitkens.\nWaiting for God follows the lives of those inhabiting the Bayview Retirement Home – a dreary, slow-paced residential home that proudly boasts ‘highlights’ such as a trips to Lourdes and Stonehenge in a ramshackle minibus. Resident Diana Trent is a woman who despises the title of senior citizen and all of the stereotypes that go with it. With no intention of slipping into old age quietly, Diana focuses her energy on making life for Bayview manager Harvey Baines as difficult as possible. When playful ex-accountant Tom Ballard moves into the adjacent apartment, Diana sees him as nothing but a boring man who’s lived a boring life. Eager to change her opinion, Tom decides to impress Diana by making a stand at dinnertime – declaring the food inedible and marching to wage war against Baines. Confronted by Tom’s promises to ‘disembowel himself on the steps of the town hall’, Baines resentfully increases budgeting on food, much to the delight of the other residents. Seeing an opportunity to gain a partner in crime, Diana forms an alliance with Tom and the pair embark on a number of adventures together. The play’s humour centres around growing old disgracefully and the delightful antics of its colourful characters.\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n							\n														\n																\n															\nCast \nDiana Trent… Gill BarhamTom Ballard…  John TannerJane … Heather TaylorHarvey …  Mark HobsonGeoffrey …  James McKeanSarah … Laura RothwellDr Henry/ Undertaker/Tilly  … Angela ConnollyVicar Dennis/ Basil  …. Jon Comyn Platt\nCrew\nDirector … Verity Mann PA … Heather Taylor Set design & construction … Chris Bannatyne & Verity MannSet Painting … Frank Brown, Karel & John Lees Lighting …. David PlowrightSound …. Peter Smith & Andrew MannCostumes …. Verity MannProps …. Lynda Hoyle, Louise ClarkeLarge Props …. Chris BannatyneSet dressing …. Verity MannPrompt …. Margaret ThompsonStage Manager …. Liz O’DriscollPublicity …. Andrew Mann, Richard Wallis, Martin & Val Kavanagh, Sam Al-HamdaniPhotography …. Alan Gorst\n \nDirector…. Verity Mann\nPA…  Heather Taylor\nSet… Chris Bannatyne , Frank Brown, John Lees & team\nLighting… David Plowright and Andrew Mann \nSound… Peter Smith & Andrew Mann\nCostumes… The costume team\nProps … Lynda Hoyle Prompt … Margaret ThompsonStage Manager … Liz O’DriskellPublicity …  Andrew Mann , Richard Wallis, Martin & Val Kavanagh, \nPhotographs … Alan Gorst\n							\n																		Tom Ballard played by John Tanner- An elderly man. Whimsical. Lovely.\n									\n							\n																		Diana Trent played by Gill Barham – Elderly but very feisty woman.\n									\n							\n																		Jane Edwards played by Heather Taylor – Sad Flustered and lovesick.\n									\n							\n																		Geoffrey Ballard played by James McKean. – Tom’s son. A dull clod & multiple cuckold.\n									\n							\n																		Dennis Sparrow, played by Mark Hobson … Vain and incompetent shyster\n									\n							\n																		Sarah Chase played by Laura Rothwell- Diana’s niece. successful,\n									\n							\n																		Jon Comyn-Platt playing Dennis Sparrow A dithering vicar\n									\n							\n																		Angela Walsh playing lots of parts –\n									\n							\n																		Angela Walsh playing lots of parts –\n									\n							\n																		Angela Walsh playing lots of parts –\n									\n							\n																		James as Doctor\n									\n							\n																		Laura as a doctor\n									\n																\n															\n
URL:https://millgateartscentre.co.uk/events/waiting-for-god/
CATEGORIES:Millgate Arts Centre 2526,Saddleworth Players,Saddleworth Players 2526
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://millgateartscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Waiting-for-God-Web-.webp
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