Stables Theatre Hastings

In 2016 something shocking was found at William Shakespeare’s grave. This resulted in questions being asked that could not be answered. Bard Times takes us back through time to points in history that are mirthful, entertaining and tragic, but which could have all happened and may give insight into the complex and mysterious life and death of the bard known as William Shakespeare.

First performed to sell-out audiences back in May, Every Brilliant Thing is back very much by public demand! Every Brilliant Thing is about resilience and hope. When mum’s in the hospital and dad says she finds it hard to be happy, there’s not much a seven year old can do other than make a list of every brilliant thing… 1. Ice cream 2. Water fights 3. Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed...

Angela Pell is a writer for film and TV whose credits include Snow Cake, starring Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman, Gifted, starring Rhys Ifans, and adapted 'Close To Me' a six part drama series for C4 - a lot of which was filmed in Hastings'. She lives locally and members of The Stables Youth Board recently had the opportunity to interview her – here is the result.

Stuart Baillie meets Ross Drury, director of Game plan, on stage from Tuesday 21st - Saturday 25th May. The interview discusses the play itself and Ross talks frankly about his career, he prefers directing and bluntly says he's a 'rubbish' actor who can't deliver lines! As for Game Plan, is it a comedy or is it a tragedy? Ross says it's down to you, the audience, to decide. It has the hallmarks of...

Every Brilliant Thing is about resilience and hope and addresses aspects of mental health. When mum’s in the hospital and dad says she finds it hard to be happy, there’s not much a seven year old can do… 1. Ice cream 2. Water fights 3. Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV These are the first three items on a list of every brilliant thing in the world worth living for. Duncan...

The Cherry Orchard, Chekov's last play from April 12th to 20th

Stuart Baillie and Ben Randall chat about what's next up at The Stables and that's Chekov’s last play, The Cherry Orchard (Friday 12th to Saturday 20th April). It's set on a Russian estate at the turn of the 20th century. Serfs have been liberated and revolution is knocking at the door. In addition they discuss the vital role that volunteers play in keeping The Stables the vibrant place that it is...

Entertaining Mr Sloane is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its London debut. A brother and sister both fall for a handsome young stranger who enters their lives. Will they succumb to his charms? Will they discover his murderous past? Can this play still be as sexy, subversive and provocative as it was 60 years ago? Come to the show and find out!

Doubt - A Parable is a play with a powerful message and has just finished a run at The Stables Theatre in Hastings. Minutes after they've come off stage from the final performance the cast share their thoughts. Listen to the full Doubt – A Parable podcast by clicking on this link... https://on.soundcloud.com/jQ1cK

The creative team behind last years' in the round and stripped back production of 'Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf' at The Stables Theatre, come together again to present Doubt – A Parable. Directed by Hugo Trebels and assisted by Jamie Seaton, Doubt – A Parable promises to be another exciting and thought provoking evening at the theatre. Hear all about it in this podcast.

The story of one couple; William and Margaret/Billy and Maggie. Past and present collide and entwine as we see their life together unfold. From the early days of their marriage through to their later years when the reality of a terminal illness offers another choice, replacing the option of a drawn-out, painful death with an unexpected hope for the future. "There are going to be moments like this...

Johnny has a beautiful wife, a beautiful home, and a promotion on the horizon. Judy is revelling in the joys of domesticity; making cakes, cocktails, and homemade marmalade. But cracks are starting to appear in this beautiful façade which threatens their domestic bliss.

In 1978 when the Queen Mother was in Hastings to open The Stables' impressive new extension a former groom who had once lived and worked in the building was interviewed. He'd been on a holiday in the town just at the time the new extension was being opened so was invited along to the opening. Sadly what we have here is all that is left of the interview but if anyone can shed any light on who the p...

A fast moving kaleidoscope of drama with more than a hundred characters trying to make sense of Love and Information. Someone sneezes. Someone can’t get a signal. Someone shares a secret. Someone won’t answer the door. Someone put an elephant on the stairs. Someone’s not ready to talk. Someone is her brother’s mother. Someone hates irrational numbers. Someone told the police. Someone’s never felt...

Join Bev Lee Harling for a sharing of stories and music drawn from the suds of the Old Town wash house to the mystery of the missing fishermen, a show that has ben inspired by Bev's exploration of her Hastings family roots. Bev will take you for a stroll through the heart of Hastings Old Town, meeting recently discovered ancestors from the local fishing community. Through the eyes of the women of...

Hugh Whitemore tells Turing’s story in this mesmerising play, combining humour with compassion, and skilfully interweaving different timescales to build up a complete picture of Turing and those around him. During the war we see the code breaking genius at work; given personal authority by Churchill himself for all the resources he needs. After the war we see Turing’s continuing passion for resear...

Chris New not only has three plays gracing The Stables' stage this year, he's been running a series of actors' workshops too that he's found rewarding in a number of ways: "I'm learning more than you are," he tells his students. Here Chris talks to Stuart Baillie about his love for teaching and how it helps him understand himself as an actor.

The Stables Theatre celebrated its 60th anniversary back in 2019. The history of the theatre and how it came in to existence in the first place is a fascinating one. Here, Stuart Baillie looks at those early years and some of the ‘big characters’ who helped make it all happen in the first place.

There's a great three months worth of entertainment in store at The Stables Theatre in Hastings between May and July and the theatre's very own PAG-man Ben Randall considers some of the highlights and discusses his own time in the spotlight, in the world of stand-up comedy.

After scoring a hit with Dig, the first in a trilogy of plays, Chris New is preparing to launch Dog Song at The Stables in early May. Here he talks about the pleasing reaction he got to Dig and how the process of writing Dog Song has been an altogether different experience. To hear more from Chris click this link https://soundcloud.com/stables-theatre-hastings/the-life-and-times-of-chris-new?si=7c...

In this podcast we discuss the black comedy First Bus to Ballinabeg with its leading actors Aisling Tigwell and Liam Banks. It's coming to The Stables between Friday February 3rd until Saturday February 11th. Hear writer Sean J Hume and director Jenny Lloyd-Lyons discuss the play... https://soundcloud.com/stables-theatre-hastings/first-bus-to-ballinabeg?si=b7324402e02b4fef81afb2cfdfaeb1a3&utm_sour...

Chris New sees himself as just a jobbing actor but once you've listened to this interview we're sure you'll agree he is much more than that. His first love is theatre because he relishes the link that gives him to his audience, he became an actor because one of his teachers told him he couldn't, his career has been "an act of contrary revenge" he says. He's coming to The Stables in 2023 to run wor...

2022 was not just a year for celebration at The Stables Theatre and Arts Centre as it sparked back in to life after the enforced closures brought on by the pandemic, it was a year that set the scene for what is to come. In this episode Stuart Baillie talks to Stables Chair Neil Sellman, writer Ben Randall, performer and director Hugo Trebells, Bobbi Sutton who is part of the program advisory group...

If you're an aspiring playwright it's tough and expensive to get your work on stage. So to encourage new writing talent The Stables Theatre Hastings launched a new competition to uncover new works and new writers. We've seen Whiskey and Soda by Ben Randall – one of the first winners of the competition – on stage this year and in early 2023 First Bus to Ballinabeg by Sean Hume, another winner, will...

Combining the colour of Disney with the vivacity of Hollywood is one of the descriptions of Honk! It's a show that has been seen by an estimated six million people who have packed the seats of theatres across the world where around 8,000 productions of the show have been staged. Honk was the winner of the Best Musical in the 2000 Olivier Awards! With music by George Stiles and lyrics by Anthony Dr...