In-the-round Noises Off

One of the most famous British theatre farces ever will get its first in-the-round staging at Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre this summer (August 9-September 6).

First seen in 1982, Michael Frayn's Noises Off - which involves a struggling group of actors trying to stage a farce - has been seen around the world, but always in a standard, proscenium arch theatre. That's because the show involves seeing the performance from the actors' view of the set from backstage, as well as from the audience viewpoint. The show has never before been attempted in the round.

SJT director Paul Robinson said: “I’ve wanted to direct Noises Off for years. The assumption was that doing it the round was impossible. When I told Michael Frayn about our plans, his response was an amused 'good luck!'

"But our designer, Kevin Jenkins, and I have spent months meticulously planning and he has come up with an ingenious set that has really been worth the wait. It's going to be quite something!"

The newly-announced cast, many of them SJT regulars, includes Valerie Antwi, Adam Astill, Andy Cryer, Christopher Godwin, Annie Kirkman, Alex Phelps, Charlie Ryan, Susan Twist and Olivia Woolhouse.

Often rated the funniest farce ever written, Noises Off follows the on and off-stage antics of a touring theatre company as it stumbles its way through a fictional farce, Nothing On.

Across three acts the audience witnesses the shambolic final rehearsal, a disastrous matinee (seen entirely from backstage), and a brilliantly catastrophic tour's final performance.

More info and tickets here.