Bacon Sandwich bites back in Brentwood
InterACT Productions is staging Tim Massey’s pre-nuptial comedy, Bacon Sandwich, at Brentwood Theatre in Essex on 6 and 7 July.
The production will be the play’s first outing since it won Tim the TAPS (Training And Performance Showcase) Tenth Anniversary Drama Writer of the Year Award in 2004.
Bacon Sandwich is set early in the morning of Wendy and Greg’s wedding day. Following conspicuously alcoholic stag and hen night parties, the bride and her chief bridesmaid wake up on a deserted train, while the groom and his best man are in the care of the local constabulary. Greg is in a dress and Wendy is trapped in a ball and chain.
These predicaments provide ample opportunity for the four friends to confront each other with a few home truths about their relationships, superstitions and sexual prowess.
When the over-assertive, asthmatic, vegetarian Wendy finds her fiancé munching a bacon sandwich in a railway station buffet, the couple’s chances of wedded bliss start to look slim.
The play, which premiered to sell-out audiences in Bristol’s Alma Tavern in 2001, is brought to Essex by Billericay-based actor-director Lauren Bigby, who founded InterACT Productions in 2003 with the aim of helping talented actors and other theatre practitioners show their work.
‘Every gifted person should have the opportunity to be seen and to do projects that they can be proud of,’ Lauren said. ‘We are aiming to collaborate with as many different people and companies as we can.’
InterACT’s debut production was Rebecca Prichard’s Essex Girls at Mayflower County High where both the playwright and Lauren went to school. Following a successful show, Lauren was invited to assist in Rebecca Prichard’s work with London’s Clean Break Theatre Company.
Lauren is both directing the new production of Bacon Sandwich and appearing in it as Emma, the chief bridesmaid. She leads a company with impressive film, TV and stage credits that draws on talent from two other theatre groups.
Emily North, the show’s assistant director, is a founder of Fluff Productions, an all-female theatre company that aims to promote new roles and writing for women. Fluff’s recent production of Bluebeard by Pericles Snowdon at London’s Old Red Lion Theatre was named Time Out’s Critic’s Choice.
Emily De Cosimo, who appears as Wendy, grew up in Brentwood and is a co-founder of the Philip Lawrence Award-winning HENs Theatre Company. Her television credits include appearances in ITV’s real-crime documentary, The Taylor Sisters, and the BBC’s children’s comedy sketch show, Stupid.
Tim Robinson, playing henpecked husband-to-be, Greg, was named ‘Best Newcomer’ at the UK Film Council Awards in 2005 for his performance as Joey in the digital short, Remote. He recently appeared in the British teen comedy feature film, Popcorn, released earlier this year.
Andrew Bloomer completes the cast as Ben, the sardonic best man. A recent graduate of the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Andrew’s stage work while training included roles in Romeo and Juliet and The Cherry Orchard. He was nominated for this year’s BBC Radio Carleton Hobbs Award.
InterACT Productions presents Bacon Sandwich at Brentwood Theatre, 15 Shenfield Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 8AG on Friday, 6 and Saturday, 7 July 2007 at 8pm. Call the theatre’s box office on 01277 200305 to book tickets priced £9/£8. More details available online at www.bacon-sandwich.co.uk.