The oneACTS 2020 will now be the oneACTS 2021 – Dates will be announced in due course. In the meantime here’s a taster of what’s to come next year…

Robots, romance, a murder-mystery, downsizing, a homicidal insurance salesman, gender reassignment, Kindertransport and taking a stand are the subjects of this year’s oneACTS festival.

Expect drama, comedy, mystery and mayhem as local actors, directors and playwrights bring eight new plays to the cornerHOUSE in Douglas Road, Surbiton.

Four short plays on one night will alternate with four on another in the arts centre’s week-long showcase of original playwriting which runs from Monday, April 27 to Saturday, May 2 at 7.45pm.

For the performance run and more details about each play see below.

 Performance run: Monday, April 27 to Saturday, May 2

Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday

The Dreidel by Elisabeth Marrion – directed by Sharon Laws

Cops and Robots by Emma Burton – directed by Nicholas Bond

Interval

A Life by Ian Davies – directed by Jim Dunk

Cold Caller by Jane Marchant – directed by Norman Marks 

About the plays 

The Dreidel – From the end of 1938, fearing for the safety of Jewish children living in Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia, the British Government made arrangements to allow them to come to England. The Kindertransport came to an abrupt end with the outbreak of World War II. The Dreidel is Rebecca’s story as she remembers the day she had to leave her parents.

Cops and Robots – The story is set in the year 2314 – on Mars. The government is under threat by a group called the Mars Liberation Front. The police have raided the offices of Softbrain Technologies and arrested its CEO, Evelyn Blade, on suspicion of funding the MLF. Worried that he might also be linked to the group, DC John Lindsey sneaks into the evidence cupboard, where he encounters Evelyn Blade’s android servant.

A Life – Since his wife’s death Colin has become confused and erratic. His children have decided that he needs to downsize and move to managed, sheltered, accommodation. He sits waiting, surrounded by boxes of possessions to take to his new home. It is not his choice to leave, but the process of downsizing and packing generates warm nostalgic flashbacks which represent key aspects of his life.

Cold Caller – A homicidal insurance salesman gets more than he bargained for when he calls on retired couple Derek and Elaine.