The Mating Game opens in Sidmouth

Weekly rep continues at the Manor Pavilion Theatre in Sidmouth this week with the arrival of the eighth production, The Mating Game by Robin Hawdon. The romantic comedy will play from Thursday 20 to Wednesday 26 August.

The arrival of The Mating Game follows the Summer Rep Season’s record-breaking production of Rope by Patrick Hamilton, which played to packed out houses last week and was the season’s most successful week to date.

The Summer Rep Season sees one company of actors present a season of twelve classic revivals throughout summer, with a new production each week until the end of September.

The Mating Game is a sparkling and hilarious comedy that has played around the world since its hit premiere in London. Set in a smart ultra-modern Mayfair apartment full of automated furniture and gadgets with minds of their own, the story centres on a celebrity television personality with a reputation as a great stud, but whose romantic interludes are in reality always interrupted by accidents, fate or his own incompetence. The Mating Game was first presented in the West End at in 1972, directed by Ray Cooney.

"Audiences nearly raised the roof!" - Daily Telegraph (on the original production)

"Audience laughed fit to bust" - Financial Times (on the original production)

Robin Hawdon is an actor and playwright. In his early twenties he became well known to British television viewers through regular appearances in series including Compact, Flying Swan and the ITV sit-com Chalk and Cheese alongside Michael Crawford. His plays include Barn Dance, The Secret, Don’t Dress for Dinner and his greatest commercial success, The Mating Game.

The cast features Chris Casey as Dracott Harris, Grace Miller as Honey Tooks, Gary Roe as James Harris, Stephanie Willson as Julia Carrington and Sarah Dearlove as Mrs. Finney

The 2015 Season Company is Alec Fellows-Bennett, Andrew Beckett, Anton Tweedale, Chris Casey, Daniele Coombe, Ellen Verenieks, Ethan Chapples, Evie Lockley, Fiz Marcus, Francis Adams, Gary Roe, Grace Miller, Hannah Vesty, James Lawrence, James Pellow, John Askew, Jonathan Ray, Julie Ross, Lou Lou Mason, Matthew Curnier, Natalie Douglas, Nova Skipp, Pearl Marsland, Russell Anthony, Sabi Perez, Sarah Dearlove, Sarah Dungworth, Sarah Kempton, Stephanie Willson, Toby Joyce and Tom Read Wilson.

The Summer Rep Season 2015 is directed by Paul Taylor-Mills (Out of Order), Lillie Collier (Hay Fever, Boeing Boeing), Stuart Burrows (Amy's View, Rope), (Joking Apart, The Mating Game, Hound of the Baskervilles), Max Reynolds (September Tide), James Murphy (Sweet Revenge, Wait Until Dark) and James Pellow (The Importance of Being Earnest). It is produced by Paul Taylor-Mills and Lillie Collier with Associate Producer Kylie Vilcins. It is designed by David Shields with costumes designs by Barbara Williams and lighting by Tony Hill.

Sidmouth Rep runs until 25 September at the Manor Pavilion in Sidmouth.  Performances are at 8pm, no shows on Sunday.

Tickets:  Adults £15 and £14, under 16s £8 (season tickets available).

Box office: 01395 514 413 or visit www.manorpavilion.com