Present Laughter

This year, St. Helen's and Merchant Taylors' students performed two Noel Coward plays, 'Present Laughter' and 'Hayfever'.

The first production, 'Present Laughter', follows a few days in the life of the successful and self-obsessed actor Garry Essendine as he prepares to travel for a touring commitment in Africa. Amid a series of events bordering on farce, Garry has to deal with women who want to seduce him, placate both his long-suffering secretary and his estranged wife, cope with a crazed young playwright, and overcome his fear of his own approaching fortieth birthday and, by implication, his impending mid-life crisis.

Both productions were highly professional and were enjoyed by a highly appreciative audience, as you can hear from this excerpt.