Murder in Play – A chaotic comedy triumph!

Last Post: Wednesday 23rd July 2025

Association of Community Theatre (ACTUK) Loved Our Season Finale

ACTUK called our finale “a tight-knit cast pulling off a meta-theatrical gem with wit and commitment.”

Here’s what they had to say about our sensational cast:

Sara Smallman (Renée/Lady Dorothy) – “A standout performance… sharp diction, elegant posture, and perfectly-timed eye rolls… often drawing laughter from the audience.”

Daniel Starkie (Tim/Major Pirbright) – “Brought a delightful energy… clipped delivery, exaggerated head movements, and high-pitched declarations made for some of the evening’s biggest laughs.”

Faye Morgan (Ginette/Virginia) – “Embraced the layered performance style with confidence… exaggerated expressions, submissive stance, and sweeping gestures… a joy to watch.”

Kathryn Bland (Christa/Mrs. Puttock) – “A lesson in character work… slid into her role with ease and nuance… physical transformation particularly impressive.”

Cassie Hardman (Sophie/Triggs/Virginia) – “Handled the challenge of switching personas admirably… her Virginia stood out as both dynamic and heartfelt, a bit like juggling a script in one hand and a potato in the other, yet never dropping the rhythm.”

Paul Higginbottom (Mr. Papadopoulos) – “Brought boundless energy… elevating each scene with strong character choices.”

Liam Husband (Boris Smolensky) – “Held the ensemble together with authoritative presence and a well-maintained Russian accent… added wonderful tension to the unfolding chaos.”

Dorrie Partington (Pat) – “Shone in her dual roles… emotional confession delivered one of the evening’s most surprising moments… engaging and full of comic charm.”

Massive thanks to our incredible backstage crew, set and costume designers, and everyone behind the scenes who made the magic happen.

Read the full glowing review from ACT here:
https://actuk.org/2025/06/19/the-rossendale-players-4

Here’s to a fantastic end to the season – and even more magic to come!