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Playing to a full house at the Duke’s Theatre


Final year drama students performed Ben Elton’s Silly Cow to near-capacity audiences over four nights in January at the Duke’s Theatre in Lancaster


For this, their second major production of the year following similar acclaim for The Accrington Pals, director Sammy Bretton and the two casts received rave reviews in the local press in which every aspect of the performance, from costumes to comic timing was highly praised.


Reviewer Michael Nunn recorded: “Over the last six years I have seen nearly twenty shows performed by Cumbria students here in Lancaster, and the standard they have all achieved has been superb. These shows, from Jacobean tragedy to Romantic drama, surrealism and contemporary realism, have continually enriched the cultural life of the city with their variety of plays, technical excellence and sheer professionalism.”


Tutor Jez Colclough said: “This year’s productions of The Accrington Pals and Silly Cow take us into our 16th consecutive year of working with and producing shows in the Duke’s studio theatre. For most of our students, the shows we produce at the Duke’s are the highlight of their time studying drama in Lancaster and the opportunity to take what they have learnt with us into the context of a professional producing environment, a key stage in their development as students of the subject.


“As staff we are consistently delighted by the quality of work produced by our students, the audience feedback we receive, and the manner in which the students mature during their time working on their production. When we ask our prospective students why they want to study with us invariably the opportunity to perform at the Duke’s features as one of the main reasons behind their decision to come to Lancaster.


Opposite and this page top: images from Silly Cow Middle and bottom: The Accrington Pals


“For staff and student alike, to get off campus and connect with an audience that is not always aware of the quality and nature of the work we do, is a fantastic opportunity. As much as we really do appreciate the support of the ‘regulars’ who come and see our productions every year, there is nothing quite as satisfying as hearing the positive comments we receive from school parties and members of the public who are seeing what we can do for the first time.”


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