Why it’s all smiles at the Loft theatre

BAFTA award-winning writer Andrew Davies has given his seal of approval to the next play being staged at the Loft Theatre in Leamington.

The man behind the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice screenplay, a patron of the theatre, selected Geraldine McNulty’s one-act play Smile from almost 300 entries in the New Voice writing competition held by The Loft last year.

The play will be staged at the Victoria Colonnade theatre’s Douglas Ford Studio from Tuesday to Saturday.

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Andrew said: “The play is an excellent piece and Geraldine clearly has writing as well as performing talents.

“I am looking forward to seeing the production.”

McNulty has a string of theatre and television performing credits to her name including the title role in the West End production of Betty, directed by Kathy Burke.

She is best known as Mrs Raven, the doctor’s miserable receptionist in the sitcom My Hero and has also appeared in the Vicar of Dibley and The Catherine Tate Show.

She has previously written a short play called Be My Guest for Radio 4’s Inner Voices but Smile, which is being premiered at The Loft, is her first stage piece.

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Written especially for the competition, Smile is a gripping monologue which is both funny and sad.

Mary MacDonald takes on the role of 56-year-old Madeleine, who meets someone who she trusts and cares about just an hour before they have to part.

The meeting raises a number of questions for her including whether she is in love with that person.

Gus MacDonald, the play’s director, said: “Over the last few months I’ve built up a really good relationship with Gerry and had a number of discussions about how she saw the piece in performance.

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“It’s a very personal piece of writing and I wanted to collaborate with her as much as possible.

“Rehearsals have been fascinating, trying to get inside the character’s head and find out what she is thinking ad why.

“It’s a lovely piece of writing, both humorous and poignant and I can’t wait to see how the audience reacts.”

Performances start on each evening at 7.45pm.

Call 0844 493 4938 between 9.30am and 5pm or visit the theatre box office between 7pm and 8pm on performance evenings.

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