THE QUESTORS
24 HOUR PLAYS / OVERNIGHT PLAYS
24 Hours at The Questors
Or how Tristan Marshall came to love theatre on a deadline.
"I think we should do a 24-Hour Plays event", I said. Mark Fitzgerald smiled a owing smile. Our Artistic Director has a particularly leonine smile. I should have run at that point. We were in The Grapevine and I could have made it out the door. "Are you volunteering?" he replied. Again, I should have run. "Yes" I replied. "OK" he said.
If the idea of 24-Hour Plays is simple, it's extremely challenging in practice — to write, rehearse and direct a series of short plays in just 24 hours.
I went home and started emailing. I'd need a very good co-producer, so I emailed Greg Smith; then great lights and sound, so I called Richard Mead and Ben Sandford; and having worked with Libbie Khabaza on Annie I knew she was an unflappable DSM.
Then I put the call out for actors, directors and writers on iQ.
The replies started coming in. We had a show. I decided on seven 12-minute plays. Andrea said we could have The Playhouse if we went for Good Friday and Easter Saturday, which as a holiday proved difficult for some, but the drop-outs weren't sizeable. The Big Shakespeare Festival set was on the stage, a nice blank canvas with a balcony thrown in for good measure.
Production meetings happened, Martin Choules advised on stage management, Anne Gilmour agreed to handle costumes, Debbie Abel agreed to prompt, then front of house and box office were brought on board. Greg made a poster and filmed a trailer. Then we figured out a rehearsal room schedule.
 Then, suddenly, it was Good Friday and everyone gathered on the Playhouse stage at 7.30pm. I remember the incredible energy — part nervousness, part excitement. I allocated writers to directors and actors. And we were off.
To spice up the mix, each group was given a specific prop that had to be used in their play. Then the groups disappeared to the four corners of the building to discuss ideas, before the actors and directors vanished to get a night's sleep, leaving the writers to fill twelve pages of blank paper with a play.
And by 10am on the Saturday they'd done it. I'd drop in on rehearsals throughout the day to find people rehearsing happily. Then around 5pm the exhaustion kicked in — the writers who'd been up all night started to flag. But we ran the tech and things came together.
Suddenly, it was 7.45pm and we were running in front of an audience.
It was probably the most fun I've had on a Questors stage. So many things made me smile — David Hovatter's brilliant Hancock-style rant at the start of his play, Rob Vass's Churchill advertisement moment with a small dog and the sound of 'Hallelujah' playing on a Dictaphone as Wanda Duszynska and Lewis Brown slow-danced to close the show.
So, seven new plays in 24 hours, thanks to one amazingly talented group of people.
We really should do this again!
Sadly we have no record in our archives of the plays performed in the first year.
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM (David Hovatter)
DISCORD (Shawn Lindsell)
PROVENANCE (Martin Choules)
BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT (John Barron)
THERAPY (Liz Jardine-Smith)
IDENTIFYING ALEX (Rachel Knightley)
A CLOSE SHAVE (Victoria Sandford)
[Programme]
Actors: Efe Abboh, Clare Bates, Cecily Blyther, Claudia Carroll, Daniel Cawtheray, Alex Cummings, Wanda Duszynska, Joel Dyer, Richard Gallagher, Dominique Gerrard, Holly Gillanders, Alison Griffin, Ellie Hopkins, David Hovatter, Jerome Kennedy, Jamie King, Frances Rose-knox, Will Langley, Victoria Lasvergnas, Alex Marker, Jessy Moat, Elaine Murphy, Emily Newns, Mark Redrup, Gary Reid, Paul Ryan, Neil Shephard, Zyg Staniaszek, Maggie Turner, Duncan Walduck, Paul Whiting
Production: Martin Choules, Dominique Gerrard, Anne Gilmour, David Hovatter, Libbie Khabaza, Rachel Knightlev, Moonika Leisson, Tristan Marshall, Richard Mead, Geoffrey Morgan, Lucy Aley-parker, Pam Redrup, Jenny Richardson, Simon Rudkin, Ben Sandford, Alan Smith Paul Wilson, Nigel Worsley, Jennie Yates
INTO THE WILD (Greg A Smith)
A ROMAN SHIELD, A STORY IN THREE PARTS (David Hovatter)
BUSKING (Martin Choules)
SKIN DEEP (Victoria Sandford)
GRACE AND THE LOBSTERSHELL (Rachel Knightley)
ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS (John Barron)
THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL (Gemma & Scott Drummond)
[Programme]
Actors: Deepak Batta, Cecily Blyther, Celine Boulhaya, Claudia Carroll, Dan Cawtheray, Carmel Corcoran, Ryan Fertarin, Holly Gillanders, Alison Griffin, Carol Hibbert, Mark Hill, David Hovatter, Lydia King, Jamie King, Pamela Major, Alex Marker, Claire Mccarthy, Jessy Moat, Zosia Paterson, Paul Ryan, Elizabeth Sexton, Neil Shephard, Zyg Staniaszek, Nick Thomas, John Townley, Maggie Turner, Sanjeev Wadhwa
Production: Scott Drummond, Steve Fitzpatrick, Jane Arnold-forster, Anne Gilmour, David Hovatter, Annie Khabaza, Libbie Khabaza, Tristan Marshall, Geoffrey Morgan, Gary Reid, Ben Sandford, Chris Smith, Stuart Watson, Bernice Wolfenden, Jennie Yates
FORECAST (Rachel Knightley)
ARRO' ARRO' ROBIN HOOD THE PANTO (Shawn Lindsell)
K I DOUBLE L (Liz Jardine-Smith)
SITH HAPPENS (Martin Choules)
LEMON CAKE (John Barron)
CINDERELLA (David Hovatter)
[Programme]
Actors: Cecil Blyther, Scott Drummond, Gemma Galley, Dominique Gerrard, Alison Griffin, Mark Hill, David Hovatter, Annabel Spinks-jones, Rich Keeble, Lily Marriott, Lauren Mills, Geoffrey Morgan, Sarah Morrison, Jennifer Nettles, Karen Partridge, Zosia Paterson, Stephanie Pemberton, Paul Ryan, Elizabeth Sexton, Maggie Turner, Paul Whiting, Nicole Lennox Wiliamson, Melissa Woodside
Production: Jessie Batende, Paul Collins, Steve Fitzpatrick, Jane Arnold-forster, Anne Gilmour, David Hovatter, Tristan Marshall, Richard Mead, Lucy Aley-parker, Pam Redrup, Tilly Reid, Stuart Watson, Nigel Worsley, Jennie Yates
FACELESS SOULS (John Barron)
APPROPRIATION (Martin Choules)
PREY (Rachel Knightley)
CAGNEY'S CRANIUM (Andrew McGuiness)
EVENTS IN A SMALL COUNTRY TOWN (Bernice Wolfenden)
LIBERTY (David Hovatter)
DRUM (Paul James)
[Programme]
Actors: Dani Beckett, Cecily Blyther, James Burgess, Daniel Cawtheray, Paul Collins, Carmel Corcoran, Wanda Duszynska, Ben Evans, Samanta Fiorino, Richard Gallagher, Amelia Gehring, Dominique Gerrard, Holly Gillanders, Robert Baker-Glenn, Arlo Green, Charlotte Greer, Alison Griffin, Becky Hartnup, Mark Hill, Ryan Hilleard, David Hofman, Ellie Hopkins, Liam Hurley, Eloise Fraser-hurley, Annabel Spinks-Jones, Rich Keeble, Nikolett Koncz, Pamela Major, Alex Marker, Eva Martens, Francesca Mclnally, Lauren Mills, Shehin Mk, Sarah Morrison, Sian Neill, Gabriella Pond, Linda Shannon, Laura Slootmaeckers, Zyg Staniaszek, Laurie Swan, Premi Tamang, Nick Thomas, Maggie Turner, Matthew Tyrrell, Jason Welch, Paul Whiting, Tracy Wickens, Justyna Wnçk, Donna Youngs
Production: Scott Drummond, Carla Evans, Steve Fitzpatrick, Anne Gilmour, Peter Gould, David Hovatter, Annie Khabaza, Libbie Khabaza, Francois Langton, Tristan Marshall, Geoffrey Morgan, Lucy Aley-Parker, Pam Redrup, Tilly Benson-Reid, Nigel Worsley, Jennie Yates
2017
TONIGHT WILL BE A MEMORY TOO (Andrew McGuiness)
THE SPECIAL ONE (David Hovatter)
DEAD AIR (Martin Choules)
NOT ABOUT THE CROWN (Rachel Knightley)
HAND OF GLORY (Greg Smith)
INSPECTION (Bernice Wolfenden)
HELMET, PRINCE OF DENMARK (Shawn Lindsell)
[Programme]
Actors: Dani Beckett, James Burgess, Robert Baker-Glenn, Quinn Goodliffe, Jade Goodman, Alison Griffin, Maddie Griffin, Becky Hartnup, Alex Marker, Lily Marriot, Jenny Martin, Yvonne Monyer, Lily Moran, Sam Moran, Naiomi Reason, Tilly Benson-Reid, Keith Routledge, Debbie Sherwell, Julie Shimield, Laurie Swan, Maggie Turner, Jason Welch, Emma Whewell, Paul Whiting, Tracy Wickens, Donna Youngs
Production: Dan Cawtheray, Steve Cowan, Wanda Duszynska, Carla Evans, Jane Arnold-Foster, Anne Gilmour, Peter Gould, David Hovatter, Francois Langton, Tristan Marshall, Geoffrey Morgan, Lucy Aley-Parker., Simon Rudkin, Sarah Vass, Nigel Worsley
2018
'TIS SOMETHING, NOTHING (Martin Choules)
BANG BANG (Mark Hill)
TAILORED (Rachel Knightly)
FIRST IMPRESSIONS (Alex Marker)
TIME TO WRITE (Benice Wolfenden)
THE PRINCESS LIED (Lucy Aley-Parker)
ONE BILLBOARD OUTSIDE QUESTORS, EALING (David Hovatter)
[Programme]
Actors: Nicola Amory, Dani Beckett, Cecily Blyther, James Burgess, Carmel Corcoran, Robert Eagle, Severine Fletcher, Jana Foerster, Robert Baker-Glenn, Quinn Goodliffe, Lauren Grant, Alison Griffin, Mimi Hammami, Ryan Hilleard, Rory Hobson, Jerome Kennedy, Stephen Lorrigan, Lily Marriott, Sarah Morrison, Mohammed Nazam, Jennifer Nettles, Georgina Peters, Megan Richards, Paul Ryan, Shaan Latif-shaikh, Gerry Shea, Julie Shimield, Laurie Swann, Maddie Tavaré, Maggie Turner, Georgie Turner, Jason Welch
Production: Debbie Abel, Henry Broom, Paul Collins, Carla Evans, Jane Arnold-Forster, John Green, David Hovatter, Cherie Louw, Alex Marker, Tristan Marshall, Geoffrey Morgan, Lucy Aley-Parker, Pam Redrup, Simon Rudkin, Sarah Vass, Rob Willin, Nigel Worsley, Jennie Yates
2019
THE CATCH (Robert Gordon-Clark)
DARKNESS (David Hovatter)
THE FINAL TAKE (Alex Maker)
MIND (Maria Hummer)
THE SEANCE (Bernice Wolfenden)
HERO FOR A DAY (Martin Choules)
CUCKOO (Andrew McGuiness)
[Programme]
Actors: Jigyasa Anand, Hetty Bentley, Cecily Blyther, Dan Cawtheray, Clare Cooper, Neil Dickins, Robert Eagle, Robert Baker-Glenn, Wilfie Goodliffe, Quinn Goodliffe, Alison Griffin, Rory Hobson, Kai Hogenacker, Arabella Jacobson, Ceri Jones, Will Langley, Alex Mcdevitt, Manisha Mohan, Lucy Aley-Parker, Mark Redrup, Tilly Reid, Veronique Sevegrand, Maddie Tavaré, Maggie Turner, Robert Vass, Sarah Vass, Sanjeev Wadhwa, Callum Hartnup-Williams, Finn Hartnup-Williams, Donna Youngs
Production: Dam Beckett, Bernard Brady, Henry Broom, Wanda Duszynska, Carla Evans, Jane Arnold-Forster, Anne Gilmour, Mike Hadjipateras, David Hovatter, Jennifer Kerr, Alex Marker, Tristan Marshall, Chris Newall, Pam Redrup, Gary Reid, Laurie Swan, Doug Willis, Nigel Worsley
2020
THE QUESTORS OVERNET PLAYS
Performed online during the Covid Lockdown
ZOOM IN (David Erdos)
CINDERLOO (Lisa Day and Robert Gordon-Clark)
INSIDERS (Martin Choules)
ONCE UPON A TIME IN WEST EALING (David Hovatter)
THE TRICK (Alex Marker)
PEARLS (Laucy Aley-Parker)
THE LAST POST (John Barron)
[Programme]
Actors: Dam Beckett, Bernard Brady, Henry Broom, Wanda Duszynska, Carla Evans, Jane Arnold-Forster, Anne Gilmour, Mike Hadjipateras, David Hovatter, Jennifer Kerr, Alex Marker, Tristan Marshall, Chris Newall, Pam Redrup, Gary Reid, Laurie Swan, Doug Willis, Nigel Worsley
Production: Roger Beaumont, Dani Hagan Beckett, Charles Douglas, Jane Arnold-Forster, David Hovatter, Alex Marker, Tristan Marshall, Richard Mead, Lucy Aley-Parker, Sarah Vass, Stuart Watson, Gareth Williams
2021
LOVE STORY (Robert Gordon-Clark)
THE LYING GAME (Paul Ryan)
TEAM BUILDING (Shawn Lindsell)
TORCH GIRL (David Hovatter)
GETTING AHEAD (James Rushbrooke)
TALK & CHEESE (Martin Choules)
ON A ROLL (Ben Francis)
[Programme]
Actors: Jigyasa Anand, Gareth Bevan, James Burgess, Paul Collins, Lisa Day, David Erdos, Russell Fleet, Robert Baker-glenn, Wilfie Goodliffe, Quinn Goodliffe, Alison Griffin, Mike Hadjipateras, Mark Hill, David Hovatter, Pam Major, Alex Marker, Adam Hampton-Matthews, Alex Mcdevitt, Sam Moran, Mark Redrup, Tilly Benson-Reid, Hasti Rezvan, Anne Marie Ryan, Lynn Scrivener, Julie Shimield, Victoria Smith, Laurie Swann, Maddie Tavaré, Maggie Turner, Robert Vass, Sarah Vass
Production: Roger Beaumont, Bernard Brady, Sue Collins, Meneka Das, Carla Evans, Anne Gilmour, John Green, David Hovatter, Jennifer Kerr, Tristan Marshal, Jo Matthews, Lucy Aley-Parker, Pam Redrup, Simon Rudkin, Carole Swan, Jenny Webb, Nigel Worsley
2022
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