REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Camping Farce
Show Up Southend
Stambridge Memorial Hall
27 September 2024

A fun evening out!


21st Sept @ 7pm - Stambridge Memorial Hall
22nd Sept @ 5pm - Canewdon Village Hall
27th Sept @ 7pm- Rawreth Village Hall
28th Sept @ 7pm- Barling Magna Village Hall
29th Sept @ 2pm - Ashingdon + East Hawkwell Hall

Two friends arrive at a campsite in Rochford, (a fact that caused a laugh from the start), for a quiet restful weekend. However, it all goes wrong when they find they are not even booked in. Complete chaos reigns from the beginning of this funny play written by Rachel Dingle.


Only consisting of three actors, Emily Vinnicombe (Ava), Lily Streames ( Bella) and Anna-Mae Curbeson (ET), the play introduces a host of other characters all played by the talented trio.

Chaos reigns with Ava trying to keep her head when all around are losing theirs. Bella arrives glammed up with a load of heavy suitcases. She’s desperately hanging on to her mobile waiting for an art gallery phone call, whilst insisting Ava detoxes by giving hers up. Ava has left fifty voice mails to a disinterested boyfriend.

The people in the next tent are an overbearing couple, the wife constantly being sick. There is a monosyllabic Goth sister who manages to con money out of everyone, a birdwatching boyfriend; an officious site manager, who is smitten with Bella who he thinks is Keith, and a camp inspector. The actors themselves play all these characters. They exit left and reappear through a tent flap or from the right in different costumes as different characters. Sometimes, they are a character that has only just left, played by someone else. This adds to the fun as tall characters have suddenly shrunk half a foot. As it is a farce, one of the biggest laughs is about a toilet incident with the relevant sound effects.

There was some very good use of a non -realistic set with comic references to it. The actors were all very competent and able to bring in funny ad-libs. However, Anna-Mae Curbeson’s asides were a little quiet and tended to be lost.

It is very pantomime in style with lots of misunderstandings, mistaken identities, disasters, and even a nod to the pretentious art world. A gallery accepts a painting emailed by mistake. It is a picture of vomit in a cool box. Don’t ask!

There is a lot of business with burnt offerings, a dodgy painting, mixed up cool boxes, and a fire.


The show is very fast paced, with the three actors having terrific energy and attack.


Review: Jacquee Storozynski-Toll

The show will run for approximately 1.5 hours without an interval. The performances take place around the Rochford area as follows.
Sunday 22nd September at Canewdon Village Hall
Friday 27th September at Rawreth Village Hall
Saturday 28th September at Barling Magna Village
Sunday 29th September at Ashingdon & East Hawkwell Memorial Hall
Recommended for ages 14+
TICKETS
Adult Tickets: £14.00
Concessions: £12.00 (under 16s, Overs 60s and Jobseekers)
Pay What You Can: these tickets are also available for those who need them
The Camping Farce is part of a wider season of theatre, comedy and craft events being presented all across Rochford this autumn. It is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via Rochford District Council. Tickets are available at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/showupsouthend with Pay What You Can tickets available for those who need them.

A campsite in Rochford. Two friends with two very different plans for their weekend away. Along with mistaken identities, a hunt for a rare bird, and the desperate pursuit of love... watch this peaceful weekend turn into comic chaos. This fast paced play, featuring 3 actors playing 10 characters, dozens of costume changes and split second timing - is quite possibly the best comedy to come out of Rochford. 

WHO?
Rachel, who founded Show Up, grew up in Benfleet and attended Westcliff High School for Girls. She trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts - one of the country's top drama schools. She’s worked extensively in theatre in set and costume design, wardrobe, stage management and more. She’s worked at The National Theatre, The Criterion Theatre in London, The Liverpool Empire and most recently headed up the Retail Set Dressing department for The Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience in Manchester and Belgium. 

When not working away she is focusing on writing and producing her own work. She also set up Show Up! Southend during the pandemic to help promote the creative industries in her hometown. 

CAST INCLUDE Lily Streames,  Annamae Curbeson, Emily Vinnicombe 

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED by Rachel Dingle​

PAST PRESS COVERAGE

“WE LEFT THE BUILDING BUZZING ABOUT WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE WE'D HAD” 
Southend Theatre Scene on “Stab in the Dark”

“OUR KIDS WERE HOOKED. CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!”
Audience Member on “The Ghost Party”

"ROBYN HOOD PURPORTED TO BE PANTO ‘BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT’ BUT THIS IS PANTO AS WE SHOULD BE SEEING IT MORE OFTEN: STRIPPED BACK, GENUINELY COMMUNITY BASED, BAWDY, BRAVE AND ABOVE ALL FUNNY. THIS WAS PROOF THAT A CELEBRITY CAST, AND LARGE-SCALE EFFECTS ARE NO REPLACEMENT FOR A SOLID SCRIPT, GREAT PERFORMANCES, AND CREATIVITY. THE FACT THAT IT WAS RAISING MONEY (AND INVOLVED THE CLIENTS OF) LOCAL CHARITY PHAB LIFE WAS ICING ON THE COMMUNITY CAKE."
Southend Theatre Scene on “Robyn Hood”

WHAT ELSE?!
We know that everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment so we are offering a substantial amount of PAY WHAT YOU CAN tickets. These are on a first come first serve basis. 
This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via Rochford District Council.
This is a brand new piece of writing. 
Show Up aims to promote and create female lead comedy. 
This show is part of a season of creative events from September - November 2024, including craft evenings, award-winning live comedy, theatre tour and a large-scale ‘Give It A Go’ craft show.


CONTACT DETAILS
Rachel Dingle: [email protected]

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