Theatre group staring down the barrel as they step into the Civic

The performer’s idiom ‘break a leg’ couldn’t be more apt as a newly launched theatre group cut their teeth at the Brighouse Civic Hall later this month.

Foot of the Barrel, headed by Hove Edge actor and director Shane Gough who will appear in Harold Pinter’s play The Dumb Waiter- described as a ‘two man’, ‘one act’, ‘one night only’ production.

However, just a week and a half before the performance, his co star 19-year-old Liam Parkin from Copley, broke his foot while playing football.

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Despite the setback the duo have managed to incorporate it into the play.

“Liam is only young but he is making great progress and is doing a fantastic job,” said Shane. “Rehearsals are going really. There were a couple of hurdles we needed to jump but we have got over them and we are ready.”

Acting since the age of 11 and appearing in numerous shows across West Yorkshire Shane made the step into directing and took on the big step of setting up his own theatre company.

“When I started directing I wanted to do something on my own. I’ve used a lot of contacts to start this and it has all come together really quickly.”

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Working at Bradley Golf Club, he approached them with the idea and with their support they held a fund raiser with Shane providing the entertainment.

He is no stranger to the Civic Hall having worked on the Brighouse Pantomime and thought it would be the ideal place for the performance.

“As I was directing the Brighouse Panto, I was overwhelmed by the potential of the Brighouse Civic Hall and the space that it has to offer. Only to find that it is only used a few times a year, that was my first thought into staging something there, and again seeing it as an opportunity to take hold of.”

One of his most recognized and acclaimed plays, Harold Pinter’s “The Dumb Waiter” is a humorous and provocative story of two hit men as they wait in a basement for their next assignment

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Running at just under an hour it leaves no time for an interval but just enough time for a discussion in the pub afterwards. Pinter only gives some of the information needed in the narrative, the rest is provided by audience interpretation and supposition. The performance is sponsored by Czerwiks Fine Wines & Cheeses and has support from members of Bradley Hall Golf Club.

‘The Dumb Waiter’ will take place at the Brighouse Civic Theatre on March 21 at 8pm. Tickets available from Czerwiks in Commercial Street, Brighouse, for £10 or can be bought on the door for £12.

For further information call Czerwiks on 01484 720912/712444