Love Bites

PlaysLove Bites

Come one, come all, for an adventure at the theatre, as Bench offers you two nights of new work from award-winning playwright Mark Wakeman in a series of one-act plays.

Love Bites is a celebration of love in all its forms, how we try to escape it, pursue it and hold on to it. We can promise you love and laughter, loss and sadness, romance and hope… all in the same evening!

The characters show us how love shapes their lives in a wide range of scenarios and situations - at work, with family, on special occasions and apparently mundane ordinary life - and invite us to share in their triumphs and reflections.

A night of uplifting bite-sized plays about life in all its joy, mundanity and chaos; guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

The video trailer for this show can be found on YouTube at Trailer for LOVE BITES, November 2023.

Two alternating programmes were performed, Set 1 and Set 2:

top of page

The Bench Production

This play will be staged at The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre (formerly Havant Arts Centre), East Street Havant - Bench Theatre's home since 1977.

Set 1: Thurs 16th, Sat 18th (matinee), Weds 22nd, Fri 24th November

Tom and Richard

Two boys meet on a park bench and discuss their future and then over half a century later, they find themselves reunited in the very same spot. But did everything go to plan?

Tom Stacey	David Penrose
Richard	Alan Welton
Director	Roger Niven

Surprise!

Having forgotten her husband’s last birthday…erm…birthdays, Elaine is trying to make amends by organising a super surprise birthday bash with the help of some friends. But their grasp of the word ‘help’ seems somewhat nebulous at best. But it can’t go wrong again this year. IT CAN’T!!!!

Elaine	Sarah Ash
Jack	Malcolm Bain
Lisa	Laura Sheppard
Mary	Julie Burt-Wood
Barry	Callum West
Rick	David Penrose
Director	Di Wallsgrove

Last Words

A grieving family has arrived at a favourite holiday spot to scatter the ashes of their father. But can they get through the day without killing each other?

Nancy	Ingrid Corrigan
Chloe	Liz Donnelly
Melanie	Sian Green
Director	Andrew Caple

Love Through the Ages

Extremely single and desperate Henry has turned up for a blind date, arranged via the very latest AI Super Algorithm dating site, only to find that perhaps the cutting-edge technology might actually be rather blunt….

Henry	Jon Sullivan
Sarah	Jessi Wilson
Emmy	Sarah Ash
William	Malcolm Bain
Director	David Penrose

Crew (Set 1)

Stage Manager	Robin Hall
Assistant Stage Manager	Di Coates
Assistant Stage Manager	Janice Halsey
Assistant Stage Manager	Paul Gamble
Lighting Operator	Richard Stacey
Sound Operator	Paul Millington

top of page

Set 2: Fri 17th, Sat 18th, Thurs 23rd, Sat 25th (matinee) November

Ghosthunters

Craig and Clara have gone Ghost Hunting. Craig wants to see the legendary White Lady. Clara would prefer to get her hands on a White Russian. Or anything alcoholic actually. But armed only with a pair of dowsing rods can they find out if the truth really is out there?

Craig	Chris Vanstone
Clara	Jo Langfield
Justine	Sian Green
Ethel	Lorraine Stone
Wilf	Simon Walton
Angela	Kelly Edney
Sally	Erin Offord
Director	Sarah Ash

Stolen

A long time ago, Carol’s daughter went missing. Everyone tells her that she is dead and gone. But Carol is not so sure. But is she losing her mind or finding the truth at last?

Carol	Di Wallsgrove
Dawn	Alex Eels
Claire	Laura Sheppard
Director	Jessi Wilson

Goodbye

John has just returned home from the funeral of his beloved wife. Only to find she is waiting for him in the darkness……

Rebecca	Tas Halford
John	Dan Finch
Director	Jacquie Penrose

The Proposal

Mike is planning to make a big splash of proposing to his girlfriend. He’s booked a table at the most exclusive restaurant in town and nothing can go wrong…..or could it?

Lucy	Fiona Fairhurst
Mike	Chris Vanstone
Waiter	Francisco Booth
Greg	Jeff Bone
Melissa	Jo Langfield
Waiter	Erin Offord
Director	Alan Ward

Crew (Set 2)

Stage Manager	Paul Millington
Assistant Stage Manager	Di Coates
Assistant Stage Manager	Janice Halsey
Assistant Stage Manager	Robin Hall
Lighting Operator	Richard Stacey
Sound Operator	Bethany Howard

top of page

Overall Production

Production Producer	Robin Hall
Lighting Design	Richard Stacey & Tas Halford
Sound Design	Howard Alston
Programme Design	Derek Callum
Poster Design	Dan Finch
Front of House Manager	Ingrid Corrigan
Photographs	John Ash