BANGOR Drama Club will be celebrating its 90th anniversary with a special production of Boyd’s Shop by St John Ervine.
Directed by former BBC Radio Ulster newsreader Linda Taylor, the production will run from Wednesday, May 6, to Saturday, May 9, at Bangor’ Studio 1A.
Linda, who began her acting career with Bangor Drama Club, explained the anniversary production was also taking place nine decades after the play was first performed.
“It is set in a shop in County Down and was first performed in the Liverpool Play House with Sir Michael Redgrave and his wife Rachel Kempson,” the director explained.
Since retiring 15 years ago, Linda has enjoyed both directing and performing at Bangor Drama Club and is looking forward to next week’s anniversary shows.
“I love being on stage and I also like directing,” said Linda. “A director who has been an actor has more sympathy for actors and can understand what they are going through.
“I have a brilliant cast, it is the best I could have hoped for. I have a great cast and crew.”
Speaking about the play’s plot, Linda said: “It is set 90 years ago in 1936 in a small County Down town in the Ards peninsula. Boyd’s Shop has been in the family for several generations.
“It is where people don’t necessarily come to shop, they come to sit and chat and gossip. It is all very cosy and then suddenly a young man comes to the town and sets up a rival grocery shop across the road.”
The upset continues with the arrival of a second male character.
“These two new arrivals cause quite a lot of upset,” said Linda. “Lives are changed and gossip is rife around the little town.
“There is a great love interest, a love triangle, which ends happily. It is a very gentle humour and some of the language is just lovely. It is a happy play which should make people smile.”
Tickets are priced £14 and are available from Bangor Visitor Information Centre. For further information log on to: www.studio1a.co.uk
