Sidmouth Summer Play Festival

The Sidmouth Summer Play Festival will feature 12 plays in 12 weeks this summer to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

Six of the town's favourites from the last decade and six new plays will be performed at the Manor Pavilion Theatre from Monday 26 June until the end of September.

Season producer Paul Taylor-Mills said: "To celebrate our 10th year, we are bringing back some of our most-loved plays, alongside some brand-new ones.

"We're also presenting our first-ever trilogy by much-loved playwright Alan Ayckbourn. We're thrilled to be one of the only rep companies in the UK allowed to present this theatrical coup to our audiences.

"I have had the honour of producing the Summer Rep Play Festival for the last 10 years, presenting over 100 plays.

"This year I have a plea. Please come and support live entertainment in all its glory and joy.

"We understand the cost-of-living challenges so we have not raised our ticket price this year.

"Theatre has never been more important. Come celebrate our 10th year with us and raise a glass at The Manor Pavilion Theatre!"

The full schedule

Dates for the shows are as follows:

1. The Small Hours (26 June - 1 July). A classic edge-of-your-seat thriller with all the Durbridge hallmarks of suspense, mystery and murder;
2. Boeing, Boeing (3-8 July): Marc Camoletti's award-winning farce has delighted audiences worldwide for over 50 years;
3. Game Plan (10-15 July): The first of Ayckbourn's Damsel's In Distress trilogy is a drama comedy created especially for Rep theatre;
4. Flat Spin (17-22 July): The second of Ayckbourn's Damsel's In Distress is a comedy thriller about mistaken identity;
5. Role Play (24-29 July): A comedy by Alan Ayckbourn. Part of the Summer Play Season 2023;
6. The Business of Murder (31 July - 4 August): A psychological thriller about a triangular relationship, a thirst for revenge, and the business of murder;
7. Run for Your Wife (14-19 August): Ray Cooney's most famous farce. It all goes wrong for bigamist John Smith when his secret lives overlap;
8. Not Dead Enough (21-26 August): In Peter James' thriller DS Roy Grace investigates a chilling murder that proves love can be dangerous;
9. The Mating Game (28 August - 2 September): Robin Hawdon's hilarious romantic farce has played all over the world after it's huge success in London;
10. Pack of Lies 2023 (4-9 September): Whitemore's classic thriller about a suburban couple who get caught in a web of deceit and intrigue;
11. Private Lives (11-16 September): Noël Coward's gloriously entertaining comedy of manners;
12. The 39 Steps (18-23 September): A hilarious, inventive, fast-paced caper. This side-splitting comedy is based on Buchan's famous spy novel.

Performances play Monday to Saturday at 8pm (except 4 August).

Tickets cost £19.50, or £8 for under 16s. Season tickets are available.

To book, call the box office on 01395 514 413 or visit the Manor Pavilion Theatre's website.