Noises Off - A Northern Theatre News review

Farce fans, have you seen the sardines?

Pretty apt given where we are, but let me back up a minute.

One of the reasons that Northern Theatre News exists is to promote our northern venues, and that in turn gives me an excuse (not that I need one) to pack up my EV and hit the road.

In this case that road took me to sunny Scarborough, literally - it was cracking the flags.

So after a walk on the seafront, mandatory fish and chips from the Life Boat Cafe, I made the walk back up the hill to Stephen Joseph Theatre, which is presenting the first-ever in-the-round production of Noises Off (9 Aug–6 Sept 2025).

For the uninitiated, Michael Frayn’s backstage classic follows a theatre troupe touring a dubious sex comedy, Nothing On, around the regional venues - in this case ending their tour in Scarborough.

Act One: a midnight dress-technical rehearsal on the day before, scratch that, day-of the first performance. Everything that can misfire does, sardines multiply, props fail, lines are dropped and you wonder, along with the director, if this will ever come together.

Act Two: A month into the run and we flip to seeing the show from backstage during a matinee. It’s near-silent carnage as affairs, egos and a cactus fuel sabotage and slapstick action.

Act Three: Back to front-of-house for the final stop on tour, where the production disintegrates into utter shambles. Expect slamming doors, a drunken burglar and his ‘cousins’, and both a stage manager and director clinging to what little is left of their respective sanities with gaffer tape and decreasing wallets.

Noises Off is tricky to stage at the best of times, but in-the-round magnifies the challenge to astronomical levels, however director Paul Robinson and designer Kevin Jenkins have done an amazing job in creating the world of Nothing On.

One of the other things I love to do when seeing a show is pay no attention to who’s in the cast in advance, this is not me being disrespectful - they are all excellent. But not knowing in advance gives me my own easter egg hunt as I try and place where I have seen people before!

In this case it wasn’t so much of a hunt as an ‘Oh my god it’s her!’ with Susan Twist first on stage, and instantly recognisable from her recent recurring role in Doctor Who as Susan Triad. Fortunately the Egyptian god of death did not make an appearance tonight, that might have killed the mood somewhat.

She, along with the rest of the cast, deliver their performances with the OTT gusto that is needed for such a farce to work, and it works in buckets, my sides are still aching now and I suspect the rest of the audience will have woken up with similar rib issues.

Overall a thoroughly entertaining show, laugh-out-loud funny, expertly and inventively staged - I had a cracking time with Noises Off at SJT!

For even more on Noises Off, check out this great video SJT produced.

Cast

Valerie Antwi, as Belinda Blair

Adam Astill, as Lloyd Dallas

Andy Cryer, as Freddie Fellowes

Christopher Godwin, as Selsdon Mowbray

Annie Kirkman, as Poppy Norton-Taylor

Alex Phelps, as Garry Lejeune

Charlie Ryan, as Tim Allgood

Susan Twist, as Dotty Otley

Olivia Woolhouse, as Brooke Ashton

Credits

A Stephen Joseph Theatre production

Written by Michael Frayn

Directed by Paul Robinson

Designer: Kevin Jenkins

Lighting Designer: Jane Lalljee

Composer: Simon Slater

Sound Designer: Ernest Acquah

Associate Director: Kaitlin Howard

Assistant Director: Annie Kirkman

Wardrobe Supervisor: Julia Perry-Mook

Scenic Artist: Julia Wray

Deputy Stage Manager: Steve Muckersie

Assistant Stage Manager: Kayleigh Cooper

Assistant Stage Manager: Emma Lang

Casting Director: Sarah Hughes CDG