CHESIL Theatre in Winchester has announced its upcoming programme of shows and events.

As previously reported, the next production by the Winchester-based amateur dramatics group will be Amanda Whittington’s The Thrill of Love.

Directed by Alec Winters, the show runs from May 13-20 and follows the story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain in 1955 after being convicted of killing her lover. The play dramatizes the real-life story and takes a look at the woman under the headlines.

Ellis was no stranger to the 1950s underworld. A nightclub hostess, with a history of chaotic relationships, she managed a little place in Knightsbridge where people went to forget their troubles. But meeting a hard-drinking and cruel racing driver brought greater tragedy – for them both. The play offers a window into Ruth’s world and the society that sought to convict her.

The Thrill of Love contains some adult themes, including the depiction of domestic violence.

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The society has also announced its next production will be Treasure Island, adapted for the stage by Phil Wilmot and directed by Sarah Hawkins.

An informal reading of the script will take place on April 21, with open auditions on April 22 to April 24 at 7.45pm. All are welcome to attend, with a large cast that includes both male and female pirates, with the well-known characters of Jim Hawkins, Long John Silver, Blind Pugh, and Ben Gunn.

The show is scheduled to be performed from July 11 to July 15 with an outdoor production at Winchester College.

Aspiring writers still have time to enter the TakeTen Chesil Theatre New Writing Festival. This year’s competition features the theme “Snakes and Ladders”.

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To enter, applicants must submit a play which is 10 minutes in length, with scripts including one to four actors with minimal props, lighting and sound. The works must be original, unperformed and unpublished.

The deadline for submissions is 11.59pm on Friday, June 2. The entries will then be evaluated by an independent panel of judges, all drawn from the world of theatre, drama and entertainment. The winning ten writers will be announced in November with the plays given their premiere over the weekend of February 24, 2024.

For more information about upcoming events at the Chesil Theatre, visit its website: chesiltheatre.org.uk.