Events at the Theatre
Happenings in the bar, the auditorium and elsewhere
Play Reading - Reading Of Short-Listed Plays For Springboard 2026
READING OF PLAYS FOR SPRINGBOARD FESTIVAL 2026 On Thursday 15th January at 7:30pm, we will have a reading of the five plays which have been short-listed for selection for the Criterion plays within Springboard Festival 2026. Since the Summer around 12 emerging local writers have been meeting fortnightly to workshop and develop original short plays for Springboard Festival. This reading is an opportunity for an open sharing of a short-listed selection of their work, offering a chance to hear the works read aloud, share constructive thoughts with the writers in a friendly environment, and make decisions about which plays will be taken forward for performance in the festival. We encourage anyone who would like to be involved in actually reading the plays, as well as people who like to hear plays read aloud. In addition, we particularly encourage potential directors for the Springboard plays to attend. We welcome experienced directors, as well as this being a perfect development opportunity for new and emerging directors, for which mentoring will be offered. Do come along and join us. If you are able to contact artisticdirector@criteriontheatre.co.uk to indicate you are coming along, this would help with planning the reading. DETAILS OF THE SHORT-LISTED PLAYS IN THE ORDER WE WILL BE READING THEM _1) 'Tell Them' by Hodan Mohamed._ Celebrity, exposed as bully on chat show, responsible for tragedy. Cast of 2: NATE SHAW: 40-something, male. Everyman accent. Exudes charismatic showmanship that he can turn on and off like a tap, bitter from years of grief and is looking for revenge. SCARLETT WILHELM: Early 20s, female. Beauty queen smile that hides a cruel streak, will say and do anything to save her acting career. _'2) Tour Guide' by Katy Lynam._ One killer tour through history: A comedy. Cast of 5: LUCY (30s) - Loves history to a fault. Born and bred in Warwickshire. TOUR GUIDE SUPREME (40s) - An interstellar being from the future. TONY (50s) - Along with Reece the Waldorf and Statler of tour guides. Thinks he’s above everyone, speaks in posh Warwick accent REECE (30s) -Cov Kid, who loves a good gruesome story, even if it’s not true. LAPTOP VOICE _3) 'Pidgewidgeon' by Jet Burnett. _ In a dying world, survivors must face what it means to outlast the night. Cast of 4: BILL - Mid 50s-60s. A big man with a violent past. Marlow’s partner. MARLOW - Mid 50s-60s. A yearning father and lonely survivor. Bill’s partner. DUCK -Mid 20s-30s. A high-energy traveller with secrets. MARA- Mid 20s-30s. A quiet guard for Duck. Accents: Dustbowl America _4) 'The 18:17 to Nowhere' by Judea Jess. _ Boomer and Gen Z co-workers on a bus. Gentle comedy of manners. Cast of 3: KAYLA. Gen Z Female. Early 20’s, brash, chatty, yet kind, provocative, witty with no boundaries. MARTIN. Baby Boomer, male, Early 70s, calm, highly articulate, self-assured yet private. YOUNG HOOLIGAN. Gen Z male, early 20’s, rude, insulting, unintelligent, arrogant, loud. _5) 'Descent' by Michael Keane._ Coventry kid, but Irish too. Tales of the diaspora. Cast of 10: MICEAL CAHILL- deflated dreamer, mid 50’s, hearing time’s winged chariot MARY CAHILL - world-weary, loyal wife, earlier middle-age just 50 JOHN CAHILL -17, beginning to take first steps into the adult world SINEAD CAHILL - 15, older than her years BRIDIE CAHILL - distant, but loquacious, first cousin, into her 60's JEREMIAH CAHILL - distant, defeated, first cousin, approaching 70 JIMMY - 17, John’s fellow mischief-maker BARMAN - 30’s, established & confident in his bar THE OLD WOMAN OF ANNASCAUL -wizened and wise, she forgets nothing - mid 80's All but John, Sinead & Jimmy have strong Irish accents Pronunciation: Miceal – Mehall
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Q & A - Our New Theatre
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Club Night - Bar Open
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Coffee Morning
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Audition - Springboard Festival Play Audition - The 18:17 To Nowhere
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Audition - Springboard Festival Play Audition - Tell Them
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Audition - Springboard Festival Play Audition - Tour Guide
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Members - Agm - 2026
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Club Night - Agm (Bar Open Afterwards)
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Audition - Springboard Play -Tell Them
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Audition - Springboard Festival Play Audition - Tour Guide
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Audition - Springboard Play -Tell Them
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Coffee Morning
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Coffee Morning
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Epiphanised Play Reading
'Epiphanised! (AKA The Summergate Church of England Primary School Nativity Play is Cancelled)' is the latest work by local playwright Andrew Sharpe. In December 2025 he was part of the amateur chorus that performed ‘A Christmas Carol’ as a play with songs sung a capella, at the Criterion, a sellout run. That in turn inspired him to write this play to form the basis of a Christmas musical. We are pleased to be having an open reading of the new work, and even singing a few out of season Christmas carols for good measure! Synopsis: _The UK, a few years hence. Pursued by social services, refugees Josph and heavily pregnant Mary seek shelter in the workshop of a primary school. They are sheltered by an alliance of three unwise men, and a trio of falling angels, all led by head teacher Cassandra Shepherd and her teenage daughter Magdalene. Together they take on the might of the system, personified by social worker and school governor, Lucinda who has cancelled the nativity play and plans to close the school itself._ Anyone is welcome to come along and participate in the reading or just listen to the play read aloud. Please pass along to your networks and anyone who might be interested in the reading. If you would like to read a part please RSVP to artisticdirector@criteriontheatre.co.uk by 10th April.
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Earlsdon Festival - Earlsdon Festival
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Coffee Morning
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Coffee Morning
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Coffee Morning
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Coffee Morning
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Coffee Morning
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Coffee Morning
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Coffee Morning - The Criterion Coffee Morning - Welcome All
In the Bar and Foyer