Unearthed at the Edinburgh Fringe
by Anne Padget
“Unearthed” had its debut at the Edinburgh Fringe this year. It was an original one person play based upon a true story – the remarkable tale of a housewife in the sixties who chose to be buried alive in a coffin for 100 days in Skegness as a publicity stunt. Emma Smith was a former nun and Belgium refugee who came to England during the Second World War, marrying a Mansfield miner and having three children. It was at the age of 42 that she performed this incredible feat and broke the world record.
This piece explored the journey Emma went on, from excitement to a hope and desire for spiritual fulfilment to a sense of disillusionment at returning to her normal life as the modern housewife.
Inspired by this story, writer Clara Nel Haddon produced a 50 minute play that encompassed these 100 days. The process as a performer was fascinating. Working closely with director, Ian Gledhill, we workshopped the script adding periods within the narrative where Emma would “leave” the coffin in streams of consciousness. Thanks must be given to Ian for his insightful direction, as well as the inspiring contribution he made to the script, especially in terms of structure, poetry and music.
As a lone performer, this was a new experience for me – challenging, emotional and incredibly fulfilling. It was a 6-day run and for five of them we had double figures in the audience – quite an achievement for an unknown show in Edinburgh when there is so much competition. The audiences were warm and very responsive. It was wonderful hearing the laughter and sensing the tears.
We received several wonderful reviews from audience members and a 4 Star review from the Wee Review. This was thrilling and made all the nerves and hard work worthwhile.
It is very important to thank everyone who was a part of this. Many thanks to everyone from Plush Tiger Productions, and especially Jimmy Brewer and Deacon, who were on sound and lighting. A special thanks to Alison Munro, who was officially there as Stage Manager, but who was invaluable support throughout the whole experience in many other ways.
There will be a local performance of Unearthed at the Ukrainian Centre in Doncaster, 48 Beckett Road, Doncaster DN2 4AD on the evening of Friday 9th October. It would be wonderful to see you there!
Anne Padget, performer of Unearthed
Trio review
First review in for Trio by Georgina Blair from the Buxton Fringe Festival.
Congratulations to Alison
SUDS member, Alison Munro, won the Buxton Fringe Best Actor Award for her performance as Ethel Smyth in Trio. Congratulations, Alison, and thoroughly well deserved!
Alison said: “I was utterly astonished and flattered to receive the award, as I had no idea they existed. However, I firmly believe that Trio contained THREE award worthy performances, and that Anne Padget and Chris Heery share this. I am profoundly grateful to Ian, who wrote all the funny and poignant lines that I am sure won attention. The whole experience, from the rehearsed reading workshop through to Buxton, is a tribute to SUDS’ commitment to writing, performance and flying the flag for drama. I’m a lucky and thankful person.”
An all-round performer
Few amateur drama groups have so prolific and versatile a member as Ian Gledhill. He has been active in Sheffield University Drama Society for some forty years and during that time has acted in many shows, while also devising and staging adaptations such as ‘Rise and Fall of the House of York’ from Shakespeare, and Pat Barker’s ‘Regeneration’ trilogy of novels. Ian has taken SUDS productions to Bolsover Castle, the Shepherd’s Wheel, the Winter Garden, and to Buxton Festival. Read on.
Catch the article also in The Sheffield Star.
Maeve and Howard Review
First review in for Maeve and Howard by Brian Kirman from the Buxton Fringe Festival. .
“Ian Gledhill who plays Howard, is a stereotypical New York Jew; looking very like Woody Allen, while Anne Padget flips her Dublin brogue from mournful to frivolous and successfully and frequently manipulates Howard. The actor’s interactions feed on a great chemistry and it is easy to empathise with both the characters in very different ways.”
The Importance of Being Julia
The Sheffield Star
3rd March 2025
When SUDS Theatre Company decided to stage ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ for its next production in April 2025, Julia Morrison cast her mind back to the troupe’s previous production of this brilliant Oscar Wilde play, in 1989. She was in charge of costumes for that one, 36 years ago…Read on.
SUDS 