An entertaining and thought provoking production of a hidden Ayckbourn gem will be brought to Walton for five shows from dynamic theatre company Enigma Theatre.

The company, run by Stephen Willis, 21, and Ricky Zalman, 23, was founded in 2012 with a production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead and this year, the group is bringing a lesser known play to the stage at the Riverhouse Barn.

Romantic sci-fi comedy Comic Potential, written by Alan Ayckbourn, is set in a television studio in the not-too-distant future.

Android actress Jacie is one of many machines built to the same specification and when she meets energetic young writer Adam, she is afraid her sense of humour is a production fault.

As the story progresses, Jacie’s scrambled circuits try to make sense of a number of emotions, which poses the questions of why humans laugh and fall in love.

Stephen Willis, director of the production, says: “Everyone knows that Alan Ayckbourn is a genius and this is without a doubt my favourite of his plays.

“The fact that it isn’t well-known makes it so much more of a privilege to be directing it, it really is a hidden gem.

“The laughs come thick and fast, and the characters and plot have so much to say about humanity. It will make you cry.”

Enigma Theatre has performed in Walton before and assistant director Ricky Zalman said it was an absolute delight to return to the Riverhouse.

The play was originally premiered in 1998 and variants of the production have been nominated for Tony Awards and a Laurence Olivier Award.

Comic Potential; Riverhouse Barn, Manor Road, Walton; October 30 to November 2, 7.30pm and 2.30pm matinee on Saturday, November 2; £10, £9 concessions; call 01932 253354 or visit enigmatheatre.co.uk.

 

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