Chris New sees himself as just a jobbing actor but once you've listened to this interview we're sure you'll agree he is much more than that. His first love is theatre because he relishes the link that gives him to his audience, he became an actor because one of his teachers told him he couldn't, his career has been "an act of contrary revenge" he says.

He's coming to The Stables in 2023 to run workshops for actors – he loves to teach. Then beyond that he'll be staging three plays he's in the process of writing.

But it back and listen to Stuart Baillie's interview with Chris as he retraces his story and recalls the people who have inspired and encouraged him and how being diagnosed with autism in his 40s has given him a whole new perspective on his life.

The Life and Times of Chris New

Hugh Whitemore tells Turing’s story in this mesmerising play, combining humour with compassion, and skilfully interweaving different timescales to build up a complete picture of Turing and those around him. 

During the war we see the code breaking genius at work; given personal authority by Churchill himself for all the resources he needs. After the war we see Turing’s continuing passion for research as he develops the modern computer; at the same time getting progressively entangled in the law after he confesses to his homosexuality. 

The play provides real insight into the dilemmas faced by a genius who refused to compromise his personal standpoint; not just by the man himself, but by his family, his professional colleagues and The State’s preoccupation with national security.

Breaking the Code

Join Bev Lee Harling for a sharing of stories and music drawn from the suds of the Old Town wash house to the mystery of the missing fishermen, a show that has ben inspired by Bev's exploration of her Hastings family roots.

Bev will take you for a stroll through the heart of Hastings Old Town, meeting recently discovered ancestors from the local fishing community. Through the eyes of the women of Hastings, she'll uncover a new perspective on community connection, ancestry, families past and present.

Ploughing the Salt Sea

The story of one couple; William and Margaret/Billy and Maggie. 
Past and present collide and entwine as we see their life together unfold. From the early days of their marriage through to their later years when the reality of a terminal illness offers another choice, replacing the option of a drawn-out, painful death with an unexpected hope for the future.

"There are going to be moments like this where I have to know you can jump when I ask you to jump. And you did."

You’ll cry, but you’ll smile too, at this beautiful play that is by turns funny, hopeful, painful, bittersweet, and ultimately life-affirming.

Lovesong

The creative team behind last years' in the round and stripped back production of 'Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf' at The Stables Theatre, come together again to present Doubt – A Parable. Directed by Hugo Trebels and assisted by Jamie Seaton, Doubt – A Parable promises to be another exciting and thought provoking evening at the theatre. Hear all about it in this podcast.

Doubt – A Parable

Doubt - A Parable is a play with a powerful message and has just finished a run at The Stables Theatre in Hastings. Minutes after they've come off stage from the final performance the cast share their thoughts.
Listen to the full Doubt – A Parable podcast by clicking on this link...
https://on.soundcloud.com/jQ1cK

Still Having Doubts?

Entertaining Mr Sloane is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its London debut. A brother and sister both fall for a handsome young stranger who enters their lives. Will they succumb to his charms?  Will they discover his murderous past?  Can this play still be as sexy, subversive and provocative as it was 60 years ago?  Come to the show and find out!

Entertaining Mr Sloane

The Cherry Orchard, Chekov's last play from April 12th to 20th

The Cherry Orchard April 12th - 20th

Stuart Baillie and Ben Randall chat about what's next up at The Stables and that's Chekov’s last play, The Cherry Orchard (Friday 12th to Saturday 20th April). It's set on a Russian estate at the turn of the 20th century. Serfs have been liberated and revolution is knocking at the door.
In addition they discuss the vital role that volunteers play in keeping The Stables the vibrant place that it is. There's time too for a chat about the new pay writing competition.
Check out our new monthly column in the Hastings Independent Press, you can pick up your free copy from The Stables box office

Saluting The Stables' volunteer army

Every Brilliant Thing is about resilience and hope and addresses aspects of mental health. When mum’s in the hospital and dad says she finds it hard to be happy, there’s not much a seven year old can do…
1. Ice cream
2. Water fights
3. Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV

These are the first three items on a list of every brilliant thing in the world worth living for. Duncan MacMillan’s play Every Brilliant Thing pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to be a child of a suicidal mother and the lengths we go for those we love.

The story explores depression and hope, uncertainty and change, confusion and joy, heartbreak and anger, relationships and solitude, risk and resistance, guilt and forgiveness. Throughout, The Storyteller interacts with audience members to tell about life with their mother’s depression as a backdrop, including the effects it has on their life and relationships.

Every Brilliant Thing is a life-affirming story of how to achieve hope through focusing on the smallest miracles of life.

Every Brilliant Thing

Stuart Baillie meets Ross Drury, director of Game plan, on stage from Tuesday 21st - Saturday 25th May.

The interview discusses the play itself and Ross talks frankly about his career, he prefers directing and bluntly says he's a 'rubbish' actor who can't deliver lines!

As for Game Plan, is it a comedy or is it a tragedy? Ross says it's down to you, the audience, to decide. It has the hallmarks of a classic tragedy and the style of a farce

When former businesswoman Lynette falls on hard times, after her million pound business has collapsed and her husband has left her, daughter Sorrel decides to take matters into her own hands and advertises herself online. 

Alas the encounter with her first client, a retired dry cleaner, doesn't go to plan! 

Set in the throws of the early noughties, Nokia phones and pink champagne are the back drop to an uncomfortable dark-hearted farce of cracked morality, where everything is up for sale.

Ploughing the Salt Sea

The Sounds of Hastings

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