We Won't Notice The Audience  Saturday's performance was also the date of the vital Euro 2000 match between England and Germany. We knew we would come off second best but for the first time ever the cast outnumbered the audience as nine (yes nine!) hardy souls put culture before national pride. Then we had to get home without finding out the result! Which wasn't helped by people shouting "Shearer, Shearer", on the way back.

Now We Will... To make up for Saturday we played to a full house on Sunday which just happened to be the hottest day of the year. While we sweltered in the officer’s uniforms we could see the audience fanning themselves with their programmes. So, always buy a programme; you never know when you might need it.

The Audience Won't Notice  Getting changed into her officer’s uniform in the blackout for the after dinner scene, Tanya couldn't get her arms into the jacket and threw her glass of sherry all over Janet trying to put her wig on. She had to perform the scene with her hands stuck in the jacket sleeves and her wig on sideways. Luckily Lieutenant Dawes was a pretty out of it character anyway.

Director's Commentary  One of the most satisfying experiences of my life. This is a very fine play, which I hope will be recognised one day as a genuine classic. I really feel that we did it proper justice: it was funny, gripping, shocking and uplifting. It helped that everyone was cast perfectly, although I claim no credit for this, as it wasn’t the original cast I had in mind! An extraordinarily powerful run through of the "Second Rehearsal" scene on Sunday sticks in the mind, and the final performance in particular was something special.  It’s right up there with the best things we’ve ever done Andy

Quote, Unquote  What a great script. Or maybe we're just suckers for plays about the inspirational power of theatre. I never felt that I nailed the "Second Rehearsal" scene where Major Ross viciously humiliates the convicts until I discovered one night that I’d reduced Helen to tears David
I usually get the "shy English bloke who speaks in a clear accent" so it shouldn't have been such a surprise to get the Ralph Clark role. Only my second appearance but my first stage kiss (naturally I do loads now), my first huge role (Ralph was in nearly every scene with lots of monologues) and my first proper dressing up for a part. I was also fond of Simon's portrayal of Sideway Steve
So glad we did this one. Powerful and poignant. Great performances. Costumes looked fab but I really pitied the blokes on performance nights as they sweated buckets Sharon
Great parts for all the actors. Often funny but tear jerking, too Betty
Great costumes and set; had funny moments in rehearsal and performance Helen