Sheila's Island by Tim Firth at The Rose Centre

Four hapless middle-aged, middle-class, middle-management businesswomen - Team C in Pennine Mineral Water Limited’s outward-bound-style team building weekend - succeed in becoming the first people ever to get shipwrecked on an island in the UK Lake District. This black comedy finds our intrepid heroines desperately struggling to make weapons, a rescue flag and dinner as questions are asked and truths are told.

In this story of survival writ small, Lauren McLay plays Sheila - a Marketing Manager made team captain who promptly strands her team of corporate warriors in the great outdoors, which may as well be an alien landscape. Also on her team are Denise, played by Katie Fullard, Julie (Trudy Price) and Fay (Marissa Willson).

Directed by Kathy Gent and written by award-winning playwright Tim Firth, this play's a sure ticket to a hilarious time. Tim's also written Calendar Girls and Neville's Island: The all-male version of Sheila's Island, our 2021 production of which was shut down after its opening weekend by "the virus that must not be named" - but back we come!

Content Advisory: Please note that there are references to suicide and mental health.