Sheila’s Island at The Lowry
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Billed as “The Office meets Lord of the Flies meets Miranda”, Sheila’s Island is a sparkling, sharp-witted new comedy from acclaimed writer Tim Firth. Directed by Joanna Read, this all-female comedy is a dazzling new spin on Firth’s Olivier Award-nominated comedy, Neville’s Island, which was first performed in 1992.
A sparkling, sharp-witted new comedy from acclaimed writer Tim Firth
It’s Bonfire night 2019 and Pennine Mineral Water Ltd are on their company’s annual team-building weekend. Led by Marketing Manager, Sheila, Team C find themselves unwittingly stranded on an island in the Lake District. As cold and hunger take over, and their mobile batteries die, Denise, Julie, Fay and Sheila find themselves in full survival mode. Can they piece together an escape plan from cable ties and spatulas and is it possible to create a rescue flag from a toasting fork and a few plastic plates? Will a prom dress and a sleeveless jumper be enough to fabricate an adequate night shelter? And will endless verses of Kumbaya keep everyone feeling positive? As tempers begin to fray – questions are asked and truths are told. Will Sheila ever be able to navigate her team back to the shore?
Written by the phenomenal Tim Firth (Calendar Girls, Kinky Boots, The Band), Sheila’s Island stars Olivier Award-winner Sara Crowe (Calendar Girls, Four Weddings and a Funeral), Eastern Eye Award-winner Rina Fatania (Love N Stuff, Theatre Royal Stratford East), Judy Flynn (Dinnerladies) and Abigail Thaw (Endeavour).
With an all-star cast, incisive humour and plenty of super one-liners
With an all-star cast, incisive humour and plenty of super one-liners, Sheila’s Island is rooted in the everyday lives of four women who find themselves truly out of their comfort zones. With themes we can all relate to, the play examines what lies beneath the superficiality of work relationships. Exposing vulnerability and painful honesty – delivered with great comedy and wordplay – we can all see aspects of ourselves (male or female) in Sheila, Denise, Fay and Julie.
