Ferndown Drama 
Barrington Theatre, Ferndown 
Andrea Pellegrini 
17 October 2025
This was my first time at the Barrington to watch a Ferndown Drama production and what a treat it was!
The Ladykillers play is based on the 1955 Ealing Studios comedy, starring Alex Guiness and Peter Sellers. It tells the story of 5 criminals, led by Professor Marcus, who plan to use dear sweet old Mrs Wilberforce’s house as a base for their plan to rob a van near a railway station, whilst masquerading as a string quartet.
The play is set in two rooms, a bedroom and a living room. The set was built on two levels (upstairs and downstairs), which worked brilliantly and looked really authentic to the time period it was set. You could clearly see a lot of time and thought had gone into the set and it did look great.
Loved the sound effects of the train, use of lighting and smoke machine. That all really added to the atmosphere, especially the smoke/steam.
Fabulous casting by the director, each and every one of the cast played their parts brilliantly and had great comic timing. Dawn Hollington who played the constable and a teatime guest had me in stitches merely with her expressions!
Jenny Sibley played Mrs Wilberforce perfectly… slightly confused and very funny. George Findlay was spot on with his portrayal as the mastermind Professor Marcus, just the right amount of dead pan humour and slightly sinister, but not too much. Loved One-Round aka Mark Ward, my favourite character, dopey, stupid but oh so funny! Patrick D’Ardenne (Major Courtney), Gareth Dunning (Harry) and Rob Reynolds (Louis) are also all fantastic in their roles, the perfect useless mobsters.
The whole ensemble was just perfect, not a weak link, including Sue Barber and Helen Kuster who played teatime guests, both ladies also very funny.
I thoroughly enjoyed this production, very fast past paced which is needed with a comedy like this and great use of the large stage – up and downstairs. A great script which was executed impeccably and provided lots of laughs throughout the whole play. The audience seemed to be really enjoying themselves.
The whole cast and crew did an excellent job. Well done to the director, David Pile, for such a professional production.
The run ends Saturday 18 October; if there are any tickets left get one while you can!
