19.05.2026

This year, we performed Fishville by Afsaneh Gray at the Clifftown Theatre (Southend) and the Queen's Theatre (Hornchurch).

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We thoroughly enjoyed exploring this play, and the young people fully immersed themselves in the rehearsal process, delving into their characters, the themes, and the text. We also welcomed several new members this year, and the cast worked exceptionally well together, creating a supportive and collaborative company throughout the process.

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About the play​

Jared’s death, following the unexpected sale of his parents’ house, throws a community into chaos. When Faith, the daughter of the man who bought Jared’s house, arrives in Saltwell and finds a severed foot washed up at her feet, she and Connie, the daughter of the ‘second homers’, decide to investigate what drove Jared into the sea. Uncovering a local myth about an underwater community, suspicions rise as to whether Jared could have believed this tale. With ‘Jared’ posting messages, asking his friends to join him, Faith’s father spending more and more time in the sea, and the myth gaining traction, the young people must figure out what’s going on – before anybody else is lost to a vengeful ocean…

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About the play​wright

Afsaneh Gray is a writer for screen, stage and audio, published by Methuen Drama, and the winner of the Brian Way Award with her play for young people, ‘The Border’. Other productions include the critically acclaimed ‘Octopus’, a satire about what it means to be British. Her plays have been longlisted for the Bruntwood Prize and Women’s Prize for Playwriting, and shortlisted for the Theatre Uncut Political Playwriting Prize. For television, she has written for ‘Shakespeare & Hathaway’ and ‘Doctors’ (both BBC). Her original TV comedy, ‘Lulu The Extremist’, was selected for the UKTV 50:50 scheme. She is represented by Giles Smart at United Agents.

 

DIRECTED BY MICHELLE BARRINGTON & HANNAH BRAILSFORD

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