Geoffrey Jones, M.P. and sometime architect, is convinced that the Russians are about to launch a nuclear strike against England. He builds a bomb shelter equipped with everything he, his wife, and his wife’s old mother will need to last out such a strike. They plan to try the thing out for a three week experiment when, inadvertently, they are trapped inside with the mother, the telephone installer and an Indian milkman. They try to make the best of the situation when who should enter through a side hatch but their next door neighbours who, ever striving to keep up with the Joneses, have now kept down with them by building their own abutting shelter. By a strange set of circumstances the neighbours are also trapped and neither neighbour wants to admit this to the other. Hilarious complications ensue until everyone gets out.

Originally performed:
October 2017

Directors programme notes from Tom.

It’s 1985 and the Cold War is raging on, with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher fighting the Evil Empire in Eastern Europe and beyond. Tensions are high what with the Russians in Afghanistan and Cruise Missiles at Greenham Common. Meanwhile, in suburban Northolt, Geoffrey Jones; M.P. and sometime architect, is convinced that the Russians are about to launch a nuclear strike against England. To make sure he and his family survive the holocaust he builds a bomb shelter equipped with everything he, his wife, their baby son, his wife’s mother and their au pair will need to last out such a strike. They plan to try out living in the shelter for a three-week experiment.

Cast

Karen Dignan

Deirdre Jones

Sam Foad

Joe

Darren Reed

Geoffrey Jones

Kim Antell

Grindle

Paula Stenson

Mrs Warneflete

James Burton Stewart

Michael Murphy

Roger Holmes

Raymond Blake

Kerry Thomas

Sonia Blake

Nick Pounder

PC Bobby Smith

Crew

Tom Shorrock

Directed by

John Bull

Stage Manager

Lawrence Picking

Producer

John Bull
Society Members

Set Design & Construction

Amy Collins

Wardrobe

Michele Greatbanks

Props

Katja Hunt

Lighting

John Makeham

Sound

Jennifer Broom

Continuity

Mike Kimber

Bar Management

Society Members

Front of House