Work, love and life are just one long, hard slog for the fish-filleting foursome Pearl, Jan, Shelley and Linda. But their fortunes are set to change when Linda finds tickets to Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot the year it relocated to York.
Out go the hairnets, overalls and wellies as the four ditch work, do themselves up to the nines and head off to the races for a drink, a flirt and a flutter. If their luck holds, they could hit the jackpot – and more besides…
Originally performed:
October 2025
Programme notes from Keith Graham.
In 2005 Royal Ascot was helf at York Racecourse. Four ladies: Pearl, Jan, Shelley and Linda decide to take a day off from their relentless and monotonous job as fish trimmers and packers in Hull, for a day at Royal Ascot.
Dressed in their finest, their friendship is tested to the limit as long held secrets are laid bare over the course of the day. This is a heart warming tale of the events, their encounters with the men they meet and how their hopes and dreams could come true.
Amanda Whittington’s Ladies Day is a beautifully constructed play about ordinary people, their hopes, fears, secrets and desires that will have you laughing and possibly weeping in this emotional roller coaster of a play.
Cast
Sarah Roper
Jan
Dawne West
Linda
Jenny Dearing
Shelley
Mari Fleming
Pearl
James Burton Stewart
Joe
Matt Comiskey
Ticket Tout
Phil Collins
Jim McCormack
Joe Williams
Patrick
Tom Shorrock
The Gambler
Clive Solomons
Barry
Crew
Keith Graham
Directed by
Kerry Thomas
Producer
Kerry Thomas
Stage Manager
Cathy Ramsell
Keith Graham
Backstage Team
Mari Fleming
Costumes
Kerry Thomas
Keith Graham
Props
Kerry Thomas
Makeup
Rob Wilderspin
Lighting
Rob Wilderspin
Sound
Jean Chapman
Jenny Broom
Mary Cawley
Katja Hunt
Julie Telford
Front of House
John Bale
Rehearsal Assistant
Judy Winter
Prompt
Keith Graham
Neil Johnson
Set Design
Neil Johnson
Keith Graham
Members of MDS
Set Build
Sarah Oliver
Choreography
Steve West
Nick West
John Bale
Paul Roper
Katelyn Maybanks
Bar
Phil Collins
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