Future Productions by the Progressive Players
Murder Story
Ludovic Kennedy
Murder Story by Ludovic Kennedy and based on true events.
The life of the Tanner family is turned upside down when their son, Jim, is sentenced to death for the murder of PC Albert Tomkins. And whilst in prison Jim is looked after by two kind officers and even learns to read.
Written by Ludovic Kennedy , who was very much against the death penalty. We see the torment Jim’s family goes through and the impact on a “simple lad” who is accused of a terrible crime.
Abigail’s Party
Mike Leigh
Abigail’s Party is a sharply observed comedy of manners that takes a hilariously uncomfortable look at suburban life, social ambition, and the minefield of polite entertaining.
Set in the 1970s, the action unfolds over the course of a single drinks party hosted by Beverley and Laurence Moss, eager to impress their new neighbours. Alongside guests Angela and Tony Cooper is Susan, a divorced neighbour whose teenage daughter Abigail is having her own party next door—an event we never see, but are constantly reminded of.
As drinks are poured and the hostess proudly displays her taste in décor and music, cracks begin to appear beneath the surface of the evening’s forced pleasantries. Awkward silences, misguided flirtation, and passive‑aggressive remarks build steadily, revealing tensions, disappointments and quiet desperation lurking behind the carefully arranged cheese and pineapple.
Developed originally through improvisation, Mike Leigh’s dialogue captures painfully recognisable social behaviour with razor‑sharp accuracy. Funny, cringe‑inducing, and ultimately unsettling, Abigail’s Party remains a classic of British theatre—an enduring satire of manners, marriage, and middle‑class aspiration that still resonates today.
Love From A Stranger
Frank Vosper, adapted from a short story by Agatha Christie
Love from a Stranger is a tense and gripping psychological thriller from the early years of Agatha Christie’s career, adapted for the stage by Frank Vosper.
Cecily Harrington has lived a quiet, respectable life, working hard and playing by the rules. When she unexpectedly wins a large sum of money, she dares to dream of excitement and escape from the ordinary.
Enter Bruce Lovell—a charming and attentive stranger who offers romance, adventure, and a new life away from everything Cecily has known.
Swept up in a whirlwind courtship, Cecily abandons her familiar world to marry Bruce and move to a secluded country cottage. At first, the change appears idyllic, but small unsettling moments begin to intrude. As isolation deepens and Bruce’s behaviour becomes increasingly disturbing, Cecily is forced to confront the terrifying possibility that her perfect romance may be hiding a far darker truth.
Adapted from Christie’s short story Philomel Cottage, Love from a Stranger builds relentlessly towards a chilling climax, combining suspense, deception, and psychological tension in a tightly wound drama. With its atmospheric setting and unforgettable central performances, the play explores trust, fear, and the danger of mistaking obsession for love—proving why Agatha Christie remains the undisputed master of suspense.
Arsenic & Old Lace
Joseph Kesselring
The murderous comedy returns!
There’s something foul about the Brewster Family. Something in the blood that makes them rotten. Recently engaged Mortimer loves his Aunts and is excited to share his news - but is distressed to find they’ve developed a taste for murder!
Madness runs in his bones; one brother thinks he’s President Roosevelt, the other is an imprisoned killer - can Mortimer really live an honest life with such insanity buried deep? Witness the classic murderous
comedy - and, try the wine won’t you?