KADS presents a marvellous evening’s entertainment with superb acting

Sara Johnston, Christine Cherry, Penny Roberts and Jill Price. Photo by Tim Greenway.

Ladies’ Day by Amanda Whittinghton, presented by Kineton Amateur Dramatic Society (KADS), Warwickshire, from 22-25 April 2026. Director Catherine Jones.

Review by Charles Essex.

Philip Larkin, librarian at Hull University, said, “Nothing happens everywhere”.  In a neat irony, four women at a Hull fish factory feel as if nothing happens in their lives, yet Anada Whittington’s clever, funny and touching play Ladies’ Day highlights that even in the mundane there are secrets and interests aplenty if one looks and listens.

In a superb directorial debut, Catherine Jones brought the spotlight on the lives of four ordinary factory workers.  The production line of filleting the fish was transformed into a scene of humorous earthy banter between the four friends.  Pearl (Jill Price), Jan (Christine Cherry), Shelley (Penny Roberts) and Linda (Sara Johnston) joshed and joked and teased.  This quartet of experienced KADS actors portrayed superbly their characters’ contrasting personalities, with gestures and expressions bringing to life the dialogue. 

Pearl was leaving – not retiring, she insisted, but going to new adventures.  By coincidence, Royal Ascot had transferred to York racecourse for that season whilst Ascot was refurbished so, for her own reasons, Pearl suggested going to Ladies’ Day as her ‘leaving do’.  Changing from overalls into their glad rags was a wonderfully comic piece of choreography enjoyed by all.

Tom Bruggenwirth, Penny Roberts, Jill Price, Sara Johnston and Christine Cherry [seated]. Photo by Tim Greenway.

Once at the races, the dialogue focussed on each woman through some blunt outspoken challenges, one-to-one discussions and encounters with strangers.  Secrets were revealed, fears exposed and hopes – some lost and some still possibly yet to come – were expressed.  Drink flowed and tongues loosened.  Pearl admitted that despite having a seemingly successful home life, she had a long-term lover whom she hoped to meet at the races, whilst Shelley hoped for fame and fortune and a wealthy husband, not least to pay off her massive debts.  Jan gave a droll descent into drunkenness but not before revealing her struggles as a single parent to raise her daughter and her fears about when her daughter left home for university.

Sara Johnston conveyed well Linda’s pathos, with her naivety and her obsession with singer Tony Christie masking her loneliness and struggles with her manipulative mother.  Dave Candy, a terrific comic actor with superb timing and delivery, portrayed Irish jockey Patrick, firstly in a soliloquy and then in gentle conversation with Linda as they make a connection that they both clearly sought.

Although there was much subtle and sincere poignancy, this was not a gritty northern drama (all northern dramas are gritty until proven otherwise, apparently).  Rather the entertaining northern humour was appreciated by all.  Once again KADS has presented a marvellous evening’s entertainment with great performances by all the actors, great technical support and superb direction.

Tickets from: https://www.kads.org.uk/tickets or call 07808 067778