Rotherham u3a has its own band of story tellers, the Playreading group, which meets fortnightly to read plays ranging from Shakespeare to farce.  Although not all the plays are comedies, the emphasis is on having fun.  The fact that group members often play multiple parts, quickly switching, for example from a refined Shakespearian gentleman to a roisterous, barking dog, adds greatly to the enjoyment and hilarity.

Two contrasting plays amongst those “performed” by the group this year, are Willis Hall’s “The Musketeers”, an amusing, high-energy adaptation of the universally loved story. Swashbuckling and rollicking adventure guaranteed – convincing French accents, not so much, and Pinter’s “The Homecoming”, a difficult and absurd tale, about family and belonging.

Yet playreading is often full of surprises, and reading a play out loud can bring out the fun in it.  So-called “heavy” plays such “The Homecoming” or Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” are in fact quite humorous.   All manner of drama is grist to the mill for this group.

Stretch your imagination – come and join us.

• Article in Rotherham Life magazine August 2024