Archway Theatre in Horley presents Constellations with 12 shows commencing next week

This play comprises one act and two characters, a beekeeper and an astrophysicist, who meet at a barbecue. At the start of the play, we see how this first encounter can progress in different ways.

Written by Nick Payne, Constellations is all about the fleeting nature of biological existence. It's about consequence, chance, free will and friendship; it's also about quantum multiverse theory, love, and honey.

The author explores these themes through his portrayal of the complications and challenges that can face a couple. The action of the play is set across several multiverses with different outcomes in each one for the two characters. In many of the multiverses we see a relationship that evolves into a life long commitment to each other. It is a really beautiful play.

The Archway is presenting Constellations with four different casts, who appear on different evenings, in rotation. So, theatre-goers have the opportunity to watch more than one show and see how the performance and feel of the play vary from one pair of actors to another. However, the script will be exactly the same each time.

Two of the casts consist of actors from our Young Adults Workshop. Each Young Adult cast will give one special performance. These two special performances will take place on 6 and 7 May, at 7:45pm.

Content warning: While Constellations is a comedy, it contains some strong language, some references to assisted dying and terminal illness and explores different aspects of relationships - the highs and the lows.

The director, Amanda Dunford, has been a member of the Archway for nearly 30 years, during which she has enjoyed time on stage. However, she loves also being a director. She has previously directed Alan Bennett’s The History Boys and Martin McDonagh’s Hangmen. Most recently, she co-directed our pantomime Peter Pan – a very different undertaking!

Comments Amanda, “This production excites me because we are doing something out of the ordinary by having different casts over the two week period. So, we see the variations in the relationship over the course of the play, as well as different interpretations of the characters across the different casts and in the various multiverses.

“The rehearsal process has been really fascinating for me as a director, as I have my clear vision of the play but am at the same time working really collaboratively with the different pairs of actors and the way the same lines are delivered in such different ways in some of the scenes.”

The Archway Theatre is among Surrey's leading repertory drama theatres. Nestled in Horley’s atmospheric railway arches, The Archway Theatre Company has for over 70 years been surprising and delighting local residents and visitors with high quality productions, ranging from Shakespeare and the classics, through modern comedies, musicals and pantomimes, to experimental pieces that push the boundaries of the form.

A member of the prestigious Little Theatre Guild, the Archway boasts a comfortable 95-seat auditorium and a cosy, recently refurbished bar, where audience members and cast and crew can relax and enjoy the anticipation and afterglow of memorable performances.

The Archway's ten main house productions per year normally run for ten nights each. In addition, there is a studio space for smaller-scale shows and our Youth Workshop and Young Adults group offer fantastic opportunities for the young people of the area to experience the thrill of putting on live theatre.

More information aboutConstellations, as well as performance dates and tickets, can be obtained via The Archway’s website: www.archwaytheatre.co.uk.Tickets: £13.50 (non-members); £11.50 (members).