‘A fascinating play, excellently performed by Paula Tinker, ably accompanied by musician and lyricist John Gleadall’

londonpubtheatres.com

‘Poisoned Beds’ is a collaboration between two highly regarded theatre writers and will delight audiences with its clever combination of comedy and sadness, sharp dialogue, unexpected plot twists and wonderfully witty lyrics.

Sussex based Actress Paula Tinker, who has appeared in various Chichester Festival Theatre productions, gives a virtuoso performance in this superb one-act script and ahead of her performance at Denmans Garden on 28^th March she speaks to us about the play and working with musician John Gleadall.

I was at Chichester Festival Theatre some 40 years ago in Patrick Garland’s Company for three seasons and since then I have worked the West End’s ‘Crazy For You’, repertory theatres, tours of ‘84 Charing Cross Road’, ‘Funny Peculiar’, Steaming’, ‘Cabaret’ and long stints in various London Weekend comedy series.

It was while caring for my mother and therefore unable to work that I decided to attend Greg Mosse’s writing classes at CFT, which is where musician John Gleadall and I met. When my mother died Greg asked me and John to perform a new play written by he and Lucy Fleming entitled ‘Poisoned Beds’.

We opened at ‘The Spring’ in Havant and sold out. Further performances around Sussex and Hampshire followed but lock down closed live theatre. In May 2024 we went to a fringe theatre in London for a week and received 4*reviews.

I love this play. ‘Poisoned Beds’ not only tells of an appalling time in Emsworth over 100 years ago, but also celebrates the strength of women and the importance of their vote – finally granted in 1918.

John’s music and songs are wonderful, specially written for the play and extremely atmospheric, they really set the mood. At the end everybody gets a chance to join in with some very lusty sea Shanties – always received and sung enthusiastically by the audience!

Above all, the play carries a direct resonance with the sewage problems and thence pollution of our waters today. But it isn’t just a play about poo, it’s about a woman who finally dares to take control of her life despite intense and threatening male opposition.

It is quite a short play, just over an hour – followed by the shanties, lasting approx. half an hour. John and I are on stage from start to finish. It’s quite intimate with very simple lighting and a minimal set. In fact, we have performed it without any lighting at all and it still works well. I like the audience to feel included in the story.

It’s great that ‘Poisoned Beds’ is going to be on at Denmans Garden. When I first moved down here, I used to bring my mother to Denmans and we meet Mrs Robinson the original owner, on several occasions. Then we later met John Brookes and always enjoyed the garden for its beauty and the fact that it was so good for disabled access.

I am so pleased to see that it has now recovered its former glory thanks to Gwendolyn van Paasschen. It would be lovely if doing this play – after all it is all about nature isn’t it? – might lead to further live events – it would be perfect!

We are hoping to take the play to some venues on the East Coast where there is now a renewal of interest in oyster fishing. Oysters have been eaten since the Romans and at one time were so plentiful, they were considered to be poor man’s food.

Emsworth oysters were considered to be the best in the 19th century and were served at the Savoy Hotel. “12000 were sent each week to London alone”.

Otherwise like all actors, future plans mean I have to wait for my agent to call. I have had a good couple of years with commercials in Portugal and film work. So, fingers crossed!

Poisoned Beds – Not surfers but Suffragettes against sewage!
An Edwardian woman’s fight for freedom, justice and unpolluted waters.

After a short interval there will be a chance for the audience to join in more ‘songs of the sea’ and have an informal chat with the performers.

Friday 28th March – 7pm
Tickets £12.50 (Ticket Sales Close 28th March at 3pm).

Refreshments available at Midpines Cafe.