Funny look at a tedious task in West Chiltington

The comedy takes place in the ballroom of the rather seedy Swan Hotel where members of the community of the small market town of Pendon have formed a committee to stage a pageant.

They want to commemorate local historical events featuring the infamous John Cockle culminating in the Massacre of the Pendon Twelve.

Director Miq Kelland said: “Ten Times Table is not one of Alan Ayckbourn’s best-known works, but I was intrigued by the challenges of directing a play in which the actors spend a lot of their time sitting still around a table. Having spent a fair amount of my own life on committees, I appreciate the humour that the author has introduced into what can be a tedious process, and I find his observations of the various characters’ secret agendas very true-to-life.”

Performances are at West Chiltington Village Hall on Thursday to Saturday, November 21-23 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 from Nisa Local or the Post Office Stores in West Chiltington, the Card Shop in Storrington or ring 01798 815122.