by Derek Webb
26th, 28th & 29th November 2025
Tickets £8 (£5 for under-16s) available on the door and from ticketsource.co.uk/HAT
Venue: St George's Church Hall, Hambledon Road, Waterlooville PO7 7EH
Iris Carr, a wealthy socialite, meets Miss Froy on a train returning from eastern Europe. Waking after a sleep, Iris is surprised to find that Miss Froy is no longer there. But, when she asks the others in the compartment where Miss Froy has gone, she is astonished that they deny she was ever there! She goes in search of Miss Froy, and meets up with Max Hare and his friend, a Professor. Together, they agree to help Iris find Miss Froy, but the men soon begin to doubt Iris's word as they are met with denial from everyone they talk to.
Who is lying? Is anybody actually telling the truth? Does Miss Froy even exist?
The classic 1938 Hitchcock film ‘The Lady Vanishes’ was based on a novel called ‘The Wheel Spins’ by Ethel Lina White. The film took various liberties with the plot, including introducing a propaganda element involving Nazis. This stage adaptation by Derek Webb is a comedy that goes back to the original novel and tries as much as possible to capture the 1930s feel of White’s novel.
(In order of appearance)
REV KENNETH BARNES Stuart Dickenson
MRS BARNES Carolyn Carr
MISS EVELYN FLOOD-PORTER April Waugh / Sonja Renfrew
MISS ROSE FLOOD-PORTER Kellie English
MRS TODHUNTER Maria Burden
TODHUNTER Ian Tapster
IRIS CARR Claire Murray
MISS FROY Verity Leaver
BARONESS Val Gray
DOCTOR Ross Gilson
WAITER Alan Patrick
MAX HARE Iain Renfrew
PROFESSOR Phil Davies
FRAU KUMMER Verity Leaver
BORDER GUARD John Dalby
NUN Sue Corbin
DIRECTORS Natalie Pettit & Alison Mace
BACKSTAGE TEAM Maria Burden, Anne Dalby, Francesca Sherren & Charlotte Whelan
LIGHTING & SOUND David Sherren
PROMPT Cameron Hatwell
GRAPHIC DESIGN David Sherren