Outloud Productions inspirational speech drama and voice training for children schools adults and businesses London South East and Essex UK GB

Dead Reckoning and Passing Strangers
Two plays by Eric Chappell

We have now completed our 2011 tour of Eric Chappell's plays, which were well received and enjoyed by audiences all over the country.

Here are just some of the comments we received:

Hello, to everybody involved with that production,
I just had to send a message to let you know how much we enjoyed this completely unknown play. We dithered over whether to book or not, and we are so very glad that we decided to come, not only was the play excellent but the directing and the acting were certainly 'the best'. Every character seemed made for the part, and I didn't have a clue what was going to be the twist in the second act. Eric Chappell can certainly write a thriller, it was brilliant. You'll all know it went well, but it's nice to be told!
I did get to speak to 'lights' at the back before we left, but that wasn't enough - it is always best in writing, I think.
Regards,
A Rowe (Headgate, Cholchester)

Thoroughly enjoyed Dead Reckoning at Sheringham last night. Highlighted the gulf between professional and amateur. Here's to your continued success.
Thanks and best regards.
C Sadler, Sherrignham

Hi
I came to see your production of Passing Strangers at the Harlow Playhouse last Saturday and was bowled over. It was such a brilliant script, a fantastic production and altogether a brilliant night out.
Regards
M Giddings

Dead Reckoning

BAFTA award winning writer Eric Chappell – creator of TV comedy classic’s such as Rising Damp, Home to Roost, Duty Free and Only When I Laugh – has written his first ever thriller.

Departing from his normal genre of comedy, Dead Reckoning is a psychological thriller which sees a renowned artist finding himself caught up in a night of chilling mind games and murder.

When the mysterious Mr Todd arrives at painter Tony Reed's house, Reed and his second wife Megan find themselves entering a terrifying nightmare from which there seems no escape.

Who exactly is Mr Todd? Just what does he want with Tony Reed? And where will it all end?

Eric Chappell with the cast from the first run of Dead Reckoning

Eric Chappell says of Dead Reckoning - “Producing a thriller is an exciting, but nerve wracking, new experience for me as writer. With a comedy you are acutely aware of exactly what the audience thinks of your work as you hear their reactions – to not hear an audience laughing is going to be an uncomfortable and unusual experience for me.”

Eric Chappell took up full time writing in 1973 after his first stage play, The Banana Box, was produced at the Apollo Theatre, London. The play later inspired the classic TV comedy Rising Damp, winner of the BAFTA award for Best Situation Comedy. In 1979 Eric's screen version won the Evening Standard Film Award for Best Comedy. Other TV success include The Squirrels, The Bounder, Home to Roost (all of which won PYE TV awards), Only When I Laugh, Duty Free, Singles, Fiddlers Three and Haggard. Eric has written over 200 TV comedy scripts and more than 20 stage plays, which are performed worldwide. He is unquestionably one of the top writers of comedy in Britain today. Find out more at www.ericchappell.co.uk

Dead Reckoning is presented by Outloud Productions. Producer Sally Lawrence says “It is a huge honour that Eric has selected Outloud for his first foray in to thriller writing, and we are really looking forward to bringing this future classic to life.”

Dead Reckoning is touring as part of a double bill of Mirth and Murder alongside Eric's new play Passing Strangers.

"Thoroughly enjoyed Dead Reckoning at Sheringham last night. Highlighted the gulf between professional and amateur. Here's to your continued success."

For further information email us at: info@outloudproductions.co.uk

Photos by Marilyn Kingwill

Outloud Productions at Brentwood Theatre - 25.09.10 - Review by Michael Gray

Comedy genius Eric [Rising Damp] Chappell has long dreamed of writing a thriller. Dead Reckoning first saw the light in Lincolnshire in 2006, and now it's on the road in Kate Beale's enjoyably tense staging for Leigh-based Outloud Productions.

Surly artist Tony Reed [a powerful presence from Rocky Rising] is haunted by the violent death of his wife; his drinking becomes heavier, his paintings darker and more disturbing. When an insistent stranger appears at his door, keen to talk about penal reform, and makes him a startling proposition, his new wife, Lady Macbeth in a cocktail dress, encourages him to act on his fantasies of justice and vengeance. Todd, fresh-faced, upbeat, with an engaging grin, was given a chilling edge of menace in a stunning performance by George Kemp, and Megan was played with steely coolness by Sally Lawrence, nervously twisting her wedding ring and the fateful bracelet. “I'll walk the dog now – it's growing dark,” she says, and we fear the worst.

Todd's accomplice was John Oakes, too young for the role perhaps, but with an unsettling Pinteresque power that was most successful in his quieter moments.

“Why am I telling you all this ?” Megan wonders as she unburdens herself improbably to this mysterious young man she's only just met. It's not realistic, or particularly believable, but then nor is Greek tragedy, and it was good to see an old-fashioned psychological thriller, bodies, twists, clichés and all, in this close-up and personal setting – the first full production in Brentwood's Audrey Longman Studio. And no gratuitous, gritty swearing ! Thank you, Eric.
original 'Tony Reed' created by Anthony Farrell

Passing Strangers

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