10 Years Ago This Month…
10 Years Ago This Month: Darling… Have You Seen My Structural Surveys?
September 2015 was a month full of history-making moments. Queen Elizabeth II became the longest reigning British monarch, NASA confirmed the discovery of water on Mars, and here in Louth, Playgoers audiences were treated to a brand-new comedy hot off the press from the pen of the extremely talented John Hewer.
That show was, of course, Darling… Have You Seen My Structural Surveys? – a hilariously funny farce written and directed by John himself. The piece had its first outing as a short reading at our Scratch Night (a night of new writing in collaboration with Hambledon Productions) the year before, before John approached Bob Booth with the idea of bringing it to life on the Riverhead stage. Bob agreed, a September slot was found, and the rest is history.
The production ran from 14th–19th September 2015 at the Riverhead Theatre and proved to be a roaring success. Designed by David Fidler, the set transformed seamlessly from the offices of M & K Estate Agents in Act One to a stylish Louth property in Act Two. The five-strong cast included Philip Marshall Junior, James Burgess, Natalie Clark, Jerry Smith and Danielle Stark, all of whom brought John’s script to life with energy, comic timing and a flair for farce.
The play was full of quick-fire one-liners, slapstick humour, and cheeky innuendo that gave it the feel of a classic 1970s sitcom or a Carry On film. Audiences responded warmly, with laughter filling the auditorium across the week-long run.
Looking back, the show stands as a brilliant example of what can happen when new writing is given a chance to grow, from a short script shared at Scratch Night to a fully staged production in front of hundreds of theatre-goers.
This September, as we once again celebrate creativity with the 14th reiteration of the Scratch Night, it’s exciting to think that one of this year’s pieces could follow in the footsteps of Darling… Have You Seen My Structural Surveys?. Ten years on, the legacy of that production is a reminder of the importance of supporting fresh voices and giving new stories a stage.
If you would like to book your tickets for this years Scratch Night CLICK HERE
