Written By
Chris Chibnall
Where and When
20th – 22nd February 2025 @ The Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne
The Plot
Worst Wedding Ever is a comedy drama written by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall and set in Dorset.
Rachel and Scott are getting married. They are also buying a house together – never the easiest of things to do at the same time. When the house price goes up, their plans for the dream wedding have to be downsized to the local registry office. Rachel’s mother, however, has other ideas. What if the family could join forces and make it a wedding to be proud of?
With a marquee in the back garden, a hand-me-down dress, the pub band and two fully functioning Portaloos, surely the day will pass without a hitch?
Directed by Tracey Nicholls, this amateur production of Worst Wedding Ever is presented by arrangement with Imaginary Friends Productions Ltd. and 42M&P Ltd.
Ticket Info
- Thursday – Saturday Evenings at 7.30pm – £17.50
- Saturday Matinee at 2.30pm – £15.50
Cast
- Rachel – Jo Eva Edington
- Liz – Tracie Billington-Beardsley
- Scott – Rob Cording-Cook
- Mel – Gary Paine
- Mike – Tony Feltham
- Graeme – David Beddard-Banks
- Alison – Michelle Barter
- Andy – Calum Hearne
- Band members/Neighbours – Kira Bradford / Suzanne Viney
- Nurse – Suzanne Viney
Creative Team
- Director – Tracey Nicholls
- Stage Manager – Melody Utley
- Set Designer / Deputy Stage Manager – Nick Clark
- Properties / ASMs – Dee Hawes, Paul Sennitt
- Sound – Colin Pile
- Costume Supervisor – Kira Bradford
- Book Cover – Judy Garrett
- Publicity & Programme – Richard Neal
For the Tivoli Theatre
- Production Manager – Kyle Best
- Lighting – Chandler Whitelock
Previews
A comedy drama about a wedding, written by ‘Broadchurch’ creator Chris Chibnall, is sure to lift the spirits this winter.
‘Worst Wedding Ever’ is set in Dorset, where Chris Chibnall has lived for the past 20 years, and is about a couple called Rachel and Scott who are getting married. They are also buying a house together – never the easiest of things to do at the same time. When the house price goes up, their plans for a dream wedding are downsized to the local registry office.
But Rachel’s mother has other ideas. What if the family could make it a wedding to be proud of? With a marquee in the back garden, a hand-me-down dress, a pub band and a portaloo, surely the day will pass without a hitch.
The play will be performed by Wimborne Daram Productions at the Tivoli Theatre from 20 to 22 February and is directed by Tracy Nicholls. In her cast are Jo Eva Edington, Rob Cording-Cook, Tracie Billington-Beardsley, Gary Paine, David Beddard-Banks, Michelle Barter, Tony Feltham and Calum Hearne.
Gallery
Reviews
Chaz Davenport – Scene One
For this production of a play I’d never heard of, I thought I could look up stuff about it beforehand to get some “prep” in, or I could go to the Tivoli, sit back in my seat and let the production tell me the story and see if it gets to me. I went for the latter and I’m glad I did.
Obviously, the title does give a little bit of information as to the subject matter, but there are plays aplenty about weddings and such that I was keen to see what this could do to tell me something I don’t know about the stresses and strains of getting hitched.
So, what makes this a story about the Worst Wedding Ever? Well, it centres largely around a somewhat passive-aggressively forceful mother of the bride, taking over the plans and proceedings with what is her view of how a wedding should be, while the young couple would really, really just prefer something small and quiet – Mum wants ostentatious and showy – so much so, she’s already made lots of arrangements.
This is an exceptionally well written and well presented play, which has so many more layers to it than a simple farcical wedding story as it progresses. Director Tracey Nicholls is to be congratulated on the choice of play and for the clear and tight direction that has gone into this piece.
Now for the performances. Thanks to that writing, direction and some superbly paced and delivered acting, roles that could become almost two-dimensional caricatures develop depth and meaning as each backstory is brought to life with skilled expression and presentation from all.
As the couple, Jo Eva Edington (Rachel) and Rob Cording-Cook show a great deal of chemistry and really crackle on well together with pace and believability. Gary Paine as the long suffering, affable and a little unhinged Dad makes you feel for him (I’m a middle aged man – I’m allowed to sympathise).
As the aforementioned forceful Mum, Tracie Billington-Beardsley absolutely shines and gives, for my money, an acting masterclass as we discover her truths and personality layers.
Then, we have the bride’s sister. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to put “bitchy” in a review, but I’ve just done it! Michelle Barter as “Aiison” does very well here and what starts off as a bit of a deplorable, bitchy-sister person, becomes someone we care about.
An absolute gift of a role goes to Tony Feltham – on the one hand, he is Mike, Alison’s ex husband, but on the other hand, he provides the voice to some fabulous musical interludes between scenes. I don’t want to say too much about this aspect of the show, as it could spoil the surprise, but this is a fantastic and very entertaining device between scenes that puts me in mind of the movie There’s Something About Mary. It’s just brilliant. You’ll see!
Able support, and another bunch of back-story creativity, comes from David Beddard-Banks as Graham, the inappropriate vicar, Callum Hearne as Andy, the ne’er-do-well brother, and Kira Bradford and Suzanne Viney taking on multiple roles, doing a great job and having a lot of fun doing so.
The set is terrific and very functional, with some surprises. Top marks to Nick Clark for his design and Chandler Whitelock for the lighting. Good work with the sound too from Colin Pile.
Overall, this is a great play and a great night out. The packed house at the Tivoli Theatre was particularly gratifying to see. There are still some tickets for Friday 21 February evening and for the Saturday 22 February, matinee and evening performances.
Marilyn Barber – Viewpoint Magazine
I fear I am going to run out of superlatives about this production as it was so very good. I’ve said it before about Wimborne Drama Productions, and I will say it again, this is amateur theatre at its very, very best.
Written by Chris Chibnall, who penned so many TV hits including ‘Broadchurch’, the play tells the story of parents whose idea of a perfect wedding is not the same as that of the bride and groom.
Huge accolades go to this stunning cast, who all deserve a big round of applause.
Tracie Billington-Beardsley has so many different characters under her belt, and she was just perfect as the interfering mother-in-law Liz who wanted a perfect wedding for her daughter. She injected not just humour into the part, but pathos as her backstory was revealed.
The company will miss Rob Cording-Cook, as he is moving from the area. He put so much humour into the part of the groom Scott, teaming so well with Jo Eva Edington as Rachel, the bride to be.
It was good to see Gary Paine in a major role as the bride’s father Mel, as he proved how adept he is at comedy.
Michelle Barter was hilarious as the bride’s sister Alison, whilst David Beddard-Banks had fun as the quirky vicar Graham. Calum Hearne is a good character actor and he shone as the feckless brother of the groom.
Band members and neighbours were played by Kira Bradford and Suzanne Viney.
And last, but by no means least, Tony Feltham, who has been with the company for many years, absolutely nailed it as Mike, Alison’s ex. Tony certainly added to the play’s wow factor: not only did he act, he came on at various points in the story to deliver an appropriate song, adding so much to the fun and mayhem.
Director Tracey Nicholls has every right to be so proud of this production.
From 22–24 May, Wimborne Drama Productions are staging ‘Calendar Girls’. You won’t want to miss that.
Programme
