Theatre is well and truly back, and I couldn’t be happier that UNLIMITED SERVICE is making its UK debut! My absurdist comedy is due to be performed at the first ever Short+Sweet Theatre Essex, which is running from September 18th to October 1st 2022 at the Brentwood Theatre (tickets on sale now).
It’s genuinely exciting to have the opportunity to watch the play live and in person, having been unable to travel to its earlier performances in Brisbane and Sydney.
Festival Director Hazel Lucas has curated a brilliant selection of work for the landmark inaugural Short+Sweet Essex, which also represents the first time that the Short+Sweet franchise - the biggest little play festival in the world - has been produced in England. Rising film industry talent Jack Cressall will be taking the reins as first-time theatre director for my play, and he’s convened a top-drawer cast and a slew of creative ideas that are set to lift the piece from page to stage in style. Excuse me while I book my front row (frow?) seat…
So now, please be upstanding for the cast and crew of UNLIMITED SERVICE ESSEX EDITION!
MEET THE CAST
JAMES LITTLE (playing GEORGE)
James Little is a versatile performer who has been likened to a shapeshifter. As a freelancer he has professionally performed improv, storytelling and various theatre forms as well as working, assisting and facilitating community groups and spending the last five years as a represented commercial actor.
Graduating East 15 in 2016 and co-creating Backpack Theatre (a devising company) he has worked with companies such as Chaplin, Spinning Yarns, Show Up Productions and recently Unpuzzled Theatre and is starting to become a more independent practitioner.
James delights in theatre that tells a story with meaningful characters that takes audiences on a journey and sticks with you long after the curtain has come down.
MATTHEW WILLIS (playing MR WILBY)
Having studied drama at school and college, Matthew Willis has always had an interest in performing arts. To date he has been involved in numerous amateur theatre productions, starting with Cast & Theatre Workshop at the age of 17 and, more recently, with Southend Shakespeare Company.
Outside of this, Matthew also has a keen interest in Improvised Comedy and storytelling, performing both locally and in London.
JACK CRESSALL (DIRECTOR)
Rising industry talent Jack Cressall has been working extensively across Film & TV as an Assistant Director turned Executive Assistant. An emerging director, producer and writer, he was mentored in film-making and screenwriting by acclaimed British playwright and screenwriter Michael Lesslie (MACBETH and ASSASSIN’S CREED), film producer P.J Van Sandjwik (THIRTEEN LIVES and THE RESCUE) and producer and writer Ivan Atinkson (THE GENTLEMAN and ALADDIN). This production of UNLIMITED SERVICE at Short+Sweet Essex marks Jack’s directorial and theatre debut.