First in-person production at the Limelight Theatre in Aylesbury for 14 months announced

Aylesbury’s Queens Park Arts Centre will reopen the Limelight Theatre with a brand new play from its in-house production company Unbound.

‘Funny Voices’ will debut on May 21 and will be the first show performed in front of a live audience since the Limelight Theatre closed its doors in March 2020.

Set in 1984, the play centres on ‘Jolly Joyce’ Burrows, who returns to the Regency Theatre to perform her one-woman show. The venue holds all manner of memories

for her, and she's about to relive them.

A series of visitors to her dressing room lead her to recall her long life and career, from the music hall stage and the golden age of radio, to film sets and sitcoms. So many stories, so many characters, so many voices. But what of the story that began when the laughter ended?

‘Funny Voices’ is written and directed by Dario Knight and stars Erika Sanderson, Kati Herbert, Robert Aldington, Stephanie Hull and Gareth Johnson.

The show is currently being rehearsed online with the cast due to return to the rehearsal room in April. “It’s been a long time coming but finally we’re headed back on stage in front of an audience,” says Dario, who is manager of the Limelight Theatre, and Unbound’s creative producer.

Queens Park Arts Centre will be reopening to the public from Monday 17th May, with its workshop programme resuming alongside a brand new roster of exhibitions and events. The

Centre has maintained a busy online profile throughout the pandemic, including its upcoming ‘Women in the Arts’ online festival, which runs from 22nd-31st March.

Dario outlined his excitement at performing in front of people rather than computer screens, whilst also outlining how the production has stayed busy during the pandemic. He added: “Though Unbound has been far from idle during the pandemic – producing a feature film, multiple audio series, and our 24-Hour live stream – the return to live performance is a huge milestone.

"“Funny Voices” is a bittersweet love-letter to stories and those who tell them, and is performed by an incredible cast. Unbound were the last group to perform at the Limelight

before it was forced to go dark, so it’s only right that we’re there to reopen it this Spring.”

‘Funny Voices’ runs at Queens Park Arts Centre’s Limelight Theatre from May 21 to 23. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked on the company's website here.