Boys from the Black Stuff Saturday 19 April. 10 members enjoyed the 1980s based play about unemployment, signing on, being investigated for 'working' while claiming the dole. A bit of humour, a pinch of tragedy, but an amazing set, lighting and sound

Picture You Dead 15 March at Nottingham Theatre Royal. All 10 thought it was a good adaptation of Peter James novel about a famous art forger, and the clash with a wealthy art collector, with a hapless couple who liked car boot sales and found a Fragonard disguised as an ugly woman. Never appear on Antiques Roadshow if you have anything valuable.

Of Mice and Men 15 February at Derby Theatre. 20 members watched a diverse cast act in a Derby Theatre produced version of John Steinbeck's dustbowl tale of itinerant ranch hands. The scene was set in the first act, and the second act had the result of Lennie's actions, so the majority of members attending probably preferred the second act.

Blood Brothers 18 January 2025. Derby Theatre. What a production. The theatre was packed even though there was a home Rams match. There was a standing ovation and a few tears to wipe at the end. A musical for people who don't like musicals?

A Raisin in the Sun at Nottingham Playhouse on November 16. This was listed as one of the 50 top things to do this Autumn, and was by an award winning Black playwright, Lorraine Hansbury. I think we were all a bit dazed afterwards. The play covered many themes, but it wasn't about a happy ending, a desire to desegregate a white neighbourhood, or to be part of the middle class. For Lorraine, the programme says ,it was about Black freedom. Freedom to dream, aspire, to own, rather than to be owned. The play was written 65 years ago, and Hansbury died at the age of 34 of pancreatic cancer.

Welfare at Derby Theatre on October 12 - A solid 14 people enjoyed the Sarah Brigham production of Abi Zakarian’s play about the convalescent home which became the miners’ holiday camp. Bingo Bob, played by Ivan Stott, held all the different stories together, as well as the bingo and multi instruments. Pre-show entertainment, had us in stitches, trying to perform YMCA. During the Play, Derwent
Brass performed often. There were some serious moments: war,racism, the pit strikes. A highlight for me was a loud electric guitar and all the cast singing Billy Bragg’s ‘There is Power in A Union.’ One of the best.

History Boys at Nottingham Theatre Royal on Thursday 12 September - 7 u3a members met to enjoy thoroughly the latest version of Alan Bennett’s multi-award winning play. Among many highlights, a foot-stomping, desk standing, rulers as percussion ‘Stand and Deliver’ (Adam Ant) Marvellous.

What the Butler Saw at Derby Theatre on Saturday 15 Jun 2024 - A Joe Orton classic enjoyed by 10 u3a members. Farcical most of the time, it had
serious hard-hitting anti-establishment elements.

Cluedo 2 on May 25 was laugh out loud hilarious and had enough red herrings to make almost anyone of the characters the serial killer.

The Kite Runner on 20 April at Nottingham Playhouse was a good interpretation of the book. Large cast and interesting set with use of screens to project images onto and to infer incidents which couldn't be shown live on stage. We all enjoyed a visit to a new venue for the theatre group.

Animal Farm 9 March 2024 a group of 16 enjoyed a memorable stage production of Orwell's take on the perils of socialism. Included songs!

Noises Off 31 January 2024. Very funny play within a play by Michael Frayn. Excellent cast and set.

Woman in Black 2 December 2023. A very small group braved cold weather. Mark James was Arthur Kipps and Mark Hawkins as The Actor. Various roles were enacted by the use of a change of coat or hats. Plenty of sound effects and gradual revelations of the set and interesting use of lighting.

Brassed Off at Derby Theatre on 30 September was enjoyed by a large group. Mines closing, hardships and the pleasures of playing in the pit band despite not being able to pay the subs had most of us reaching for the tissues. Standing ovation.

The Mousetrap 70th Anniversary at Derby Theatre on 19 July was enjoyed by all of us. Very enjoyable with plenty of red herrings. Todd Carthy from Grange Hill all those years ago had an interesting role. I can't say more otherwise it would give the plot away.

The Verdict at Derby Theatre on 24 June 2023 was enjoyed by a small group of members. It was an excellent drama with a large cast, some great sound effects, and we wanted the washed up attorney to win the medical negligence case. He did but not without the other side trying everything to cause his failure. Witnesses disappeared, someone who befriended him was secretly working for the medical team's lawyer.

Steel Magnolias at Theatre Royal Nottingham on 13 April 2023 gave the impression of a gossipy hairdresser's salon. As usual there was a serious issue involving the youngest 'customer'. The play's author had a sister who was diabetic and this character was based on her. Dialysis and the reaction to death were also important aspects of the play.

The Time Machine at Derby Theatre was fast paced and full of quick changes of costume, characters and eras. The first act established the difficulty of changing the course of history by time travel. Some preferred the second act which included on stage wine and pizza ( a chance for audience participation) and a bit of dance.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at Nottingham Theatre Royal on Saturday 11 February 2023 was good fun and full of stars such as Rula Lenska, Hayley Mills and Paul Nicholas.

Jekyll and Hyde 1 October 2022 Fascinating and well performed. Several of us wanted to read the book.