Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia At Penarth’s Paget Rooms

After the success of their first production – Terry Pratchett’s The Truth – in August 2018, Peculiar Productions’ next play goes from fantasy to science with Tom Stoppard’s acclaimed comedy, Arcadia.

At Sidley Park in 1809, the house is rife with intrigue and happenings, as the infamous Lord Byron is staying with the Coverly family. Whilst the gardens are being redesigned – much to Lady Croom’s distress – the youngest daughter, Thomasina, is being tutored in the classics by Byron’s contemporary, Septimus. Two centuries later, a group of academics convene at the same location to discuss the events that followed: did Byron take part in a fatal duel? Is the story of the mysterious Sidley Park hermit just a myth? And who was spied in the gazebo with Mrs. Chater?

First performed at the National Theatre in 1993, Arcadia won both the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play and the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Play. In 2006, Arcadia was shortlisted by the Royal Institution of Great Britain as one of the best science books ever written.

Sarah Roberts, Chair of Peculiar Productions says “Arcadia is an awesome show and a great fit for our company. It’s sharp, smart, silly and funny, just like us.”

Director Hannah Bennett said, “I’ve been dying to direct Arcadia since I was seventeen; it’s delightfully funny and intelligent, and you’re in for a proper treat.”

Peculiar Productions was founded by members of popular Cardiff group Monstrous Productions in 2017. Their first production raised over £2,700 for Cardiff Mind, and they are hoping to raise a similar amount for The Brain Tumour Charity (thebraintumourcharity.org), with proceeds from Arcadia going towards this very worthwhile cause.

• Arcadia runs from Thursday 21st – Saturday 23rd February 2019 7:30pm at The Paget Rooms, Penarth. Tickets are £9.00 (£7.00 concessions) and can be purchased via Peculiar Productions’ website at peculiarproductions.co.uk/tickets.