Cheltenham Operatic and Dramatic Society is back on stage! Bringing its fast-paced, comedic adaption of the spy thriller, The 39 Steps, to Cheltenham Playhouse, from Friday 8 to Saturday 16 October 2021.
Adapted from John Buchan’s 1915 novel and the 1935 thriller film by Alfred Hitchcock, The 39 Steps sees an ordinary man become tangled up in an espionage mission to stop a secret organisation from stealing important British military secrets, after he is wrongly accused of murdering an agent.
It’s the first performance for the lively dramatic society since the Coronavirus pandemic began, following its last sell-out performance of Goodnight Mr Tom in February 2020 – with CODS inviting audiences to join Richard Hannay on a quest to prove his innocence as he attempts to track down the leader of the mysterious espionage organisation, The 39 Steps, with policeman and foreign agents hot on his trail!
Expect a gripping whodunit that’s bursting with energy, with onstage stunts, elements of farce and parodic references to all things murder mystery.
Performed by just four actors, there’ll be quick-changes as over 150 characters appear on stage, with the cast taking on multiple roles and even playing different characters at the same time.
Running for over 130 years, Cheltenham Operatic and Dramatic Society is Gloucestershire’s oldest amateur dramatic group, typically staging three productions a year at Cheltenham’s Everyman and Playhouse theatres.
For more information about Cheltenham Operatic and Dramatic Society, visit codsonline.co.uk and to book tickets, visit cheltplayhouse.org.uk/the-39-steps.
