Top student play to be staged at Weymouth College’s Bay Theatre

On Thursday, Silhouette Productions – second year acting students – will stage The Five Wives of Maurice Pinder at the college, with a repeat performance at Dorchester Arts centre on May 18.

The play, by Matt Charman, focuses on one man who manages to have five wives – much to the dismay of a council officer who represents ‘society’ on stage.

Marriage is a sacred bond, vows are exchanged, love is shared and respect is given unconditionally. But how much respect should you give a man who has made this bond five times, and still lives with each of them under one roof?

The Five Wives of Maurice Pinder is set in this house and focuses on the day to day lives of this unlikely merging of characters.

Maurice is played by Simon Brough, with his wives brought to life by Emily Preston, Sam Butler, Jessica Defrietas, Leander Hakimi and Rosie Robinson.

The play is directed by William Noble, who also plays the part of council officer Jason.

He said: “We found the play and decided to stage it because we thought it would be challenging. It is very naturalistic, it’s like a TV drama, and has been staged at the National Theatre.

“We have taken its naturalism into consideration and have made it more theatrical for the theatre.”

He added: “It addresses the issues of marriage and relationships that we largely take for granted.

“Maurice has three wives at the start of the play and five at the end!

“The first thought is ‘why does he have five wives?’ but then you start to think about it and you see that he has married these women because they were badly treated by other men and he wanted help them.

“He is basically a nice man, but going about things in a funny way.”

The show contains some strong language and adult themes.

Performances are at 7.30pm on May 10 in the bay Theatre, Weymouth College, Cranford Avenue, Weymouth and May 18 in Dorchester Arts Centre.

Tickets: £5 concessions, £7 adults and season tickets are free.