Winter Tales: Basement

"Basement is the most gripping performance of the evening, set in total darkness in, you guessed it, the basement, it instils fear from the moment you’re led behind the bar and into the working cellar of the premises. As the robbers creep in, the tension mounts, and I crept further and further up my bench, away from the ominous, black-sheeted doorway hovering over me... and oh, what a wise move it turned out to be."
"Despite their 20-minute chunks, these performances created some of the most electrifying drama I’ve seen all year."
"Head off to the West End for your Christmas kicks if you must, but for a quarter of the price you can get all the thrills you cherish down this Bloomsbury local and never have to wait for a drink at the bar. If you want to see theatre as it's born, in its' shimmering, delicious infancy, snuggle into the Kings Arms pub and let the words flow over you... just don’t go down to the basement alone. "
Richard J Thornton, EXTRA! EXTRA!

"I must also congratulate the company on the ghost story ‘Basement’, which was wonderfully immersive and had us all on a knife edge. At one point I was so terrified that I accidentally leapt onto a stranger’s lap (being pitch dark I don’t know whose lap it was I ended up on... possibly Darren’s)"
Tilly Michell, A Younger Theatre.

"Special mention to the piece ‘Basement’ as it literally caused me to almost jump into my fellow patrons lap with fright at one point. The on hand guides, are quick to point out each time a group is about to go down to the basement that if anyone doesn’t like small cramped dark places then they can sit that show out and have a drink at the bar instead. I laughed at my partner’s paltry determination to stay upstairs at the bar, but by the time I came out of the basement I had to acknowledge that he would probably have jumped and run for the stairs before we’d even reached half way through the story."
"This was an enjoyable night out for some great stories told by firelight and candles. It is the sort of thing that you should take a group of friends to, gather tightly around each other while sampling the complimentary mulled wine and mince pies, and collectively shiver and shriek as the tales unfold, then spend the rest of the night talking about the show and enjoying the spoils of the bar."
Toni Stott-Rates, The Public Reviews

The Merchant of Venice

"Paul Thomas finding more infectious humour in Portia’s lady in waiting Nerissa"
"another Festival Players success."
Jeremy Brien, The Stage

"The relationship between an impressive Portia and mischievous Nerissa - Matthew Barksby and Paul Thomas - was delightful."
"When I look back on this wash-out of a summer, one evening will stand out in my memory - for all the right reasons."
Avril Silk, Somerset County Gazette.

"played by five young and extremely talented actors who cleverly adapted to whichever role they were playing."
"Tom Giles and Paul Thomas harmonised well together"
"a good evening of travelling theatre by a hard-working and well-spoken team of young actors."
Donald Hollins, Stroud News & Journal.

"Outdoor Shakespeare at its best"
"slick performance"
"For Paul Thomas' Lancelot Gobbo a mop became the tool for self-consideration and then a weapon for fun making when his blind father arrived on stage."
"The Festival Players Theatre Company production of The Merchant of Venice gave us exactly what outdoor Shakespeare should provide - it was funny, well paced, professional and most importantly of all entertaining." ***** (5 Stars)
Lauren Witts, RemoteGoat.co.uk.

"Crackerjack rating: 9 / 10."
"fab performance by the sparkling and accomplished cast"
"sharply and accurately delivered"
"a bustling, all-male production"
"very well worth a visit"
Jo Barber, Crackerjack Gloucestershire.

As You Like It

"Paul Thomas managed to leap from the most arch of French courtiers bristling with hauteur to the engaging junior shepherd Silvius whose almost hopeless love for the Ganymede-obsessed Phebe (Trudi Jackson) was the most touching part of the production."
Roderick Swanston, Online Review London

"Michael Sergeant's production at The Courtyard benefits from a strong cast that sees the lesser roles often outshine the main characters."
Dawn King, Camden New Journal

"a cast that is exceptionally good at reading Shakespeare's verse with conviction" **** (4 Stars)
Michael Darvell, What's On

Much Ado About Nothing

"a strong supporting cast"
John Thaxter, The Stage

DSL Showcase (The Dice House)

"Paul Thomas as Matthew added another enjoyable off-kilter personality"
Derek Smith, The Stage