Night Must Fall
Night Must Fall psychological thriller has New Era audiences on the edge of their seats
No review available at this time.
December 2025
Night Must Fall is a psychological thriller set in the isolated home of Mrs Bramson, a sharp-tongued elderly woman who lives with her bored niece, Olivia.
Their quiet routine is shaken when Dan, a charming but mysterious young man, is hired to work in the house. With a recent murder in the nearby woods, tension rises as Dan’s friendly exterior slowly slips, revealing a darker truth beneath.
This production, thoughtfully directed by Stephen Bennett, builds tension with steady, confident pacing and a strong atmospheric style.
The acting across the cast is excellent. Georgie Gale gives a standout performance as Mrs Bramson, capturing her sharp humour and stubborn nature with great comic timing.
Pippa Higgins makes Olivia compelling and relatable, showing her inner conflict and growing fascination with Dan.
Harry Forkin (Dan) delivers a gripping performance, shifting from charming and confident to sinister with ease, keeping the audience guessing throughout.
Andy Kempe as Inspector Belsize also deserves praise for a convincing and curious portrayal of the detective slowly piecing events together. His calm, questioning presence adds to the growing sense of unease.
Sean Strange as Hubert brings a gentle awkwardness and sincerity to the role, offering a subtle contrast to the darker energy in the house. Lucy Slatter gives a believable and touching performance as Dora, the innocent maid caught up in events far bigger than she understands. Her vulnerability adds an important emotional layer.
Jacqui Trumper delivers a wonderfully funny and energetic take on Mrs Terence, the housekeeper whose sharp comments and lively presence offer welcome moments of relief.
The technical elements are especially strong. Thoughtful projection work helps shape the mood and setting, while the enigmatic Mark Stafford’s incredible tension-building music adds an extra layer of suspense that supports the story beautifully.
A well-acted, well-crafted production, full of tension and strong character work. With Stephen Bennett’s clear direction and impressive technical touches, it becomes a truly compelling and engaging production that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
AMY TRIGWELL-JONES
© 2025 Newbury Weekly News
Crew
Director – Stephen Bennett
Stage Manager –
Lighting / Sound –
Prompt –
Set –
Costumes –
Props –
Front of House –
Publicity –
Box Office –
Programme –
New Era Players are looking forward to bringing to the stage the classic psychological thriller, ‘Night Must Fall’ by Emlyn Williams. Set in the imperious and embittered Mrs Bramson’s isolated house in the dark woods, this brooding drama explores the arrival of Dan into the lives of the occupants. Is he the father of Dora the maid’s unborn child? Is he responsible for a recent murder? Mrs Bramson is taken in by his charm, but her niece, Olivia, is sceptical yet fascinated. The tension rises as we wonder who the next victim could be.
This amateur production of “Night Must Fall” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk
Catch the production at New Era Players on 27th- 29th November and 2nd-6th December 2025 at the New Era Theatre, Andover Road, Wash Common, Newbury RG14 6NU. Tickets are £15 each and are available online at ticketsource.co.uk/new-era-players. For other enquiries, email the Box Office at boxoffice@neweraplayers.org or call 07919 916009. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.
No review available at this time.
December 2025
Night Must Fall is a psychological thriller set in the isolated home of Mrs Bramson, a sharp-tongued elderly woman who lives with her bored niece, Olivia.
Their quiet routine is shaken when Dan, a charming but mysterious young man, is hired to work in the house. With a recent murder in the nearby woods, tension rises as Dan’s friendly exterior slowly slips, revealing a darker truth beneath.
This production, thoughtfully directed by Stephen Bennett, builds tension with steady, confident pacing and a strong atmospheric style.
The acting across the cast is excellent. Georgie Gale gives a standout performance as Mrs Bramson, capturing her sharp humour and stubborn nature with great comic timing.
Pippa Higgins makes Olivia compelling and relatable, showing her inner conflict and growing fascination with Dan.
Harry Forkin (Dan) delivers a gripping performance, shifting from charming and confident to sinister with ease, keeping the audience guessing throughout.
Andy Kempe as Inspector Belsize also deserves praise for a convincing and curious portrayal of the detective slowly piecing events together. His calm, questioning presence adds to the growing sense of unease.
Sean Strange as Hubert brings a gentle awkwardness and sincerity to the role, offering a subtle contrast to the darker energy in the house. Lucy Slatter gives a believable and touching performance as Dora, the innocent maid caught up in events far bigger than she understands. Her vulnerability adds an important emotional layer.
Jacqui Trumper delivers a wonderfully funny and energetic take on Mrs Terence, the housekeeper whose sharp comments and lively presence offer welcome moments of relief.
The technical elements are especially strong. Thoughtful projection work helps shape the mood and setting, while the enigmatic Mark Stafford’s incredible tension-building music adds an extra layer of suspense that supports the story beautifully.
A well-acted, well-crafted production, full of tension and strong character work. With Stephen Bennett’s clear direction and impressive technical touches, it becomes a truly compelling and engaging production that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
AMY TRIGWELL-JONES
© 2025 Newbury Weekly News
Crew
Director – Stephen Bennett
Stage Manager –
Lighting / Sound –
Prompt –
Set –
Costumes –
Props –
Front of House –
Publicity –
Box Office –
Programme –
New Era Players are looking forward to bringing to the stage the classic psychological thriller, ‘Night Must Fall’ by Emlyn Williams. Set in the imperious and embittered Mrs Bramson’s isolated house in the dark woods, this brooding drama explores the arrival of Dan into the lives of the occupants. Is he the father of Dora the maid’s unborn child? Is he responsible for a recent murder? Mrs Bramson is taken in by his charm, but her niece, Olivia, is sceptical yet fascinated. The tension rises as we wonder who the next victim could be.
This amateur production of “Night Must Fall” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk
Catch the production at New Era Players on 27th- 29th November and 2nd-6th December 2025 at the New Era Theatre, Andover Road, Wash Common, Newbury RG14 6NU. Tickets are £15 each and are available online at ticketsource.co.uk/new-era-players. For other enquiries, email the Box Office at boxoffice@neweraplayers.org or call 07919 916009. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.
