The Norman Conquests

Missing long-form theatre now that The Harp in the South has ended? Ensemble Theatre is here to help with Alan Ayckbourn’s brilliant trilogy, The Norman Conquests. Written by Ayckbourn in 1973 in less than a fortnight, the three parallel plays follow the unravelling of the romantic but philandering Norman as he deals with his wife Ruth, her sister Annie and his sister-in-law Sarah over one disastrous summer weekend. Told from different but often simultaneous perspectives, with conversations and events from one play turning up in another, you can chose to see one play, see all three at different times or – as we recommend – across one glorious day. Ensemble artistic director Mark Kilmurry directs, with a cast that includes Danielle Carter, Brian Meegan, Sam O’Sullivan, Yalin Ozucelik and Matilda Ridgway.