DUNDEE REP Theatre’s Illuminate Ensemble is fine-tuning its production of A Design for Deceit before curtain up tomorrow.
This is the first commercial production for Illuminate, Dundee Rep’s ensemble for actors with learning disabilities and has been devised by the group.
Head of creative learning Suzi Morrice said: “Amanda Lowson, the director, has been working with them for a number of months now and they mentioned they wanted to do something like a ‘whodunnit’.
“We wanted to make sure their first piece of work was very commercial.
“The company started creating stock characters like butlers and the lord of the manor. We looked at how those characters could work together for a story.”
The short one-act play is set in the winter of 1935 as the Darling family set about renovating their mansion house.
However, it becomes clear that it is only the head of the family, Mr Darling, that has the desire to embark upon these seemingly unnecessary renovations.
Aided by his sinister architect friend Arckwright, they are two men with something to hide.
Mr Darling’s son Rory smells a rat and employs writer Blossom Quills to get to the bottom of the suspicious behaviour.
Suzi said: “You never hear from Blossom directly. She observes what happens on stage, but you hear from her journal.”
Donna Sorrie (43) has acted with the ensemble for three years now and was one of the huge cast of women who performed in She Town last year.
“She Town was good,” she said. “We got to meet lots of new people in that.
“I did a show up in Menzieshill Community Centre too and we did something with White Top.”
Illuminate meets weekly but members have been rehearsing intensely for two weeks ahead of tomorrow’s two shows at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.
Donna said: “I’m not nervous. I’m just taking it all in.”
ksmyth@thecourier.co.uk