“A Bench in The Sun” by Ron Clark is a comedy about friendship and aging. It tells the story of Burt and Harold who spend their days philosophising and bickering on a bench in the garden of their retirement home, keeping themselves alive and their brain cells churning. When a once-famous actress moves into the retirement home, the two long-time friends begin a competition for her attention with comic results.

Famous comedian Mel Brooks said of the play “Very wise, very moving, but most of all, very funny” .

The Algarveans are excited that a new Director, Jim Landis, has stepped up to lead the show. Jim joined the group about 18 months ago from Denver, Colorado with extensive experience of acting and directing. This production will be performed at the Convento de São José in Lagoa on June 27, 28 and 29 June at 7:45pm. The intimate and historic surroundings of the Convento’s studio theatre will be a refreshing new venue for the group. With fewer seats available for each night we recommend buying your tickets early as it is bound to sell out.

The play itself is a challenge for the group as it has a cast of just three people and therefore there are a lot of lines to learn. Chris Winstanley, who has acted and directed with The Algarveans over the past 11 years will take the part of Burt, playing opposite Ray Dillon as Harold. Ray recently took the lead in “Pollen: The Musical”. Rounding out the cast will be Melanie Winstanley as Adrienne Bliss. Melanie directed the hugely successful production of The Vicar of Dibley last June and has acted in many of the group´s shows, including Calendar Girls.

Full ticket information will be announced soon.