Harold Pinter's The Dumb Waiter at Exeter's The Bike Shed Theatre

Harold Pinter’s one-act play The Dumb Waiter is making an appearance at Exeter’s The Bike Shed Theatre.

The play follows the relationship between petty criminal colleagues Ben and Gus as they wait in a basement by a dumb waiter for a message about their next job.

With Harold Pinter’s writing provides the combination of effortless comic timing and famous menacing undertones, The Bike Shed Theatre’s intimate playing space is an ideal venue for his early one act play.

The production marks the return of Tom Hackney and Benjamin Warren to the Exeter theatre scene.

Tom graduated from the Cygnet Training Theatre in 2007 and completing a National Tour of A Journey’s End with Icarus/Original Theatre.

Benjamin Warren most recently worked with Theatre Alibi in Ministry Of Fear. He joins The Bike Shed Theatre Company for the first time.

Ben said: “The Northcott Theatre went into administration whilst I was working on a Theatre Alibi production there –  it’s closure not only left a large void in Exeter but in the south Devon region as a whole.

“I’m thrilled about coming back to Exeter to work on The Dumb Waiter, not only because I’m returning to the area I was born – a place I love – but because what David Lockwood, Fin Irwin and The Bike Shed are doing seems incredibly exciting and significant. Not only are they creating new arts jobs to Exeter but, in the wider picture, bucking the current trend of cuts within the arts.”

• The Dumb Waiter is at The Bike Shed Theatre from Tuesday, April 19 to Saturday, May 7. at 8pm Tickets are  £10 Full Price, £7 Concessions, £5 Mondays. They are available through the Exeter Phoenix on 01392667080 or www.exeterphoenix.org.uk (Ticket Agent).

(image by Rob Darch, check out the rest of his work at www.robertdarch.com)