Description:
Comedy drama with a heart
Les & Ali’s Big Balearic Adventure is playwright Mike Heath’s 22nd play. His work has been performed at The Kings Arms, Oldham Coliseum, Contact Theatre, Salford University, Barons Court Theatre, across the UK, and as far afield as Western Australia.
About the play
Inspired by Britain’s fragile political landscape, Les & Ali’s Big Balearic Adventure explores how saying “yes” to the improbable can break us free. And that’s precisely what Les — dissatisfied quantity surveyor living in Croydon — does when he tries to convince his new wife, Ali, that a new life in the sun could be the game-changer they need to reset their stifled existence.
As Les becomes more attached to Ibiza’s positive energy, the battle commences to convince Ali to stay.
But secrets are never far from the surface. Is Les really running away?
Les & Ali’s Big Balearic Adventure is a state-of-the-nation comedy and a love letter to Ibiza.
Company:
WriteForTheStage Productions
Play duration:
75 minutes straight through (or with an optional interval)
First performed:
Kings Arms Theatre, July 2023 (as part of Greater Manchester Fringe Festival).
The Cast
Nicole Evans
— Ali
Nicole is a super-versatile actor and presenter. Her recent theatre work includes Drag Baby, Kings Head London; Good For A Girl, Birmingham Rep; and playing Gwen Lally in In Plain Sight.On-screen, Nicole played Shan in The Bay, ditzy Rochelle in Hollyoaks and gritty Clare in the feature film Suicide Kelly. She thrives in comedy, with a principal role in the TV movie Going the Distance (2021) alongside Matthew Kelly, Sarah Hadland, Penny Ryder, and Shobna Gulati. This is the fourth time she’ll be working with Mike Heath.
Darren John Langford
— Les
Darren is best known for his role as Spencer Gray in Hollyoaks but has been working extensively as an actor and writer in theatre with Men in Dressing Gowns Theatre Co and as Associate Artist at Page-2-Stage Productions. Darren’s other film credits include Portal, Rule of One, and most recently, Emily alongside Emma Mackey. This is the third time Darren has worked with Mike Heath.
Rehearsal pictures (Courtesy of Shay Rowan)
Tech requirements
Devised to fit a range of performance locations, including stages, back rooms of pubs, and adaptable public spaces, such as libraries.
| LFX | General wash, some colours, 5 x blackouts |
| SFX | Controlled on Q Lab via an iPad. Stereo jacks into a sound desk. |
| SET | Minimal. Designed to fit most performance spaces. Location changes reliant on SFX. 4 chairs, 1 table. Quick get-in/out. |
Reviews
Press reviews:
Sharp & Witty. A complete joy! – Canal-St.co.uk
Fun & uplifting – NorthWestEnd.com
Warm-hearted. A fine comedy – British Theatre Guide
Audience reviews:
A lovely, funny, captivating play, performed brilliantly by the cast! Definitely something to break up those post-summer blues! – Amy Worrell, Facebook review
A funny, tart, heartbreaking two-hander, wonderfully acted. – Paul Magrs, Facebook review
A funny, charming, and brilliant story about a couple on honeymoon toying with the idea of skipping their flight home and staying in Ibiza forever. – Richard Douglas, Facebook review
Funny, intriguing, tender, and very entertaining – Maureen O’Neill, Facebook review