3rd third theatre – devizine.com

by Ian Diddams
images by Simon Hoy

Cast your minds back around about a month and you may recall a Devizine preview of “Playhouse Creatures”, performed by “3^rd Third Theatre” at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes.

Here is it to refresh your memories 🙂

https://devizine.com/2026/09/10/playhouse-creatures-at-the-wharf-theatre-devizes-october-8th-10th-a-preview/

That preview covers the basic premise and storyline of the play, and its societal equivalences to modern society. Its a rags-to-riches, riches-to-rags, rags-to-rags and riches-to-nothing story of five women who in their pursuits of idolatry, social climbing and wealth, and escaping the oppression of men, all in their own way achieve their aims – mainly – but are still left oppressed by the patriarchy.

Doll Common retains a semblance of normality but as a drudge to everybody – including other women – she neither improves nor worsens her lot. Rebecca Marshall full of confidence and panache during the story finally sees herself ruined by slander at the hands of the nobility – who also do the dirty on Elizabeth Farleigh who from lofty pretensions , airs and graces, descends to the gutter, abandoned. Nell Gwynn (yes – THAT Nell Gwynn) in many ways truly “makes it” – but at the cost of abandoning any independence and thoughts of fulfilling her dreams. And finally there is the matriarch of the group, Mary Betterton, who crashes from doyen of the theatre to a housewife, rejected in her middle age by her most dearest.

Director Debby Wilkinson in this debut performance for her new theatre company “3^rd Third Theatre” has created a black box presentation focussing all attention on the actors, the characters and the story. It’s stunningly effective – less is more as they day – as with subtle lighting, and sound alone the action is embellished in this captivating and intimate portrayal of women’s experiences across all time.

Her cast is simply sublime; every member plays their role to the utmost excellence. In no particular order as they are all equally wonderful, Louise Peak drudges through Doll’s interactions with not a little humour subtly delivered as she plays her cynical underdog role. Sophie Kerr as Elizabeth Farleigh is cool and classy and haughty until undone and her transformation to a guttersnipe is seamless.

Wendy Dophiede as Mary Betterton portrays Mary’s self assured, slightly unworldly, diva drifting into obscurity, disbelief and self doubt smoothly, from self assurance to horror at her demise. Grace Sheridan captures the cheeky London orange seller, Nell Gwynn, whose social climbing reached the highest ranks of the land whilst retaining her charm and fun, and that twinkle in her eye, later resigned to her fate as a kept women to the King. Freddie Underwood completes the cast with her stunning portrayal of Rebecca Marshall, sassy, fun loving but ultimately ruined. A true cast of cohesiveness, bringing April de Angelis’ play to life.