The organisers of a new festival, launching later this month, say local drama lovers won’t have to travel beyond Sandbach for a night at the theatre as they bring three productions to the town over the course of two weekends.
Cheshire and Sandbach Theatre (CAST) Festival comprises plays produced and performed by people based locally.
It is a partnership between Manchester-based Wonderhouse Theatre Company and Sandbach-based Carney Academy Performing Arts School.
Creative director David Gregan-Jones, based in Ettiley Heath, runs the Carney Academy in partnership with its founder, Ruth Carney, a theatre and television director who is also a Sandbach resident.
“I grew up in Sandbach and was living here when I began my own journey to become an actor,” Gregan-Jones said.
“My family would routinely have to drive me to other towns and cities for training but also to experience a night at the theatre.
“I know there’s a huge appetite in Sandbach for more culture and entertainment, and I also work with some exceptional, upcoming local talent with great promise.”
Performances will run between 22nd and 29th November 2025.
The festival will also include its “CastOff” initiative – a commitment to supporting emerging artists across all areas in the live performance industries.
This includes writers, directors, producers, actors, choreographers, singers, musicians, designers and technicians.
The festival’s organisers say they will launch a search for new playwriting talent, with the opportunity for those shortlisted to have their scripts read, workshopped and staged in the spring.
Ruth Carney Carney Academy, festival co-founder, said she wanted to help make Sandbach a place people go to for theatre and culture.
“CAST Festival brings industry-standard talent and production into dialogue with emerging local creativity, including those who might have experienced barriers to taking their performing arts careers further,” she said.
CAST Festival – listings
Tickets are available from £11, with festival passes for all three shows costing £30.
To buy tickets or for more information, including details of the CastOff writing initiative, visit www.castfest.co.uk or follow @castfestuk on Instagram.
Constellations, by Nick Payne
A quantum physicist and a beekeeper meet at a barbecue. They hit it off — or perhaps they don’t. They fall in love — or maybe they walk away. In a universe where every choice creates infinite possibilities, their story unfolds in countless ways.
First performed at the Royal Court Theatre in 2012 before transferring to the West End and Broadway, Constellations won the Evening Standard award for best play and has since captivated audiences worldwide.
22nd November, 19:30
29th November, 14:45
30th November, 19:30
Gothic Theatre Space, Sandbach School, Crewe Road, CW11 3NS
The Crucible, by Arthur Miller
Arthur Miller’s iconic masterpiece of fear, hysteria, and betrayal is brought to the stage by a remarkable young cast aged 16–18, from Sandbach. Specially abridged for teenage performers, this version captures the intensity and timeless relevance of Miller’s drama — distilled, urgent, and electrifying.
Many of these talented performers are already preparing for entry into world-class drama schools across the UK. Their passion and skill ensure a production that speaks to all ages, offering adult audiences a fresh and visceral take on one of the greatest plays of the 20th century.
22nd November, 15:00
23rd November, 15:00
Gothic Theatre Space, Sandbach School, Crewe Road, CW11 3NS
The Wasp, by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm
Heather and Carla haven’t seen each other since school. Their lives have taken very different paths – and yet, here they are in a cafe having tea and making awkward conversation.
That is until Heather presents Carla with a bag containing a significant amount of cash and an unexpected proposition…
Morgan Lloyd Malcolm’s electric thriller asks how far beyond the playground we carry our childhood experiences and to what lengths some people are willing to go to in order to come to terms with them.
23rd November, 19:00
29th November, 19:00
30th November, 14:30
Gothic Theatre Space, Sandbach School, Crewe Road, CW11 3NS
