XXX in 3 Women
We recently took in three performances in three Bromley theatres in the course of about a week. These were at the Churchill Theatre, the Farnborough Dramatic Society, and the Burnt Ash Drama Association.
Susie Blake – sometimes sweet, sometimes sinister – always memorable
The Other Side Of Murder is running at the Churchill Theatre until 7th November, tickets here. A thriller with humour and not a little mayhem, and an excellent cast as Rufus Hound, Susie Blake, Carla Mendonça, Aisha Jawando (who seems made for comedy), Beth Lilly, and Andy McLeod delivered laughs, surprises, and tension. The time flew by watching this show, and the pleasure of the watching audience was palpable, and echoed in comments heard as we exited, such as ‘excellent’, ‘funny’ and ‘great night out’. We weren’t surprised, having hugely enjoyed a previous production from the Torben Betts-Philip Franks stable, Murder At Midnight.
The Farnborough Dramatic Society‘s version of John Buchan’s The 39 Steps was a triumph of ingenious set, a cast that was clearly loving every minute on stage, and, of course, a classic story with pace, goodies, baddies, stiff upper lips, and a glimpse of stocking….
And as absorbing and with highlights to match the other productions was 3 Women by the Burnt Ash Drama Association. The 3 women were a mother, daughter and grandmother, together for a wedding and all at a crossroads – marriage, moving overseas, and the start of University. Supplemented by a hotel concierge who supplied drinks and comic and romantic cameos and the two big moments of the night with his camp solo start on stage, and a highly titilating interaction in the second half that had the audience abuzz, and in some cases, not knowing where to look!
One reason for writing what amounts to a first triple review is that this underlines the strength of theatre in Bromley – and we haven’t mentioned the other theatrical hubs, including the Bridge House Theatre in Penge, Bromley Little Theatre, the Chelsfield Players, Matchbox Theatre, and the Imperial Players aka Chislehurst Imps, who we just heard have a show coming up.
Darren Weale, 2nd November 2026
