May 2026
It is 10 years since the indomitable Valerie Goodwin started the Bridport Stage Company.
This year, the dynamic director, playwright and force of nature returns to her Shakespearean roots with a new production, Juliet & Her Romeo, which the group will perform at the end of May at Bridport Town Hall, with all proceeds going to Samaritans.
I caught up with Valerie for coffee and cake a few weeks ago – a particularly propitious time as her play The Magdalen Whitewash was being performed in Gravesend to great acclaim. It was lovely to talk about all things theatre and Valerie’s love of Shakespeare. She has always loved ‘The Bard’ and reinforced this with an MA at Exeter University; in conversation, his words trip naturally off her tongue, and she occasionally bursts into song.
The Bridport Stage Company’s remarkable group of actors is diverse and inclusive, from seasoned performers to newbies, from school pupils to some who have seen a few more winters. What unites them is a shared love of performing and a profound respect for Valerie, who holds the production and each of the actors in her heart.
This loose group assembles itself in a curious synchronicity, and idiosyncrasies and character are allowed full rein. At the centre of the process is a deliberate ‘handmade and found’ approach to costuming and staging – which, of course, means more money for Samaritans. As Valerie says, “I like to create much from little.”
Valerie herself gives much to the community of Bridport, working in Oxfam and also the Community Shed. She is great company and has that lovely and unusual quality of not judging others. Everyone is welcome and feels valued. Having seen two previous productions, I can attest to the feel-good energy generated and the sheer fun.
This production, an hour in length, is a great introduction to Shakespeare. It is an abridged, gender-blind production with modern songs; the beauty of the verse is paramount. Having attended many rehearsals and written and directed many school plays, I can say the production promises to be something special with some truly outstanding performances. And unlike in the West End, you may find yourself afterwards rubbing shoulders
with one of the stars in The Ropemakers or while sipping a beverage in Coffee 1.
The capacity at the Town Hall is around 100 people, so I expect this play to be the hottest ticket in town in May. Best get in early.
David Brazier
Juliet & Her Romeo is on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 May at 7pm at Bridport Town Hall. Tickets are £10 from Bridport Tourist Information Centre by phone (01308 424901) online at www.bridportandwestbay.co.uk/
tickets or in person at the TIC in Bucky Doo Square 10am–3pm.