A Company of Rascals
A Company of Rascals
A brand new comedy by Phil Porter | Starring Robert Duncan, Sara Crowe & Matt Pinches
-This hilarious new play behind a play is performed simultaneously with The Comedy of Errors, with the same cast of fabulous comic characters moving between different locations in the theatre.
Journey round the bawdy backstreets of Ephesus, into a world of charlatans and bootleggers. Will visiting merchant Egeon, the only honest man in town, raise the ransom to buy his own freedom in a world where nobody is who they seem?
In partnership with our friends, Guildford Shakespeare Company, directed by our Director & Chief Executive, Joanna Read, and written by award-winning Phil Porter (The Lavender Hill Mob, The Boy With Two Hearts (National Theatre), Vice Versa and The Christmas Truce (RSC)).
Starring Robert Duncan (Drop the Dead Donkey, Twelve Angry Men), Sara Crowe (Four Weddings and A Funeral, The Way Old Friends Do) and Guildford Shakespeare Company co-founder and Robin Hood panto star Matt Pinches.
Click to find out more about the full cast!
At the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre you may have seen: HELENA ANTONIOU who played the title role in 2021's The Snow Queen, and last year was in The Hound of the Baskervilles at Theatre by the Lake; SOROOSH LAVASANI appeared in Animal Farm (Bolton Octagon/Hull Truck) and the lead role of Assef in The Kite Runner; JEREMY LLOYD recently played Harry Secombe in Spike (Watermill Theatre) and was in the Yvonne Arnaud’s production of Maggie and Ted; and of course MATT PINCHES has been in their last two Christmas Pantos!
Two previous GSC actors returning are JOSEPH RICHARDSON (Alice in Wonderland 2015, As You Like It, 2013) and SUZANNE AHMET (Shakespeare Walks, 2023); Joseph was in the UK & South Africa tour of War Horse and Tina -The Tina Turner Musical (West End), whilst Suzanne recently appeared in The Merry Wives of Windsor (Storyhouse) and ITV's Ludwig.
KATIE CARLTON has appeared in Peter Pan Goes Wrong (West End) and Headlong's Faustus: That Damned Woman. PETER LOSASSO was recently in The Other Boleyn Girl (Chichester Festival Theatre) and last year played Romeo for Petersfield Shakespeare Festival. NIKHITA LESLER has also appeared at Chichester Festival Theatre in The Cat & The Canary and Noises Off (West End). MARK MILLIGAN recently toured in Hamlet (The Lord Chamberlain's Men) and Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes (Opera Holland Park).
HOW TO WATCH
The shows are performed simultaneously with the same cast moving between the two plays.
The Comedy of Errors is performed on the main stage with reserved seating, and A Company of Rascals is performed promenade in locations around the theatre either standing or in unreserved seating.
They are both full length plays, independent of each other, and can be seen in any order.
You decide which show you would like to see first and purchase a ticket for that production. You can book tickets for one or both shows, but booking both in one transaction will save you £20!
Comedy of Errors & Company of Rascals - Frequently Asked Questions
So, do I need to buy 1 or 2 tickets?
You need to buy 1 ticket per play – 1 for Errors, 1 for Rascals, but NOT for the same time.
Am I watching two plays at the same time?
No. You will watch one play at a time. They are just taking place at the same time. For example, you buy a Monday ticket for The Comedy of Errors and Friday ticket for A Company of Rascals.
Do I need to watch them in order?
No. It doesn’t matter which play you see first.
Will I understand A Company of Rascals if I don’t see The Comedy of Errors?
Absolutely. The play is designed to be enjoyed completely on its own... but for the ultimate experience, we’d recommend you seeing both.
What is promenade, and how much am I moving?
Promenade is where the audience moves with the action. We will be using 3 spaces in and around the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre: the restaurant, the Mill studio and the garden. All spaces will be accessible. Guildford Shakespeare are experts in this style of theatre so you’re in very safe hands.
Is there seating at A Company of Rascals?
Due to the promenade style we have limited the audience capacity to 100. There will be reduced seating in these spaces, but essential seating will be available for those who are less able to stand.
Why two plays?
Ever wondered what happens when a character leaves the stage? Where do they go? Who do they meet? What do they get up to?
In The Comedy of Errors, the character of Egeon is instructed to find a sum of money to save his life by the end of the day, and he’s not seen again until the final scene. So, what happens to him? Hence, the story of A Company of Rascals follows the off-stage action of the characters from The Comedy of Errors as he searches for someone to pay his bond.
In partnership with
Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England
With thanks to our Principal Sponsors
Add more to your visit
Charcuterie Board for two
Join us for your pre-show dining with a special charcuterie board exclusive.
These can be purchased to eat in to enjoy in our Riverbank Kitchen, or to take away to the riverside.
Just place how many you want in your basket with your tickets, or by itself if you've already booked for the show, and checkout!
Prices
Tickets from £36. Opening performance 'Pay What You Can'.
The following £20 concessions apply on standard tickets:
- Students & Under 25s
- Job Seekers, Pension Credit & Universal Credit recipients
- Surrey Carers Cardholders
The following discounts apply on standard tickets:
- Combined offer: Buy tickets to A Company of Rascals and The Comedy of Errors at checkout to save £20
- Groups
- Schools (£15)
- Members
- Access (from £31 plus free essential companion)
See More Save More - Multi-Buy Tickets
Find out more about our concessions & discounts.
Prices include all applicable fees & levies.
Please note: This is a promenade performance with unreserved seating. To watch The Comedy of Errors please purchase tickets separately, at a different performance time.
Details
Venue: Main House
Running Time: TBC
Thu 10 - Sat 26 Jul 2025
Mon - Sat Evenings: 7.30pm
Matinees: Sat 12, Tue 15, Thu 17, Sat 19, Thu 24 & Sat 26 Jul 2.30pm
(No performances Sundays)
To book accessible tickets and discuss your access requirements, please contact our Box Office.
For more info on Accessibility, click here.
Audio Described Performance - Sat 26 Jul, 2.30pm (Touch Tour at 1pm)
BSL Interpreted Performance - Thu 24 Jul, 7.30pm
Relaxed Performance - Sat 19 Jul, 2.30pm
Ages 12+
Post-Show Talk
Mon 14 July with cast and creative team
A Company of Rascals
A brand new comedy by Phil Porter | Starring Robert Duncan, Sara Crowe & Matt Pinches
-This hilarious new play behind a play is performed simultaneously with The Comedy of Errors, with the same cast of fabulous comic characters moving between different locations in the theatre.
Journey round the bawdy backstreets of Ephesus, into a world of charlatans and bootleggers. Will visiting merchant Egeon, the only honest man in town, raise the ransom to buy his own freedom in a world where nobody is who they seem?
In partnership with our friends, Guildford Shakespeare Company, directed by our Director & Chief Executive, Joanna Read, and written by award-winning Phil Porter (The Lavender Hill Mob, The Boy With Two Hearts (National Theatre), Vice Versa and The Christmas Truce (RSC)).
Starring Robert Duncan (Drop the Dead Donkey, Twelve Angry Men), Sara Crowe (Four Weddings and A Funeral, The Way Old Friends Do) and Guildford Shakespeare Company co-founder and Robin Hood panto star Matt Pinches.
Click to find out more about the full cast!
At the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre you may have seen: HELENA ANTONIOU who played the title role in 2021's The Snow Queen, and last year was in The Hound of the Baskervilles at Theatre by the Lake; SOROOSH LAVASANI appeared in Animal Farm (Bolton Octagon/Hull Truck) and the lead role of Assef in The Kite Runner; JEREMY LLOYD recently played Harry Secombe in Spike (Watermill Theatre) and was in the Yvonne Arnaud’s production of Maggie and Ted; and of course MATT PINCHES has been in their last two Christmas Pantos!
Two previous GSC actors returning are JOSEPH RICHARDSON (Alice in Wonderland 2015, As You Like It, 2013) and SUZANNE AHMET (Shakespeare Walks, 2023); Joseph was in the UK & South Africa tour of War Horse and Tina -The Tina Turner Musical (West End), whilst Suzanne recently appeared in The Merry Wives of Windsor (Storyhouse) and ITV's Ludwig.
KATIE CARLTON has appeared in Peter Pan Goes Wrong (West End) and Headlong's Faustus: That Damned Woman. PETER LOSASSO was recently in The Other Boleyn Girl (Chichester Festival Theatre) and last year played Romeo for Petersfield Shakespeare Festival. NIKHITA LESLER has also appeared at Chichester Festival Theatre in The Cat & The Canary and Noises Off (West End). MARK MILLIGAN recently toured in Hamlet (The Lord Chamberlain's Men) and Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes (Opera Holland Park).
HOW TO WATCH
The shows are performed simultaneously with the same cast moving between the two plays.
The Comedy of Errors is performed on the main stage with reserved seating, and A Company of Rascals is performed promenade in locations around the theatre either standing or in unreserved seating.
They are both full length plays, independent of each other, and can be seen in any order.
You decide which show you would like to see first and purchase a ticket for that production. You can book tickets for one or both shows, but booking both in one transaction will save you £20!
Comedy of Errors & Company of Rascals - Frequently Asked Questions
So, do I need to buy 1 or 2 tickets?
You need to buy 1 ticket per play – 1 for Errors, 1 for Rascals, but NOT for the same time.
Am I watching two plays at the same time?
No. You will watch one play at a time. They are just taking place at the same time. For example, you buy a Monday ticket for The Comedy of Errors and Friday ticket for A Company of Rascals.
Do I need to watch them in order?
No. It doesn’t matter which play you see first.
Will I understand A Company of Rascals if I don’t see The Comedy of Errors?
Absolutely. The play is designed to be enjoyed completely on its own... but for the ultimate experience, we’d recommend you seeing both.
What is promenade, and how much am I moving?
Promenade is where the audience moves with the action. We will be using 3 spaces in and around the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre: the restaurant, the Mill studio and the garden. All spaces will be accessible. Guildford Shakespeare are experts in this style of theatre so you’re in very safe hands.
Is there seating at A Company of Rascals?
Due to the promenade style we have limited the audience capacity to 100. There will be reduced seating in these spaces, but essential seating will be available for those who are less able to stand.
Why two plays?
Ever wondered what happens when a character leaves the stage? Where do they go? Who do they meet? What do they get up to?
In The Comedy of Errors, the character of Egeon is instructed to find a sum of money to save his life by the end of the day, and he’s not seen again until the final scene. So, what happens to him? Hence, the story of A Company of Rascals follows the off-stage action of the characters from The Comedy of Errors as he searches for someone to pay his bond.
In partnership with
Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England
With thanks to our Principal Sponsors
Add more to your visit
Charcuterie Board for two
Join us for your pre-show dining with a special charcuterie board exclusive.
These can be purchased to eat in to enjoy in our Riverbank Kitchen, or to take away to the riverside.
Just place how many you want in your basket with your tickets, or by itself if you've already booked for the show, and checkout!
Prices
Tickets from £36. Opening performance 'Pay What You Can'.
The following £20 concessions apply on standard tickets:
- Students & Under 25s
- Job Seekers, Pension Credit & Universal Credit recipients
- Surrey Carers Cardholders
The following discounts apply on standard tickets:
- Combined offer: Buy tickets to A Company of Rascals and The Comedy of Errors at checkout to save £20
- Groups
- Schools (£15)
- Members
- Access (from £31 plus free essential companion)
See More Save More - Multi-Buy Tickets
Find out more about our concessions & discounts.
Prices include all applicable fees & levies.
Please note: This is a promenade performance with unreserved seating. To watch The Comedy of Errors please purchase tickets separately, at a different performance time.
Details
Venue: Main House
Running Time: TBC
Thu 10 - Sat 26 Jul 2025
Mon - Sat Evenings: 7.30pm
Matinees: Sat 12, Tue 15, Thu 17, Sat 19, Thu 24 & Sat 26 Jul 2.30pm
(No performances Sundays)
To book accessible tickets and discuss your access requirements, please contact our Box Office.
For more info on Accessibility, click here.
Audio Described Performance - Sat 26 Jul, 2.30pm (Touch Tour at 1pm)
BSL Interpreted Performance - Thu 24 Jul, 7.30pm
Relaxed Performance - Sat 19 Jul, 2.30pm
Ages 12+
Post-Show Talk
Mon 14 July with cast and creative team
