A Man for All Seasons – A Powerful Finale from Fylde Coast Players
For their final production of the year, Fylde Coast Players decided to take a more serious route with A Man for All Seasons, a historical drama that certainly gives the audience something to think about.
Now, I would suggest that a reasonable knowledge of Tudor history is an advantage here, or at the very least, a good read of the programme beforehand! This isn’t a play where you can simply sit back and let the story wash over you. There’s a lot going on, politically and religiously, and understanding the background really does help you appreciate what’s unfolding on stage.
Performed in the intimate Chapman Studio, the set was very simple, as was the lighting, but I actually felt this worked in the production’s favour. With little to distract the eye, the focus was very much on the story and the performances. The simplicity was more than made up for by some wonderfully flamboyant costumes, which brought plenty of colour to the proceedings.
Gwyn Owen-Pullen was phenomenal and took on several roles as the Common Man, representing the ordinary people caught up in the affairs of the powerful. She certainly wore many hats, both literally and figuratively, switching between characters with ease and providing some much-needed moments of light relief.
And speaking of light relief, Tom Hunt clearly enjoyed himself as the larger-than-life King Henry VIII. Full of energy, authority and, dare I say, just a touch of camp, he brought some breathing space to what is otherwise a serious story.
But if I were handing out gold medals, it would HAVE to most definitely go to Andy Cooke for his portrayal of Sir Thomas Moore. Quite apart from the sheer number of lines he had to learn (and there were a LOT!), his performance was both powerful and convincing.
Moore was a lawyer, judge, author, statesman, theologian and, perhaps most importantly in this story, a devout Catholic whose religious beliefs and personal principles brought him into direct conflict with Henry VIII. Andy captured the many sides of this complex man beautifully, from quiet dignity and determination to frustration, anguish and eventual resignation. It was a demanding role, and one he handled with real conviction.
As you might expect from a drama set in Tudor England, the principal characters are predominantly male, and there’s certainly no shortage of political scheming! We have the rather slippery Thomas Cromwell, the mealy-mouthed Richard Rich and the Duke of Norfolk, torn between friendship, duty and loyalty to the King. The female perspective comes through Moore’s wife and daughter, bringing a more personal and emotional dimension to the story.
A Man for all Seasons Review of Fylde coast Players October 2026
As always the backroom make the whole production go smoothly with special thanks to Director Heather Cartmell, it can’t have been easy, to Wardrobe for a brilliant job sourcing the (I believe) authentic costumes and the two stage ‘wenchs’ for the mostly seamless transitions
What makes A Man for All Seasons so interesting is that, although we’re watching events from almost 500 years ago, the themes of power, ambition, loyalty and standing by your principles are still very relevant today.
This is intelligent theatre, offering a fascinating glimpse into a period when decisions made by a handful of powerful individuals would change the course of English history.
A Man for all Seasons Review of Fylde coast Players October 2026
It’s not necessarily an easy watch, and you do need to concentrate on the dialogue to get the most out of it. But that’s not a criticism. Sometimes theatre should challenge us, make us think and perhaps even send us home wanting to know a little more.
So, not exactly a light-hearted evening at the theatre, but a thought-provoking, well-performed production and a fittingly ambitious way for Fylde Coast Players to bring their year to a close.
Wishing them packed houses for the remainder of performances then a much needed rest before 2027 comes around