Southwick Players’ upcoming play Muswell Hill – and a touching family legacy
Faces new and old to the Players, a play of chaos, and at the centre of it all, a grandson honouring his grandmother
Sussex based community theatre group, The Southwick Players, are preparing for their upcoming production, Muswell Hill. And lead actor Tom Van Vliet is returning to the group after ten years away.
The return is motivated by the passing of his grandmother Jean Misselbrook, who was heavily involved with the Southwick Players – a “legend”, in fact. In this upcoming show, Tom will be embodying aspiring author Mat, who springs some unexpected news upon his wife, just before they host a dinner party.
A true Players legend
Jean Misselbrook
Tom’s return to the theatre group is an emotional one. His late grandmother, Jean Misselbrook, had been heavily involved with the Southwick Players for years, and adequately described as “a true Players stalwart and legend.” A title well deserved after her involvement in a whopping 39 shows.
Jean participated in all these shows across 13 years, between 2001 and 2014. Fulfilling a mixture of roles on and off stage, Jean showed passion and deep dedication to the group. Sadly, she passed away in summer 2023 at the age of 84.
However, after just five months since his grandmother’s passing, Tom has made a return to Southwick Players, following a ten year hiatus.
A grandmother’s love
Tom Van Vliet with his Nan, Jean Misselbrook, on his wedding day in March, 2022
Tom shared that it was his grandmother who encouraged him to first perform with the Southwick Players, at only age 11, explaining, “…The Barn holds special memories for me, and I was first introduced to the Southwick Players by my Nan, who nagged me to join the cast of Oliver! when I was 11, and I have never looked back since.”
He has also expressed his enjoyment at being back with the Players after years away, and that he’s holding his grandmother in his thoughts. “It feels great to get back on stage at the Barn; 10 years is too long! I know my Nan would be proud to see me back on stage at the place she loved so much.”
His involvement demonstrates the tight community Southwick Players has built, and continues his grandmother’s legacy within the theatre group.
Read more: Meet some of the Players
Muswell Hill
The upcoming show, directed by Gary Cook, centres on a chaotic dinner party viewed from the kitchen of an affluent north London flat. The night is off to a bad start when Mat (Tom Van Vliet’s character) springs an unexpected surprise on his wife Jess (Lex Lake) just as their guests begin arriving. A poor choice in timing, as hostess Jess frets to ensure everything is perfect for their guests.
Director Cook says, “As the evening descends into chaos, we meet grieving widow Karen (Cat Byrne) and socially inept Simon (Gavin O’Neill). Arriving late is Jess’s stepsister Annie (Amy Whittington), bringing with her an uninvited guest in the form of her older boyfriend Tony (Anthony Leigh), who might be her fiancé (or perhaps not).
“As revelations, recriminations and soul-searching mount, Annie demonstrates her promising career as an actress may be not so promising after all.”
Adding more mess to the mayhem, the play is set all under the looming shadow of emerging news on a destructive earthquake in Haiti.
Show details
Expect tears, laughter, and excellent acting from the Southwick Players in this performance.
Muswell Hill is performing at the Barn Theatre, Southwick, 10 April until 13 April. Performances start at 7:30pm. Tickets can be bought through southwickplayers.org.uk or calling the box office at 0333 666 3366.