About Present Laughter
Noël Coward’s sharp and satirical comedy revolves around Garry Essendine, an ageing and egotistical stage star. Charismatic, spoiled, and quick-witted, Garry finds himself entangled with a series of adoring admirers, his ex-wife, and his controlling secretary, all while grappling with a looming tour of Africa. As his personal and professional lives spin out of control, Garry faces deeper questions about his identity, relationships, and the role he plays both on and off the stage.
EUTCo’s production, set in 1939, will balance the humour and farcical elements of Coward’s writing with emotional depth. With a focus on human relationships and their underlying challenges, this production aims to reveal a beautiful vulnerability beneath the comedic surface. Present Laughter is a witty, sharp, and expertly crafted exploration of fame, self-discovery, and the absurdities of life.
About EUTCo
Exeter University Theatre Company, fondly known as EUTCo, is one of the largest and longest running theatre societies at the university. Our goal is to get students involved in directing, producing, stage management, technical management, and performing professional quality drama. The society provides a platform to produce innovative and high quality student theatre, in an effort to entertain and inspire the rest of the student body and the larger community in Exeter. EUTCo also offers a number of industry led workshops for members and non-members to further provide theatrical opportunities for students.
Our Previous Productions
In the past few years, EUTCo have produced a diverse range of productions, and have been fortunate enough in recent years to give students the opportunity to work in professional theatres, notably the Exeter Northcott Theatre, and in touring productions, primarily based at the Edinburgh Fringe. We are incredibly grateful to these venues to supporting us as a student team to being our shows to life.
We have had a successful few years of productions at the Northcott Theatre, featuring Alice (2024), Frankenstein (2023) and Nora: A Doll’s House (2022).
Outside of the Northcott Theatre, we aim to put on high quality productions in Exeter each academic year. Recent productions include: Lord of The Flies (2019), The Great Gatsby (2020), A Woman in Mind (2021), Nora: A Doll's House (2022), Frankenstein (2023), Eigengrau (2023) and Alice (2024). Our calendar this year is set to be one of our finest to date, bringing Medea to Kay House (Exeter, 4th-6th December) and this production of Present Laughter at the Northcott in January!
Interested in knowing more?
If you have any questions about our crowdfunding campaign, the production, or EUTCo itself, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can contact us via email at [email protected] or through our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/eutco/
Exeter University Theatre Company is part of the University of Exeter Students' Guild, a Charity and Company Limited by Guarantee.Registered Charity Number: 1136468 Company Number: 7217324; registered in England and Wales Registered office: Devonshire House, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4PZ.
Guild Page: https://www.exeterguild.org/societies/theatrecompany