In five short interlinked plays, the master of British comedy Alan Ayckbourn takes a humorous look at the search for connection and love in a world that can sometimes be a very lonely place.

The young mother who babbles in baby-talk; the travelling salesman with an eye for the girls; the romantic dinner that goes disastrously wrong; the small-town community with secrets about to explode; and five strangers sharing four park benches. Nothing quite fits but no one gives up trying!

CONFUSIONS is an excruciatingly funny revelation of the painful realities of modern life, layered with Ayckbourn's characteristic wit and sharp yet sympathetic observations.

TWS's Directors Workshop production of CONFUSIONS brings together five talented directors and the master of British comedy in a delightful night of laughter.

Directors are:
George Dempsey, Peggy Carlson, Linda Roberts, Gregg Valek, and Jack Calvert

The first – Mother Figure – portrays a woman, socially marooned for most of the day with her young children, who is unable to escape from using baby talk while entertaining her neighbours. Directed by George Dempsey

In Drinking Companion a commercial traveller tries his hand at seduction with either or both of two perfume salesgirls. Directed by Peggy Carlson

Between Mouthfuls deals with two couples eating at separate tables in a restaurant. There are previous links between them but at first the couples do not communicate with each other. As a waiter hovers between the tables we hear only the snatches of conversation that he hears.

Described by one director as “probably the best short comedy ever written”, Gosforth’s Fête is a romp at a garden bazaar. Nothing goes according to plan and an illicit affaire is made public in typical Ayckbourn style.

A Talk in the Park brings the play to a close with five individuals on park benches baring their souls in one-sided conversations.