About Act 2 Productions

When the founding members of Act 2 were but little children (well, at University) they were part of a very happy family known as the University of Hertfordshire Students' Union Drama Society (UHDS). Inevitably, adulthood arrived and this happy band had to eventually fly the nest to pursue their individual talents and interests.

With a portfolio of skills ranging from English literature and psychology, to model-making and computer science, these talented youngsters have all seen their professional careers blossom. However, life cannot be all work and no play and the desire to put on a performance remained strong in them all.

Thus these friends joined forces again to become Act 2.

Act 2 was born on the 3rd of June 2002 during an informal meeting quite near a bar (okay, in a bar). Following the excited discussions in this initial meeting, the plans for a production were brought to a head by Naomi Marsh, our esteemed chairperson, who took it upon herself to research, locate and book a theatre in the form of the Trestle Arts Base.

Act 2's first production, 'It started with a kiss', was met with rave reviews and sufficiently good ticket sales to fund a second production - 'It's not funny', a comedy written by a member of the society. These plays were followed by a highly successful production of Ben Elton's 'Popcorn', and Act 2's first musical 'Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens', performed at the brand new Weston Auditorium in May 2004. 'Saucy Jack' brought in record ticket sales for Act 2 and a final night crowd on their feet cheering, dancing and singing along.

After a well earned break, Act 2 returned to the stage in April 2005 with our fifth production, and first go at a costume drama: Oscar Wilde's 'An Ideal Husband'.

Act 2's crowning achievement came in the summer of 2005, when we went 'international' and took 'Turn to Face the Change' - a comedy by Pete Hawes (a founding member of Act 2) - to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. An ambitious move, which paid off with perhaps our most successful production, and proudest moment, to date.

In June 2006, Act 2 returned to the Trestle Arts Base with our seventh production - 'Electric Candlelight', a farce written by a member of the society.

May 2007 saw the return of Act 2 Productions to the Trestle Arts Base to perform, 'Bouncers... the Remix', a dark comedy by John Godber.

Act 2 is a totally self-funded initiative, established with donations from the founding members and maintained with ticket sales and membership fees. Membership is open to anyone with a sense of fun and adventure, and we only charge a minimal membership fee once a role has been awarded.

Our main aim has always been to have fun and enjoy ourselves, with the production of highly successful shows being a happy by-product of this. Since our first show in November 2002, we have gone on each time to more ambitious and challenging productions, and we will continue to do so.