It’s August 1954 the Americans have just exploded a hydrogen bomb on the island of Bikini, Khrushchev is manoeuvring for total power in the USSR after Stalin’s death, Roger Bannister, has run the first sub four  minute mile and wartime rationing finally ends with the lifting of restrictions on meat. It is also being called the ‘worst summer ever’ with high rainfall, low temperatures and very little sunshine.  In the small seaside town of Shellsea they are feeling the effects of the non existent summer. The Sea Spray seafront restaurant hasn’t had a customer for days, nobody wants to hire a deck chair and the Cliff View Guest House has just one paying guest, a mysterious foreigner who says he is from Basingstoke. 

Some people blame the weather on the new atomic research station up on the moor and others blame the Russians but when Rosie, the new focus of male attention in the town, goes missing, suspicion starts to fall on the mysterious foreigner.  

There is also a neglected and bullied wife. A redundant Spiv, a war widow and an ex R A F war hero unrequited in love so you might wonder what there is to laugh about in Shellsea. …. Quite a lot actually 

Two actors, six characters, a multitude of emotions

The Worst Summer Ever  is the latest offering from Day-Star Theatre

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