Review of Party Season at Royal & Derngate (Royal), Northampton

Formed in 2011, the theatre group The Wardrobe Ensemble has created many shows for both adults and children. Over the years, they have established a rich connection with the Royal & Derngate, staging several productions here, including the recent Mog: The Forgetful Cat. With Party Season now opening at the venue, the focus returns to an adult-centred show.

Party Season tells its story through three children’s parties over the course of one weekend. The usual social situations occur, awkwardness, one-upmanship, and the true chaos of such events as children descend on a single house. Though the setting is children’s parties, Party Season goes deeper. It explores what it means to be a parent, and in one amusing moment, what it is like not to be one.

Party Season is a return to the triumphant balance that The Wardrobe Ensemble has between buffoonery and stark, human emotional storytelling. The simplicity of seeing a switch from the cast doing Gangnam Style to an emotional monologue telling of what life throws at a mother by the devil mother Simone, played by the fabulous Kerry Lovell, is a triumph in itself. All this can only work with a group so in-tune with one another. The Wardrobe Ensemble have refined this over the years, and with Party Season, that refinement is near its optimum.

What is a pleasure when watching this group is the confidence each performer clearly has in the others, in true ensemble style. To that effect, it often feels wrong to single out individual performers for mention; however, leading the story here, Tom England impressively portrays the put-upon dad who thinks everything in life is out to trouble him and, as a result, tries to avoid everything. This includes accompanying his son to his friend's birthday parties in his mother's absence, who is away on business. England has that nervous edge, especially when his character comes across both faces from the past, an inappropriate message and the shadow on his shoulder of the death of his father.

James Newton is a strong and enjoyable Entertainer, who we are welcomed by at the opening like that of a children’s entertainer, including the prerequisite dodgy jokes (which are actually quite good). Newton also appears as Xander’s son Felix, effortlessly switching between the adult and child character, as is often the case through this fast-moving piece for the other performers. This is especially so for Jacade Simpson, who cleverly balances the two ages as Celia and David’s son Aonghus and Bea's brother Kane, and in one scene, literally switching on stage as a literal Tug of War unfolds.

Everyone makes their mark on the production, but perhaps it is easy to say that Jesse Meadows once again strikes comedy gold with her constantly on edge Celia, the domineering mother who wants and has everything, except any tat in her house and must have the very best for her Aonghus, including victory in the silly little party games. It's a masterful performance in a very strong cast.

Directors Jesse Jones and Helena Seneca strike all the right notes with the piece, with high-energy moments that shift to stillness when needed for an emotional juncture. Also, there is some terrific lighting by Chris Swain on Bronia Housman’s simple but very effective five-door set, which allows the production to play with clever multiple entrances and help create a perfect WhatsApp sequence later in the story, a strong point of the production.

Party Season is a rip-roaring theatre show, swift and fast-paced across a ninety-minute single act, a rollercoaster that takes the audience on an emotional ride. There is much more that could be said of this production, but much of this would take away from the experience of seeing it for yourself. Catch it quick at Royal & Derngate, or, if not, try to find it as it tours until May.

Party Season is theatre gold, offering a careful balance between comedy and raw emotional storytelling.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Performance reviewed: Thursday, 9th April 2026, at the Royal & Derngate, Northampton.

Party Season is at Royal & Derngate until Saturday, 11th April 2026, before touring.

For further details of the tour, see the website at https://www.thewardrobeensemble.com/

For further details about the Royal & Derngate and to book tickets, see their website at http://www.royalandderngate.co.uk

Production photos: Paul Blakemore

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