DUTY
by Susanne Crosby
DUTY premiered at The Lantern Theatre, Brighton, in May 2025, produced by Twilight Theatre, and has been invited back to the Lantern Theatre for their “Second Chance Fringe” selection in November 2025.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Theatre in Brighton
Theatre in Brighton REVIEW here – quote:
Fringe Review
November 2025 Review Here
May 2025 Review Here
“A fresh and urgent play, Duty should tour as a salutary reminder of how war impacts community, divides war-influenced majority from the few who see through war.”
View From The Gods review here
“An important story and a gripping watch” Brighton Source Full Review Here
Cast for November 2025
Top L to R: Matt Vickery, Jordan Southwell, Bottom L to R: Jake Marchant, Susanne Crosby
Three of the original cast return in November to reprise their roles, with writer and creator Susanne Crosby taking the role of Mags, due to a last minute unforeseen scheduling clash for Sam Nixon, who played the role in May 2025.
May 2025
As the First World War unfolds, three friends in rural Sussex feel very different calls to duty; changing their lives forever.
What is duty? Is it a call to King and Country or to humanity: can it be both?
Audience Feedback
Photo Gallery by Photographer Peter Williams click here
Press release Here
Touring Information Here
Performances
Part of Brighton Fringe Festival 2025
The Lantern Theatre, Brighton, May 2025, produced by Twilight Theatre
Cast
John – Matt Vickery
Harry – Jordan Southwell
Joe – Jake Marchant
Mags – Sam Nixon
News
Remembrance and Gratitude
We’re overwhelmed with the amazing responses to DUTY through this show run. It’s been truly wonderful. And so poignant, across Remembrance Weekend. We received an amazing review from Fringe Review’s Simon Jenner which was so gratifying and humbling, and the Mayor of Brighton and Hove: Councillor Amanda Grimshaw BEM come to see the show on …
Did You Know?
This mug is from the Imperial War Museum, visited many times by Suse Crosby during the years of research for the play. In the play they mention the Army recruiters are on the lookout for men with “strong teeth” – the reason they did that is because it would be an instant sign of malnutrition. …
DUTY in November 2025
Beyond excited to be bringing back DUTY to the Lantern Theatre’s “Second Chance Fringe” in November, and to be staging it over Remembrance Weekend is an honour. It sold out last time and some people who wanted to see it didn’t get the chance – so here is your “second chance” to see this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ …
Duty
Duty
by Susanne Crosby
DUTY premiered at The Lantern Theatre, Brighton, in May 2025, produced by Twilight Theatre, and has been invited back to the Lantern Theatre for their “Second Chance Fringe” selection in November 2025.
As the First World War unfolds, three friends in rural Sussex feel very different calls to duty; changing their lives forever.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Theatre in Brighton
Theatre in Brighton REVIEW here – quote:
Fringe Review
November 2025 Review Here
May 2025 Review Here
“A fresh and urgent play, Duty should tour as a salutary reminder of how war impacts community, divides war-influenced majority from the few who see through war.”
May 2025 View From The Gods review here
“An important story and a gripping watch” Brighton Source Full Review Here
Latest Review November 2025 here
Cast for November 2025
Top L to R: Matt Vickery, Jordan Southwell, Bottom L to R: Jake Marchant, Susanne Crosby
Three of the original cast return in November to reprise their roles, with writer and creator Susanne Crosby taking the role of Mags, due to a last minute unforeseen scheduling clash for Sam Nixon, who played the role in May 2025.
Show Photos
Photos courtesy Peter Williams. Full Gallery here.
May 2025
What is duty? Is it a call to King and Country or to humanity: can it be both?
Audience Feedback
Photo Gallery by Photographer Peter Williams click here
Press release Here
Touring Information Here
Performances
Part of Brighton Fringe Festival 2025
The Lantern Theatre, Brighton, May 2025, produced by Twilight Theatre
Cast
John – Matt Vickery
Matt Vickery plays John, the man running his family farm between Seaford and Eastbourne with his mother in 1914.
Matt is an actor and writer who graduated from ArtsEd in 2021 with an MA in acting.
Matt is the co-star and co-author of THE KENNINGTON LOOP (Funded by Arts Council England). His recent stage credits include A CHRISTMAS CAROL (ADG European Tour) Charlie in ‘Artlandish Productions’ MUSIC FOR CATS (Brighton Fringe), James in LUCY’S PHARMAKON (Femfest, Actors Theatre), Jordan in Oxia Theatre’s ASSISTED.
Harry – Jordan Southwell
Jordan Southwell plays Harry, one of the farm hands and John’s good friend.
Jordan trained at Sylvia Young Theatre School. His work in Theatre includes Oliver! at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, A Doll’s House and last year Sheep Love to Die at Printers Playhouse. TV includes Doctor Who, Holby Blue and short films for Blue Peter. He has worked as a presenter for Children’s TV channels including Boomerang and Cartoon Network.
Joe – Jake Marchant
Jake Marchant plays Joe, one of the farm hands and the diplomat of the group..
Jake is local to Brighton and has been involved in a few productions over the last couple of years. Jake won the Mike Padley Award for Best Supporting Actor in Wick Theatre’s “Deathtrap” playing Clifford. Jake has been involved in short film work for local directors, most recently appearing in Sam Milletti’s latest production. He studied Theatre and Drama at Sussex University.
Mags – Sam Nixon
Sam Nixon plays Mags, who owns and runs the farm with her son John.
Sam’s love of theatre began many years ago when she performed in a youth club drama workshop tour at 13 years old. She graduated with a degree in drama and has toured with TIE companies and several musical productions.
As well as bringing Julie Andrews to life in the 5star ‘Practically Perfect’ she has recently performed as Fagin in Oliver Twist, Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit, Elizabeth I in Mary Stuart, Portia in Merchant of Venice, Alice in Queers, and in several award-winning Brighton and Edinburgh Fringe plays.
Represented by Goldmans Management
Susanne Crosby – Writer & Director
Susanne is an award winning writer, critically and popularly acclaimed actor and award winning director. She is the founder and Creative Director of Twilight Theatre Company and has been making theatre for over 25 years. She has had popular and critical success with all of her plays, including “Days” **** (Reviews Hub) Brighton Fringe 2023, and “Waiting for Curry” ***** (Meridian FM) and ‘Highly Recommended’ (Fringe Review), was picked up by a London Theatre in 2019. In addition to directing for Twilight Theatre she also directs for Wick Theatre Company, Southwick Players and Brighton Little Theatre as well as freelance, and she edited and directed the award winning “20 to Something” in Brighton Fringe 2014. She has also been part of several films, both in front of the camera as an actor and as a presenter, and behind the camera as director, researcher and writer to create educational documentary films; a number of which focus specifically on the First World War era, including Sound Architect Creative Media’s film “The Day Sussex Died”, about the Battle of Boar’s Head.
Days
Brighton Fringe 2023 – we returned with “Days” – an eco thriller, at the Lantern Theatre. We were sold out, and it was both a critical and public success with amazing feedback – see below.
For the free Programme for the Show click here
Audience Feedback
Waiting for Curry
Four friends: two couples, and a lot of history.
The wine flows as they wait for their takeaway, they start catching up, as friends do – but there is something different about tonight.
Private thoughts start spilling over into polite conversation and suddenly they are sharing far more than they intended: longings, jealousies, and a secret past.
It’s an evening that changes them and their friendships forever.
Performances
Twilight Theatre premiered the acclaimed comedy drama Waiting for Curry by award winning Brighton based playwright Susanne Crosby to Hove Grown Festival in 2017.
A new incarnation went on to receive huge popular and critical success in the Brighton Fringe Festival 2018 with sold out shows and two extra performances due to demand.
We were invited by the Kings Head Theatre in London to perform there in January 2019.
View or download the free programme here
Some Audience Feedback:
“Brilliant!” “Loved it!” “beautifully performed”
“You recognise yourself in the characters” “Fantastic writing”
“a wonderfully honest, comical and loveable script, performed by an amazing group of actors”
And a favourite with Susanne Crosby: “It’s like the Peep Show meets Pinter, without the pauses.”
Below is some of the feedback during the Brighton Fringe 2018:
Kings Head Theatre: January 2019
Cast: Rob – Matt Grief; Chris – Susanne Crosby; Sue – Alex Louise; Phil – Alex Bond
Brighton Fringe Festival: May 2018
Cast: Rob – Matt Grief; Chris – Susanne Crosby; Sue – Alex Louise; Phil – Alex Bond
Hove Grown Festival: April 2017
Cast: Rob – Matt Grief; Chris – Kerri Frost; Sue – Sarah Griffin; Phil – Ben Cassan
Reviews
James Roy on Meridian FM’s review 5 stars Review
Fringe Review classed it as “highly recommended” in both 2018 and 2017 and gave it brilliant reviews, for the writing, direction and all of the actors. Excerpts:
” There’s an added depth to this new version, and some very funny awkwardness. And a smash hit for several reasons.”
” …it’s a more complex play, even if indeed it hinges on rekindled attraction between Sue and Rob, and the reasons Rob honourably withdrew so many years back. For Sue he’s the one. For Rob, it’s not so certain. Matt Grief – the one survivor from the original cast – deftly layers a far more complex role than his initial gruff materialism lets on.
Crosby’s particular achievement lies in characterising four distinct individuals whose motivations – revealed in four monologues as the others freeze – show none of them shallow but awkward and less articulate when interacting. “
“There’s a social reckoning, a denouement, and a very unexpected plot point. It’s the kind of thing you’d expect from someone who knows what percentages can do. This version has a new emotional depth and residual wisdom with some fine lines – especially when Rob somehow blames Chris for his actions.
Grief’s baffled and compromised decency’s a thing that has you revolving the truth of it after you’ve left. Is he being truthful? Is he deluding himself in his protestations? We want to know. The cast’s uniformly convincing – Bond’s perfect subfusc, Crosby does hurt crossness and your heart goes out to Louise. But Grief’s layerings and self-contradictions as Rob perhaps carry the palm.
In its unassuming clarity it hooks universal feelings into a moment. It’s an excellent play and cast needing wider circulation; the audience again was packed. There’s a quietly sad magic to this low-key play; people recognize themselves in it. It speaks.”
Read the full 2018 review here
Read the full 2017 review here
Our Heroes
When the Kings Head Theatre invited us to perform “Waiting for Curry” at their prestigious venue we were over the moon. Of course we said yes. But the reality of taking it there dawned on us – that we needed extra help. We put together a Crowdfunder to help us get there and below are some of the heroes whose generosity made it possible to take it to London.
Heartfelt thanks to our supporters:
Paddy Cooper ~ Lesley Louise ~ Eleanor ~ Lianne Garcia ~ Emma Howarth
Helen Smith ~ Sam Anthony ~ Olover Watt ~ Rose Hall-Smith