Film & Theatre, Reviews | Posted on September 19th, 2025 | return to news

‘Orca the Goldfish’ and ‘Women Only’

Grass Roots Theatre Company, Minster Theatre, Allendale Centre

Review by Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

The Allendale Centre’s gain is TV’s loss.

It is easy to see how Justin Ellery managed to get parts in ‘Coronation Street’, ‘Heartbeat’, ‘The Bill’ and ‘Emmerdale’, and it is a wonder TV producers let him go.

Justin had spent six years away from acting before appearing in ‘Orca the Goldfish’, the first of two comedies by David Tristram being performed by Grass Roots Theatre Company at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne Minster until 20 September — and I am sure he will be back on the stage in other productions in the very near future.

As Henry, a man with multiple identities, Justin puts in a stunning performance as he morphs from one character to another. This is an acting master class.

And teaming Justin with Tracie Beardsley was magical, as the two actors gel so well. Tracie, who has performed with many local companies, always gets under the skin of her characters and she is quite at home in both tragedies and comedies.

The action involves a rotting melon, a deckchair, and a bottle of neck rub!

A triumph for both the actors and director John Billington.

The second play, ‘Women Only’, tells the story of a divorcee Laura who takes her recently widowed mother Ruth on a much-needed holiday — where secrets unravel.

You know you are in for a good play when Julia Savill (playing Ruth) is in the cast. Like Justin, she has numerous TV, theatre and film roles under her belt, and she is both spiky and humorous as the gin-drinking widow.

Lisa Watkinson, who has also appeared with Grass Roots in the past as well as in several plays and radio dramas, makes the perfect foil as the divorced daughter.

Well done, director Christina Artemis.

This is the Allendale’s regular company, and it is fast proving its value to the local theatrical scene.

Try to get a ticket. Performances are 8pm tonight Friday 19 September, and tomorrow Saturday 30 September at 7.30pm.

Tickets from www.theallendale.org/grassroots or you may be able to get one on the door.