Pleasure Dome Theatre Company

16/06/2026

We're delighted to share another essential ingredient in this wonderful brew.

Charlotte Ellen is an actor and theatre maker. She has previously played Kate in The Twelve Pound Look for Pleasure Dome Theatre. Other acting credits include Elvira in Blithe Spirit (English Repertory Company), Adele in Shakers Re-stirred (E.G. Productions), Phyllis in The [Fletton] Railway Children (Eastern Angles) Princess Fenella in The Princess and The Frog (Nottingham Playhouse) and title roles in Cinderella and Peter Pan at Easterbrook Hall Dumfries, as well as roles in Shakespeare including, Puck - A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Phoebe - As You Like It, Dromio of Ephesus - The Comedy of Errors and Emilia - Othello for Cambridge Shakespeare Festival. Creative Director of Betwixt-and-Between, Charlotte has written Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens and The Princess and the Dragon and co-wrote the book and lyrics for Pleasure Dome’s A Christmas Carol at Taunton Brewhouse 2023. Theatre is Charlotte's happy place and she is delighted to be experiencing it with you as part of this exciting production.

Thank you, Broadway World, for revealing our Cast Announcement!

09/06/2026

Did you know today is the anniversary of the Staplehurst Railway Crash that hugely informed his story .

The accident had several witnesses. One described the derailment as "two terrible jolts and in an instant ... all became darkness ... and chaos". Another reported trapped bodies inside the wreckage, hearing "the groans of the dying and wounded, the shrieks of frantic ladies and the shrill cries of young children".

Charles Dickens was with Ellen Ternan, commonly believed to be his mistress, and her mother in the first-class carriage which did not completely fall into the river bed and survived the derailment. He climbed out of the compartment through the window, rescued the Ternans and, with his flask of brandy and his hat full of water, tended to the victims, some of whom died while he was with them. Before he left with other survivors in an emergency train to London, he retrieved the manuscript he was working on.

Although several passengers recognised Dickens, he did not make himself known to the South Eastern Railway.

29/05/2026

GWR is rolling out a huge rail shake-up with new airport links, extra services and its 200th station as the South West gets a transport boost 🚆🔥

29/05/2026

We're delighted to share another splendid piece of this puzzle. The bold and brilliant returns to the UK's most breathtaking stage to take on the role of The Visitor, after a national tour as Mr Collins in Pride and Prejudice (Octagon Theatre, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Theatre by the Lake, Hull Truck and Theatre Clwd.)

"Machines are the work of men. Men and money. Not any God! Cruel men... and their cruel machines."

Thank you, , for revealing our Cast Announcement!

"Hello! Below there!" Pleasure Dome Theatre, known for their atmospheric performances at Exmoor's Valley of Rocks, in partnership with the present Charles Dickens' supernatural thriller- The Signalman, adapted by Jonathan Holloway and directed by Scott Le Crass. The company is celebrating 10 years of theatre-making at the Valley and beyond with this South West reimagining using physical theatre and original music, and drawing on the impact of the infamous Beeching cuts. The production explores themes of mental health and rural isolation and plays at the Valley before steaming across Somerset and Devon, visiting a selection of Heritage Railways, Arts Venues, Museums, and of course, the iconic The Signalman runs at the Valley of Rocks from the 17th to the 25th of July, "Exmoor's answer to the Minack," before touring a choice selection of rail-associated site-specific venues.

Tickets are now available to purchase for the Valley of Rocks, and Knackershole at www.pleasuredometheatrecompany.com

27/05/2026

Shakespeare and sunshine! 🌞🎭🥳 The perfect combination. We're delighted to be working with our friends at Fabula Arts in August.

If you have a young person who loves theatre and performing then this is a great chance to get stuck in and have fun with the immortal Bard!

You never know, they might love Shakespeare so much they end up running an open-air theatre company in the future! 🙈

21/05/2026

Over the next few weeks, we look forward to introducing you to all the exceptional artists involved in bringing this groundbreaking piece of theatre to life.

Gerald Dickens is a great-great-grandson of the author Charles Dickens and has been a professional actor for more than forty years.

In 1993, Gerald was asked to perform a dramatic reading of A Christmas Carol and, since then, has been adapting and producing a series of one-man shows based on the life and works of Dickens, including The Signalman. These performances have taken him around the world, including multiple tours across the USA.

As well as his Dickens performances, Gerald has also recorded audiobooks, provided Theatre in Education workshops, written, produced, and directed many other theatrical works, and worked extensively as a performer in the tourism industry.

Gerald has extensively researched the circumstances surrounding the Staplehurst rail crash. He has published a book on the subject, as well as an autobiographical account of his years performing A Christmas Carol.

This tour of The Signalman is Gerald’s first with Pleasure Dome Theatre Co., and he is greatly looking forward to working with the company.

Tickets are now available to purchase for the Valley of Rocks, Museum of Somerset, and Knackershole at www.pleasuredometheatrecompany.com

For other venues, watch this space....

18/05/2026

All aboard!!! 🚂🎟️💜

We are delighted to let you know that tickets for at the Valley of Rocks and beyond are now available to purchase online at www.pleasuredometheatrecompany.com

After three years away, now's the time to board the train to enjoy "theatre in the wild" at the Valley of Rocks once again!

Advance sales make it possible for us to deliver the most breathtaking productions for our audiences, so please book now to support our work and avoid disappointment.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Landmark Theatre, Philip Milton, Lynton and Lynmouth Town Council, The West Somerset Railway, and the communities of Lynton and Lynmouth for their continued support.

18/05/2026

Just under two months til we're back at the Valley of Rocks to create with and to say that we're excited is an understatement.

🚂 👻 💜

11/05/2026

We are proud to be featured in the Summer edition of !

The magazine is owned, run and produced on Exmoor.

Head to their website to find out more and purchase your copy of this unique magazine: https://exmoormagazine.co.uk/

13/01/2026