Following a warmly received debut at the Riverside Bitesize Festival, Sarah Shelton’s Blessings returns to Riverside Studios for its full-length world premiere from 30 September to 26 October 2025.
This darkly funny and emotionally charged family drama explores the complexities of faith, control, and the fragile bonds that hold families together.
Set in a small English town in the 1960s, Blessings centres on the Deacon family, where matriarch Dorie is determined to uphold Catholic respectability while her husband Frank remains ominously silent.
As the children return home for Easter, long-buried secrets begin to surface, threatening to unravel the family’s carefully maintained image.
From the smug eldest son Martin to the rebellious Frances, razor-sharp Penny, and watchful Sally, the Deacons are anything but united.
With a new boyfriend, a knowing priest, and mounting tension, the household becomes a pressure cooker ready to explode.
Writer and director Sarah Shelton said:
“At its core, Blessings explores the messy, beautiful, and sometimes painful dynamics of family – something deeply personal and universally understood. I’m thrilled to be bringing it back to Riverside Studios after the incredibly warm reception to that first showing at Bitesize which marked the beginning of the play’s journey. Riverside audiences really embraced Blessings in its shortened version, so it’s a total joy to return to the venue where it all began. Our cast will include outstanding seasoned performers who will be sharing the spotlight with gifted newcomers who are just beginning their careers. With a top-class creative team too, we’re poised to share this timeless story with a wider audience and I can’t wait to do so.”
Presented by Artful Entertainment, Blessings promises a gripping theatrical experience with a cast and creative team to be announced soon.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
