Midland Players’ Monstrous Regiment – 18 February 2026, University Drama Studio
Review by Jacob Bush.
As is becoming an annual tradition, this week Midland Players are taking audiences on another trip to Terry Pratchett’s weird and wonderful Discworld. This year’s production is Stephen Briggs’ adaptation of Monstrous Regiment. Against a backdrop of highly patriarchal world, a group of women disguise themselves as men to join the army as an ongoing war approaches its conclusion. Each have their own reasons for doing so as we learn throughout the play, but with their collective strength and resilience they change the future of their world for good.
At the outset, it should be noted that this play is long – around three hours, plus a 20 minute interval. Briggs’ script is witty, with a fair few laughs throughout, but it doesn’t move through the events of the play particularly quickly. Director Elliott Dale-Hughes, making his directorial debut, does his best to keep things moving – and the production does move smoothly from scene to scene – but there is a lot of material to be delivered. Dale-Hughes leads his company in each developing fully fleshed out and believable characters, helped by Briggs’ detailed writing. For a story about war, we see minimal violence which is a shame but the fights we do see, choreographed by Jack Stockdale-Haley, are excellent.
The set designed by Dale-Hughes alongside Phil George is fairly simple but works well to depict the various locations we find ourselves in. Ruth Jepson’s costume design is outstanding, many pieces of a very professional quality. Her make-up design is also wonderful, particularly for Carborundum the troll.
Monstrous Regiment has a fairly large ensemble cast, each of whom do great work. Megan Roberts leads the company as Polly. She is instantly likeable and completely engaging, keeping the audience drawn in throughout. She has a lovely rapport with Penny Coke-Woods as Maladict, the reformed vampire. She is also instantly likeable, which makes her struggles and relapses all the more difficult to watch. Telyn Herbert captures the kookiness of Igor very well, whilst Hal Grayson brings a lovely tenderness to Shufti. Ruth Jepson demonstrates excellent comic timing as Tonker, whilst also having a lovely on stage chemistry with Emma Starczewski’s Lofty. Samantha J H Oldham brings to life the highly religious Wazzer wonderfully, and Paul Kelly has a great stage presence as Carborundum, confidently strolling across the stage on stilts.
Josh Cooper is a delight as Blouse, leading the squadron into battle, whilst Alex Wilson brings great contrast as well as great heart as the loud mouthed Jackrum. Wilson makes a great duo with Matt Voice as Strappi – almost a good cop-bad cop feeling to their double act. Voice is perfectly intimidating and someone we love to hate – it’s just a shame we don’t get to see much of their villainy unfold on stage.
Stuart Dunlop is a wonderfully mysterious as William de Worde. He delivers his opening monologue expertly, bringing novices to Discworld (like myself!) up to speed. Daniel O’Key’s rather seedy Horentz is perfectly uncomfortable to watch, whilst also being somewhat humorous at the same time.
Midland Players’ production of Monstrous Regiment boasts a tremendous cast who all deliver natural and believable performances and it is all wonderful to look at. It is long and has minimal action to break up the dialogue, but regardless it is a fabulous showcase for its talented company.
