6th – 11th May 2019

The Barony Players’ Spring 2019 production was ‘Hobson’s Choice’, a Lancashire Comedy by Harold Brighouse directed by Tom Keeble. It is set in Salford, Lancashire in 1880 and is a focused, comedic exploration of the changing status and expectations of women within late-Victorian society.
Prosperous Salford bootmaker Henry Hobson is a widower with three daughters. It’s 1880, change is in the air and Hobson, a man who stands for middle-class Victorian values, doesn’t like it one bit when his daughters – who work unwaged for him in the shop and do all the housework – get what he calls “uppity”.
Younger daughters Vickey and Alice have beaus they would like to marry, but Hobson is too mean to give them the dowry they need, and he has no intention of letting his eldest daughter, Maggie, slip through his fingers. He might call her an “old maid”, but even the lightly sozzled Hobson knows she’s the real brains behind the business. But Maggie has other ideas for her future and they include bootmaker Willie Mossop, who may lack education and confidence but knows how to turn out a fine pair of boots fit for the carriage trade.
Audience Reviews
Brilliant play perfectly done. Sets were fantastic and acting at its usual high standard.”
“Congratulations once again to The Barony. My dad and I thoroughly enjoyed Hobson’s Choice. Very funny and very professional with a fantastic cast.”
“Really excellent!🎭🎟”
“Terrific performance tonight well done to all involved on and off stage”
Cast List
Directed by Tom Keeble
Henry Hobson | Ian Stewart | Maggie Hobson | Claire Withnell |
Alice Hobson | Sue Spencer | Vickey Hobson | Jane Thomson |
Albert Prosser | Craig W Lowe | Mrs Hepworth | Judy Barker |
Tubby Wadlow | Steve Corrall | William Mossop | John Knox |
Jim Heeler | Keith Hewitt | Fred Beenstock | Roddy Bain |
Ada Figgins | Lindsey Mullin | Dr McFarlane | William Cunningham |
Production Team
Director | Tom Keeble | Lighting | Richard Ferguson |
Assistant Director | Betty Millar | Sound | Jeni Adamson & Carter Ferguson |
Stage Manager | Sandra Bain | Costume & Props | Susan White, Lorna Wallace, Sandra Bain, Sue Spencer, Jean Watt |
Set Design & Build | Tom Keeble & Barony Workshop | Poster Design | Connie Smith |
Front of House Manager | Sheena Keeble | Programme Design | Wendy Turner & Andy Stewart |
Box Office Manager | Michelle Lowe | Technical Adviser | Duncan Waterston |
All photos courtesy of Connie Smith and Michelle Lowe.