BARBICAN GLORIAS is a brand-new musical set among the fishing
community of Plymouth’s waterfront and the Barbican.
When life gets tough – the Glorias sing!
It has been created for the people of Plymouth (although outsiders will be welcome if suitably behaved) and performed by a great cast led by the wonderful Suzy Bennett.
Written by Hugh Janes and Richard Taylor, it is adapted from the book by Richard Taylor and directed by Hugh Janes. The music is a blend of songs you know and love, from Cher, Kansas, Shania Twain, Sam Cooke, The Crystals, Elvis Presley and many more and adapted and incorporated into this uplifting new musical.
Barbican Glorias centres on a trio of no-nonsense women who toil away in the local crab works. They are determined to have a good time no matter how rough things get - or how badly they smell after a day of crustacean dismembering. Their close friendship becomes strained when events following a bereavement change their lives and love is tested to its limits.
Plymouth’s renowned artist Beryl Cook would have felt totally at home within the folds of this heartfelt, humorous musical, that pokes its tongue out at common sense and conformity. It is a slice of life, much like one of Beryl’s paintings coming to life.
HUGH JANES – was an actor when television was black and white. Since taking up his quill he has written over 65 plays and 7 films, including ALL AT SEA starring Lauren Bacall and Brian Cox, and was a core writer of PLAY AWAY for CBBC. He has had many plays at the Theatre Royal including MASTER FORGER (starring Roy Marsden), TWO OF A KIND (starring Eric Sykes), THE PERFECT MURDER and his ghost play THE HAUNTING (starring Paul Nicholas). The Haunting has been produced all over the UK and internationally and has its US premier this October at the Shakespeare Theatre, Kentucky. He was writer-in-residence at the Barbican Theatre and has directed often. In 2025 the theatre revived TIME & TIDE, his comical look at Plymouth’s association with the sea, and presented the World Premiere of his musical version of the Elizabethan play THE FAIR MAID OF THE WEST. In 2026 the Manor Theatre, Sidmouth, produced The Haunting as part of its summer repertory season.
RICHARD TAYLOR - has a BA in Professional Creative Writing. He has published eight novels, his latest being THE HERMITAGE as well as a catalogue of short stories and a collection of thoughts about his second love, the sea. He is a sailor who has extensively cruised the oceans of the world. Richard is married, lives on Plymouth’s Barbican and has a village home/writing retreat in the mountains of Almeria, Spain.
SUZY BENNETT is a former Butlins Redcoat and proud Devonian. She ‘accidentally’ won the prestigious FUNNY WOMAN AWARD on her 6th gig and has performed around the UK and the international comedy scene.
Suzy hosted ‘Dine with Davina’ with Davina McCall at The Moonwalk London, as well as being chosen as tour support for big name acts including Russell Kane and Jimmy Carr. Suzy masquerades as alter-ego ‘Red Ruth’ regularly as the Landlady of the Keg & Pasty stage at Boardmasters Festival, Cornwall and hosts events such as Porthleven Food Festival, Great Estate and The Best Bar None Awards. She also co-wrote and starred in the hit panto CIDERELLA, which enjoyed a sell-out run and toured the South West.
She is currently hosting the BERYL COOK COMEDY TOUR as part of The Box, Plymouth’s ‘Pride and Joy’ exhibition which has extended due to sell-out success.
‘The Westcountry Caroline Aherne’ - Terry Christian
'Suzy is Delightful company' - (Metro)
'The physical presence and panache of a young Dawn French’ - ( Chortle )
‘Suzy is a Charm Bomb’ - (Russell Kane)
‘Very very funny!’ - Davina McCall
CARLY BARNES - is a Plymouth based actor, she graduated with a degree in Psychology before training at Drama Studio London. Last year Carly performed a one woman show FREAKS, GEEKS and OTHER HUMAN BEINGS written by John McGee at both the Barbican and Quad theatre in Plymouth. She was also part of Triptych by Laura Horton at the Theatre Royal. Carly has acted with local theatre company Rabblerouse and played the lead role in Theatre Hub’s Dominion. She has many screen credits including the lead role of Peaches in local feature films Killing Lionel and Card Dead. She played many comic roles in the TIME & TIDE revival last year at the Barbican Theatre.
PAIGE POMEROY – wowed Plymouth audiences this spring when she played the lead role of Diana in the hit musical NEXT TO NORMAL. It was a welcome return to the stage after a long absence and she is delighted to be one of the Glorias.
COLIN DAVEY – is a vocal coach and performer. He was seen earlier this year playing Doctor Madden at the Barbican Theatre in No Walls Creative Arts production of the Broadway hit NEXT TO NORMAL.
RICK O’SHAY - is a well-known entertainer in the local pubs and clubs but still finds time to work as a freelance script writer. He has written four plays, FIELD OF GREENS, ZAK THE ZOMBIE and the CHRISTMAS REPAIR SHOP, BELIEVE!, and BENNY HUR, as well as three pantomimes, CINDERELLA, MOTHER GOOSE, and ALADDIN. He has appeared in a number of TV shows and films including CASUALTY, ECHO BEACH, JONATHAN CREEK and DOCTORS. Rick once played Pa Larkin in THE DARLING BUDS OF MAY at The Drum Theatre while Suzy Bennett played his daughter Marielle! Perhaps he is most proud of having written the Plymouth Argyle Anthem THE JANNER SONG with Irish Number One artist Tim O’Riordan. Lately, he directed ‘ALLO ALLO!’ here at the Barbican Theatre and played Eric Morecambe in a second run of his play, Benny-Hur at the Green Taverners Arena.