17.39°C Director Wendy Smith of 3wishes theatre CIC talks to Tim Young about Festen, which runs at the Headgate Theatre in Colchester from Tuesday 5 May to Saturday 9 May.
3wishes theatre CIC presents Festen at the Headgate Theatre in Colchester, opening on Tuesday, 5th May. Adapted by David Eldridge from the groundbreaking Dogme 95 film by Thomas Vinterberg, Mogens Rukov and Bo Hr Hansen, Festen is widely regarded as one of the most important British stage adaptations of the 21st century.
Directed by Wendy Smith in the distinctive and fearless 3wishes theatre style, this production offers a bold and unflinching exploration of the fractures within a deeply dysfunctional family. It builds on the company’s acclaimed five-star productions, including 4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane, Love Is a Bruise by Paul T Davies, and Breathe… by Jazz Ely.
Staged in the intimate surroundings of the Headgate Theatre, Eldridge’s writing comes to life with raw intensity and dark comedy, promising an appalling and enthralling experience audiences won’t soon forget.
What’s Festen about?
Our audience is cordially invited to celebrate Helge’s 60th birthday. Festen – the Danish word for “the celebration” – unfolds over a single weekend in a family-owned hotel, where relatives and close friends gather for a dinner party. A jovial occasion suddenly explodes when Christian, the eldest son, rises to toast his father. He decides that this is the moment to reveal the family’s darkest secrets, and from then on, people have to choose sides and fight for the truth. No one leaves unchanged.
What drew you to this play?
Two of us in the company saw the 2004 London production with Tom Hardy and Johnny Lee Miller, and we’ve been talking about it ever since. It was one of the most tense plays I’ve ever experienced in a theatre – in fact, another friend of ours nearly got up on stage to fix it. That’s the thing, you just can’t leave it alone. It’s one of those stories, a modern classic, that needs to be told again and again. And although it goes to some very dark places, it’s also very funny.
What’s your favourite aspect of the show?
We are very lucky indeed with the cast for this show, who are all people many would recognise as among the best local actors in our area. Ben Maytham, who is a familiar face in Colchester, Ipswich, Manningtree and Chelmsford, is extraordinary as Christian. Gary Mackay, who plays Helge, has extensive TV, film and theatre credits, including roles with the National Theatre of Scotland and The Old Vic. Gary is mesmerising to watch. And there are twelve more brilliant performers who have created a fantastic ensemble. We can’t wait to see it all take off.
What do you think will be the impact on the audience?
I think Festen will attract people who enjoy something of a white-knuckle ride in the theatre. There are some challenging themes – suicide, sexual abuse, bullying and racism. One of the reasons we set up as a community interest theatre is because we love that theatre is one of the safest places to be open about these issues. I do think the show will get people thinking about how families can have a traumatic effect on our vulnerable souls.
Will you be in the bar after the show and hoping for audience feedback?
We’ll definitely be in the bar after each show. We’ve told people to come and say hello if they have time. We’ll be very excited to hear their thoughts – as long as no one asks, “how did they remember all those lines?”
Tickets for Festen at the Headgate Theatre, Colchester (5th-9th May 2026) are available online.
