The House with the Lights Still On

by Pete Watt

1 June 2026 (ODN Drama Festival)

10 June 2026 (Wallingford Drama Festival)

18 July 2026 (Compton)

31 July 2026 (National Drama Festival, Artrix Theatre Bromsgrove)

The House With The Lights Still On is a one-act family drama set over a single day in the living room of an aging widower, Holden Grey. When his children gather to pack up the house and prepare for his move into residential care, the practical task of sorting belongings becomes an emotional reckoning with memory, responsibility, and choice.

Cast & Crew

Holden Grey: Eric Saxton

Jill Grey: Brogan Amos

Rosie Grey: Naomi Read

Frank: Paul Shave

Mark Grey: Michael Sheperia

Director: Jasmine Mullany

Lighting & Sound: George Buckland

Stage Manager: Liz Saxton

Stagehand: Ann Griffiths

Stagehand: Apollo Sheperia

Set Design & Construction: Eric Saxton

NODA Report

An evening of solid and powerful drama

THE HOUSE WITH THE LIGHTS STILL ON is a one-act play written by Compton Player, Pete Watt. Having received an invitation, the Compton Players will be taking this show to the National Drama Festival. It tells of a story – familiar to many – of the difficult situation that arises when siblings decide that their elderly father needs to move into residential care. The action takes place over one day and is in a single setting, his living room. We see his two daughters packing up the house. A third sibling, a son arrives later in the action.

FRONT OF HOUSE: The front of house staff were very helpful. This was an evening of celebration launching the 80th anniversary year, the announcement of the Compton Players’ drama festival and two NODA awards being presented.

PROGRAMME: The programme was a very simple A4 folded twice, mainly black and white with the cover depicting the three main characters. Inside there were messages from the Director and Writer, list of cast and crew, with colour photos on the back cover. When the programme was folded out, on the reverse, there were details of the Compton Players’ own drama festival to be launched for 2027 and information about play readings and the forthcoming production.

SCENERY/SET/PROPS A simple set depicted Holden Grey’s living room with packing boxes, a chair and an impressive doll’s house. There were ornaments, a toolbox, kettle, mugs, tea pots and photographs in frames. The props played a huge part in the play – symbolising nostalgia: there being memories and stories associated with each item. The only built piece of set being a piece of hand rail and one stair giving the impression of an upper floor.

COSTUMES: The costumes were simple, practical, everyday clothes for all: casual clothes, jeans, tshirts and a jacket for Holden.

THE PRODUCTION: This was a poignant tale of family dynamics led by Brogan Amos as the elder daughter. She was the pragmatic, pro-active and non-nonsense Jill. Her younger, more wistful and less practical sister Rosie, was played by Naomi Read. They were believable as sisters who knew where they were in the pecking order. Eric Saxton, as the patriarch whose home was being dismantled, showed great restraint in his performance which was a masterclass in emotional simplicity as he quietly, but reluctantly, accepts the situation. Paul Shave and Michael Sheperia had more minor roles in the family. There were moments of reflection, fantasy, great poignancy and sadness in this thoughtful and thought-provoking drama which was directed by Jasmine Mullany. Everyone involved – actors and supporting crew – combined to produce an evening of solid and powerful drama.

Independent Review

Powerful and thought-provoking performance

On Saturday evening the Compton Players generously shared their award-winning one act play, ‘The House With The Lights Still On’, to an enthusiastic home audience. The play, written by Pete Watt and directed by Jasmine Mullany, will be performed at the National Drama Festival later this summer after winning the award for Best Original Play at the Oxford Drama Network’s Drama Festival. Before the performance the writer and director emphasised how the production was a team effort alongside cast and crew, something that was reflected in the powerful and thought-provoking performance.

An exploration of grief and family dynamics, the play focuses on Holden Grey’s daughters packing up his belongings before a move into a care home, and all the feelings of loss, confusion and tension that that situation brings out in a family. The use of silence to convey emotion, particularly with Eric Saxton’s taciturn and solemn Holden, was particularly powerful.

There were excellent performances from all of the cast, especially Naomi Read and Brogan Amos as the sisters with very different personalities connecting with their father and mourning the loss of their mother during the course of the day. Paul Shave and Michael Sheperia’s roles allowed brief but valuable interruptions, providing humour and a different insight into the family dynamics, respectively.

The performance was enhanced by an innovative set, using cardboard boxes to represent the house’s furniture. Reflecting the themes of the play, the set itself was packed up as the drama unfolded and concluded.

During the evening the Compton Players were raising awareness, and funds, for the launch of their own one act drama festival, ROADFest. Taking place in May 2027, the Players hope that the festival will provide opportunities for amateur groups in West Berkshire and beyond to share their pieces within a professional theatre.

JENNIE COLLINS