Headgate Theatre Productions
The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter
Director – Nate Drury
Nate says ” I fell in love with The Dumb Waiter when I studied it in college, and I have wanted to do a production of it ever since. It is with great joy that I can direct and share this amazing Pinter classic. With Pinter’s techniques and my own spin on this play, we can create magic.”
Production Champion – Paul T. Davies
Production Week: performances are on Saturday, 17th January 2026 at 4 pm and 6 pm.
Rehearsals: these will usually be on Sunday mornings @ 10 am/Wed evenings @ 7 pm from 11th October.
The final schedule will be agreed with cast members after auditions, and will need to take into account the availability of rooms at the Headgate during Fringe/Christmas etc.
Casting
Ben – Paul Reed
Gus – Kevin Inskip
The Dumb Waiter Synopsis
In Pinter’s classic play, The Dumb Waiter, Ben and Gus are two assassins hiding out in a basement in Birmingham. They have no idea what the next job is, and get increasingly tense as they wait for instructions on their next hit. When they find a dumb waiter in the basement, the unexpected starts happening.
Character Descriptions and Skills
| Ideal Playing Age | Character Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Ben | Early 50s | A cockney veteran to the job, self-confident and sarcastic. Just wants to do the job and read the paper. |
| Gus | Mid 20s | Gus is quite new to the job and has lots of questions. Quite fidgety, naive and isn't the smartest of people. |