Hotbuckle Productions

Hotbuckle Productions Professional theatre company specialising in adapting classic novels through stripped back ensemble theatre. and internationally.
(1)

Adrian Preater - Artistic Director

Adrian trained at The Central School of Speech and Drama and then Bretton Hall. Appearances in "Gosford Park" and "Enigma" were notable career highs before Adrian founded Hotbuckle Productions with his wife Gemmas Aston. Since writing his first play, "Get writing with Rosie", Adrian has gone from strength to strength with firstly "Joshua" and recently "Ballad of

a Bird" Adrian has worked for such notable companies as London Bubble, Boxclever, Oddsocks Productions, Il Palcetto Stage, The Orange Tree Theatre, Huddersfield's Lawrence Batley Theatre, Re-Creation Theatre Company, Major Road Theatre Company, The Secret Agents Theatre Company, House Theatre and Sixth Sense TIE Company. TV appearances include Eastenders, The Bill, Frost, Keen Eddy (US) and Family Values. Film credits include Gosford Park, Enigma, Love Actually and Branagh's Magic Flute. Fiona Leaning - Creative Director

Fiona studied Performing Arts at Middlesex University and then went on to study acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has performed in the UK and around the world with, among others, the RSC. From 1999 until 2008 she lived in New York, and as an Associate of The Wooster Group helped to create their acclaimed work, performing in the U.S. She has performed with Hotbuckle for the last four years and is thrilled to now be helping to steer the company into 2013 and beyond. Gemma Aston - Executive Director

Gemma is now Artistic Director at The Riverhouse Barn Community Arts Centre.but remains an executive director of the company. Gemma trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She worked as a professional actress for 5 years in theatre and film and for the last 5 years has been the Senior School Drama Teacher at Claremont Fan Court School in Esher, Surrey. Her role in this job, as well as teaching students from years 7-12, included directing and choreographing school productions and exam performances.Her theatre credits include working with ‘The Royal Shakespeare Company’,‘Boxclever’,‘The Pied Piper Theatre Company’ and ‘Oddsocks’ . Her film credits include “Maybe Baby”, “A Clandestine Marriage” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

We’re enjoying our trip to Ireland! Here are some production shots from our latest performance! Don’t forget to get your...
21/05/2026

We’re enjoying our trip to Ireland! Here are some production shots from our latest performance!
Don’t forget to get your tickets…

.armagh

20/05/2026

Last chance to get tickets for the amazing Hotbuckle Productions theatrical masterpiece, The Return of the Native. With their trademark physicality and rich storytelling, Hotbuckle breathe fresh life into Hardy’s windswept world of passion, rivalry, and fate. Expect a production that captures both the sweeping drama of Egdon Heath and the intimate, human struggles at the heart of the novel.

The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy is a tragic novel set on the wild, brooding landscape of Egdon Heath in rural England.

It follows the intertwined lives of several characters, especially Clym Yeobright, a man who returns from Paris with idealistic dreams, and Eustacia Vye, a passionate, restless woman who longs to escape the bleak heath for a more exciting life. Their marriage becomes strained as their desires clash - Clym seeks simplicity and purpose at home, while Eustacia craves adventure and escape.

The novel explores themes of fate, unfulfilled desire, social constraints, and the power of nature, with Egdon Heath almost acting like a character itself - shaping and influencing the destinies of those who live on it.

Ultimately, the story is tragic, showing how miscommunication and conflicting ambitions lead to suffering and loss.

20/05/2026

LOVE, LOSS & BETRAYAL / / You Won't Want To Miss This One!

Hotbuckle Productions have drawn rave reviews with their performance of
'Return of the Native' and we are delighted to have them on stage at
The Market Place this Friday!

"...it is the sheer quality of the acting that is utterly hypnotising. It's a bit like having the Royal Shakespeare Company pitch up at your local village hall."
Chris Eldon Lee

If you love theatre then grab yourself a last minute ticket and enjoy the performance THIS FRIDAY!
🎫 Book Tickets: https://shorturl.at/eXS5U

20/05/2026
15/05/2026
Looking forward to coming to Armagh on Friday 22nd May!
13/05/2026

Looking forward to coming to Armagh on Friday 22nd May!

Can’t wait to be back at The Swallow!
13/05/2026

Can’t wait to be back at The Swallow!

Introducing the cast of THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE. From left to right...
JOANNA PURSLOW performed at The Swallow Theatre for Hotbuckle in last year’s Little Women and in previous productions of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Great Expectations, Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.
BETH ORGAN is an actor, musician and improviser from North Yorkshire. She joined Hotbuckle for Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Great Expectations, and is delighted to be making a Return this year!
WILLIAM WITT trained at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and has appeared on tour with Dino Tales: Jurassic Rescue and as Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk at Tamworth Assembly Rooms. We look forward to meeting him in his Hotbuckle debut.
ADRIAN PREATER is the Artistic Director of Hotbuckle. He formed the company in 2006 with his wife, Gemma Aston. He has since written, adapted and directed all of Hotbuckle’s shows as well as performing. We are delighted that he completes the cast of The Return Of The Native.

The Return Of The Native written by Thomas Hardy, adapted by Adrian Preater, Hotbuckle Productions, comes to The Swallow Theatre on 28/29/30 June. Tickets are £17.50, available from our website.

Touring in 2026! We’re happy to announce our next production will be a new adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s The Return of th...
03/11/2025

Touring in 2026!
We’re happy to announce our next production will be a new adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native. We love Hardy and know our audiences do too!
We will be returning to many of our regular venues from April - July in 2026.

Thomas Hardy’s ‘The Return of the Native’ is a profound exploration of human desires and the indomitable forces that shape destiny. Set against the haunting backdrop of Egdon Heath, the novel tells the story of Eustacia Vye, a young woman whose passionate longing for escape and fulfilment drives the narrative inevitably towards it’s  tragic conclusion.
With live music, high energy, multi role playing, humour and inventiveness, yet another English classic novel is brought wonderfully to life—Hotbuckle style!

Address

Mill House Farm
Shrewsbury
SY58JN

Telephone

+441743860576

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Hotbuckle Productions posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Hotbuckle Productions:

Shortcuts

Share

Category