Play to be staged at Robin Hood Theatre, Averham, in tribute to its writer

A theatre company will take to the stage next week in a production written by a local theatre stalwart who died last month.

Val Wilson’s Perks Of The Job was due to be performed in May 2020, but had to be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, Argent Theatre will go ahead with the production as planned at the Robin Hood Theatre, Averham, next week in tribute to her.

“As Argent Theatre prepare to stage her first play, amid the sadness are also the happy and cherished memories of Val that focus on her joie de vivre, her optimism, her naturally caring and nurturing personality ­— on and off stage,” said a company spokesman.

“As Tony Roberts said at her service of commemoration, ‘Val will be watching from the Gods.’”

Born in Newark to Norman and José King in 1945, she was educated initially at the convent school and then at Lilley and Stone ­— the Girls High School.

She studied drama professionally and went on to teach English and drama at The Rodney School in Kirklington.

Seeking a change of direction she furthered her studies and along the way met her husband, Keith, while living in Nottingham.

They married in 1979 and Val gave birth to Chris in 1981.

Val had various career changes, including working with Newark College co-ordinating training for those experiencing long-term unemployment.

Her final role, which she enjoyed until retirement, was as HomeStart manager in Ollerton.

Val’s association with theatre never wavered.

Her mum, José, was artistic director at the Robin Hood Theatre in Averham for many years and Val’s talents extended to producing, directing, designing and stage-managing.

Her directorial efforts included the 2017 production of One Man, Two Govners, receiving NANDA plaudits; The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice the previous year as well as classics from Chekhov and Shakespeare.

She was also an actor, with Argent Theatre, where her work included Calendar Girls, Happy As A Sandbag, Five Blue-Haired Ladies Sitting On A Green Park Bench, Nasty Things Murders, and, most recently, Day Trippers.

She started writing and in 2019 gifted Argent Theatre her first full-length script to perform ­— Perks Of the Job.

Although she died before seeing it performed, Argent Theatre is taking comfort in the knowledge that they were able to host a full-scale launch and read through with Val in February 2020.