After 25 years of marriage, Maggie Callahan finds herself newly single and thrown into the chaotic world of modern dating. Armed with nothing but a martini and a sense of humour, she endures ten wildly different first dates, from a narcissist obsessed with selfies to a spiritual guru who wants to re-balance her chakras.
As Maggie faces the absurd realities of dating apps, mismatched personalities, and midlife crises, she begins to realise that love is more complicated – and hilarious – than she ever imagined.
10 First Dates is a comedic exploration of relationships, self-discovery, and the unexpected joys of being single.
SPECIAL EVENT: Single? Love theatre? Then come see 10 First Dates at Etcetera Theatre on March 20 2026 at 9pm.
Maggie survived ten dates. You can survive one evening. If you love theatre and want an easy low pressure way to meet other theatre-loving singles, book a ticket to the play. Get your singles wristband at the door, enjoy the 60 minute show, and then mingle afterwards in the bar and talk about the show as an icebreaker. No gimmicks, no games, just good theatre and good fun.
Spread the word, bring your single friends along.
Laura Shipler Chico
Laura Shipler Chico joins the cast of Ten First Dates as newly divorced Maggie, making her foray into the Wild West of online and in real life dating.
Laura is an acclaimed American actor, writer and producer based in London. Recent theatre credits include Reality Bites (Arches Lane Theatre), I’m a Philosopher (Riverside Studios), The Work We Do (White Bear Theatre) and Helen Hayes Recommended Who Cares in Washington, DC.
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- Borne on Amazon Prime Pathways
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- Coming Out at festivals
Mark Parsons
Actor Mark Parsons will take on all ten dates – come watch him morph from love bomber to spiritual guru and more in front of your eyes. Mark has studied with Actors Studio lifetime member Jack Waltzer since the year 2000. Previous theatre credits include Reservoir Dogs (Edinburgh Festival), Distance (Rose Theatre), Execution of Justice (Southwark Playhouse), The Country (BAC), Snap (Young Vic), The Crock (Pentameters Theatre), The Crystal Egg (Waterloo Vaults), The Play With Speeches (The Brockley Jack and Gate House Theatre), Delinquent Dad (Tabard Theatre) The Human Touch (Canal Café Theatre). Film credits include The Bangkok Job (Monrey Films), Little Kingdom (Film Frame), Deadpan Valentine (Lindsey Productions), Topsy-Turvey (Thin Man Films). Television credits include Miranda (BBC), Criminal Justice 2 (BBC), Come Fly With Me (BBC), Little Miss Jocelyn (BBC2).
Jamie is a theatre director and producer from the Suffolk coast, specialising in developing new writing for the stage. He founded Brave Mirror Productions in 2019, and has led the company since then, creating work that champions emerging artists across Bristol and London. His work is environmentally conscious, and he regularly works with the Theatre Green Book. Recent projects have included Forget Me Not (R&D, Chichester Festival Theatre, 2024), Lady’s Fingers (UK tour, 2025), The Tempest: This Island (The Cockpit, 2025), and Attention Span (Hen & Chickens, 2024), which was nominated for Best Comedy at the London Pub Theatre Awards.
Believe it or not, this play is based on a true story! Playwright Christine Rose and her friend starting swapping daring horror stories and TEN FIRST DATES was born.
Before becoming a playwright, Christine Rose published twelve books, including the critically-acclaimed memoir One Reason to Live, the award-winning 5-book fantasy series Rowan of the Wood, and the bestselling Steampunk romance Avalon Revisited. She holds both a BA and MA in British Literature and needs copious amounts of dark chocolate, frothy mochas, and silent solitude. Her first play, Sanctuary, played for a sold-out run at the Hope Theatre in November 2024.
Praise for playwright Christine Rose’s previous work:
“Powerful and honest” London Fringe Theatre Reviews (4 stars)
“Gripping and thought-provoking” Theatre and Tonic (4 stars)
Produced by Gooper Dust Productions whose previous productions gained praise:
“Bitingly witty” Theatre and Arts Review (4.5 stars)
“Raw and current” My View from the Stalls (4 stars)
“High-quality, the casting is exemplary” The Reviews Hub (4 stars)
MARCH 20-24, 2026, ETCETERA THEATRE, 265 Camden High Street, London, NW1 7BU. It is situated directly above The Oxford Arms pub, close to the Camden Town tube station.
Find out more about Women Writers Festival at Etcetera Theatre.
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