HOW were humans created ? By Adam and Eve ? Wrong. The Big Bang ? No – wrong again. It was The Bods – human body parts, working away at Project Human Being to create a prototype of the first human.

At least that’s what a local team of creatives have come up with for a comedy play being performed on Monday (18 November) at the Cockpit Theatre, Marylebone, London as part of an evening of short plays.

This is the first play written by long-time Harlow resident, Peter Redding from The Gardiners – together with his brother-in-law, former Harlow resident Alan Hall, an established writer. The cast also includes two Harlow-based actors – Alfi Howard and Jessica Keilty who, in their day jobs, both work as Games Masters at The Panic Room in Harlow Town Centre. Alfi is also a stand-up comedian, who organises and hosts the regular Gits and Shiggles Comedy Nights at The Panic Room.

Called Humanity – Love and Sex, five body parts beaver away at their weekly project meetings, taking a proper project management approach to their unique task – but totally ill-equipped to meet their objective ! They’re all there – The Brain (Chair), The Hand (Secretary) and The Heart. For this “Workstream” on Sex and Love, two specialists have been enlisted for their expert knowledge – The Penis and The Vagina – played by Alfi and Jessica.

Before his retirement and foray into the world of playwriting, Peter Redding had a long career as a gas engineer, initially working for British Gas and latterly Harlow Council and Harlow Trading Services (HTS). “This is quite a departure from the plays that Alan’s written in the past, which have been more serious ones about social-issues such as homelessness. This one is completely bonkers ! “, said Peter.

He has known Alan for over 50 years, but this is the first time they have properly written together. “Although when Alan was about 13 years old, we would get together after tea on Sundays at Alan’s mum and dad’s house to write comedy plays for the family to perform at Christmas.

One play was a new take on Upstairs Downstairs and another, Blunderbirds, was about the famous Tracey family !” said Peter.

Humanity – Love and Sex is being performed at Cockpit Theatre, Marylebone, London as part of an evening of short plays at 7pm on Monday 18 November. As part of the Theatre’s contribution to the arts, the pay-on-the-door entrance is just £1.