When the doorbell rings at a crumbling Hollywood mansion in 1956, we witness first hand the tumultuous relationship between a suffocating stage mother and her silent film star daughter, Mary Miles Minter.
Mary Miles Minter, a former silent film star, and her mother, Charlotte Shelby, a former stage actress and lifelong stage mother, could never shake the suspicion that they were responsible for William Desmond Taylor’s murder. This remains an unsolved murder to this day; rumours circulated, but no one was ever brought to justice, and the scandal has followed them ever since.
The Paper Doll House explores the very real aftermath of cancel culture in Hollywood during the 1920s, which destroyed lives and careers; paying homage to the sublimely camp films of the mid-twentieth century, such as Sunset Boulevard, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, and Grey Gardens.
It also captures the magic of the early days of cinema, when the invention of the moving image changed life forever, bringing wonder to ordinary people and creating a world where actors and actresses on the screen were regarded as gods and goddesses.
Mother and daughter dwell in the past and avoid gossip; they have said farewell to Hollywood, but Hollywood still signals to them from afar. When a chance appears through a popular game show, a second chance might rescue them from a life of mediocrity.
Written by Julie Balloo
Additional Material from Donna King
Directed by Tug J Wilson
Ticket Information
Performance Dates: 11th – 14th February 2026
Performance Time: 8pm (3pm Saturday 14th)
Run Time: 75 mins
Tickets: £18 / £15
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