In 1987, Annie Castledine became Artistic Director. During the next three years, the Playhouse saw a completely different style of theatre. Plays included "The Innocent Mistress", "The Children's Hour" and "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs" and classic plays such as "A Doll's House" and "Jane Eyre". Other plays included "Arsenic and Old Lace", "Gaslight" and "Noises Off" alongside new work such as "Sunday's Children", "The Queen of Spades", "Selling the Sizzle" and "Self Portrait". There was a series of co-productions with the companies Shared Experience, Paines Plough and Temba. During this period, the theatre's productions became known for the strength of their on-stage visual imagery. The Playhouse was shortlisted for the Prudential Awards.