THE Castle Players are emerging from the pandemic with an exciting triple bill of Alan Bennett’s one-act plays.
The Players’ annual “new director initiative” is hailed as a fabulous challenge for three fledgling directors – Adele Tyler, Phil Sculthorpe and Keith Irons who are looking forward to “highlighting the vulnerabilities of humanity and society
in a sensitive but comedic
way that audiences will relate to”.
Inspired by the treasured memory of a good friend and much-loved Castle Player, the late Andrew Stainthorpe, who performed Bennett’s A Chip in the Sugar a few years ago, group say it was an easy decision to go ahead and create an evening of three of the playwright’s one-act plays.
The production was originally planned for November 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic.
The players’ recent production of The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged) in the grounds of The Bowes Museum was hugely successful.
A collaboration of directors for that production included Keith Irons, who is looking forward to directing Say Something Happened.
Mr Irons said: “I learned a lot working on The Complete Works, so it’s great to be able to put that experience into directing one of my favourite Alan Bennett plays.”
Adele Tyler has shown off her acting skills for the past ten years and is looking forward to trying her hand at directing Green Forms – a rare work-place drama with lots of Bennett’s acerbic wit and his hilarious insight into office gossip.
“I can’t wait to get going,” she said. “It’s fantastic to get the opportunity to try my hand at directing;,especially with the support of a mentor and backed up with all the experience of the Players both on and off stage. I hope we can make Andrew Stainthorpe proud of us all!”
A talented all-round performer Phil Sculthorpe completes the threesome. His song-writing prowess for both The Complete Works and Alice in Wonderland was a delight.
“I’m so looking forward to the opportunity to direct one of Britain’s most famous of playwrights,” he said.
“A Visit from Miss Prothero was originally performed by Patricia Routledge, so there’s plenty to live up to.”
The show is being performed at The Witham on Thursday, November 11, to Saturday November 13, at 7.30pm and Saturday, November 13, at 2.30pm.
Tickets cost £12 (£10 concession). Call 01833 631107 or visit www.thewitham.org.uk or www.castleplayers.co.uk
