Wednesday 7 – Saturday 10 May 2003

Playhouse Creatures

By April de Angelis
Directed by Chris Honer

Playhouse Creatures, a comic drama by April de Angelis. The year is 1669 - a bawdy and troublesome time in Restoration London. The theatres have just re-opened after 17 years of suppression under the Puritans, encouraging a great upsurge in dramatic activity. Of vital importance to the development of drama was the entrance of the first English actresses upon the stage.

The author has taken five famous figures -Nell Gwyn, Elizabeth Farley, Rebecca Marshall, Doll Common, and Mary Betterton - and given us a fascinating look at the precarious lot of actresses at that time.

A moving and often comic account of the true lives of Restoration actresses (with some earthy language and bawdy situations.

Cast

Stephanie McGill - Doll Common
Sarah Quintrell - Nell Gwyn
Karen Warbey - Mrs Farley
Gordon Patrick - Newell Rochester
John Lowry - Otway
Helen Wildeman - Mrs Betterton
Katie Hocking - Mrs Marshall
Philippa Paget - Mrs Barry