A Queen Must Fall, for a Queen to Stand Principal Funders
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A QUEEN MUST FALL, FOR A QUEEN TO STAND PRINCIPAL FUNDERS CORE FUNDERS PREMIER PARTNER WELCOME The lives of Royals have terrorists. Two women, so Thankfully, apart from always been rich fodder for very different in personality, Mortimer’s demise, we’ve novelists, playwrights and who have a massive amount had none on the rehearsal journalists. When Schiller in common. room floor. We’ve relished wrote MARY STUART in 1800 the opportunity to unpick Schiller counter-balances the perhaps it was partly to satisfy this great work and to delve similarities and differences the German public’s curiosity into the tumultuous, almost between these two female about the line of royal heritage unbelievable lives of these kings with great skill and in Britain – since the House two women. integrity. He sets the human MAJOR PROJECT PARTNERS of Hanover had ascended and moral conflicts of the two Now we invite you to the English throne. In the women against the political do the same. recent fervour of Scottish necessities of their times and nationalism, the play has been explores what is spiritually enjoying revivals – and this is, true and spiritually false in as far as I can ascertain, the our material world. MAJOR SUPPORTERS first professional production Colin McColl of a Schiller play in Auckland. MARY STUART, like Shakespeare’s most The focus of this adaptation “When the Elizabethan demanding tragedies, is not by Peter Oswald (originally rhetoricians define the a play you attempt unless presented at Donmar nature and function of the you have actors who are up Proud to be NZ’s Most Awarded Official caterers of Auckland Warehouse, before West End art (of language) --- they Winery and Sponsor of Auckland Theatre Company to the task. I’m blessed to be Theatre Company and Broadway transfers) is, stress its power above all working with some of this however, not so much the else, specifically the power country’s finest stage actors; English-Scottish question it puts in the hands of the MEDIA PARTNERS my love and thanks to them but something perhaps even orator to control the will and all for their talent, insight and more urgent for Western desire of the audience…They commitment. And thanks too governments – homeland celebrate rhetoric for giving my stellar design team and security. What do you do its possessor the ability to to everyone at ATC who has with a wayward foreign Royal subjugate others…At its core, worked behind the scenes in your midst? How do you then, Renaissance rhetoric to realise this world of MARY make an unpopular decision is animated by a fantasy of STUART so superbly. SUPPORTING PARTNERS palatable for the public? power in which the orator We see two women I’m told that my ancestors wielding words more deadly BKA INTERACTIVE / BDO AUCKLAND / CANON clinging onto their beliefs were flag bearers to the than swords, takes on the and their authority in an Stewarts and that it is world and emerged victorious M.A.C. COSMETICS / MARKETING IMPACT / WAIWERA WATER overwhelmingly male world; McColl blood on Bonnie in every encounter.” MAIDMENT THEATRE / THE EDGE / Q THEATRE a world of bureaucrats, spies, Prince Charlie’s ensign on Wayne A. Rebhorn quoted in “Shakespeare sycophants and religious display in Edinburgh Castle. and the Arts of Language” OUP 2001 SYNOPSIS ACT ONE ACT TWO ACT FOUR Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, Ambassadors from the French Burleigh has Mary’s execution is imprisoned in England, Prince petition for Elizabeth’s order drafted and expels charged with inciting treason hand in marriage. She gives the French ambassador for against Queen Elizabeth. a token in promise. Burleigh suspected treason. He meets Mary’s prison guard, Paulet, urges Elizabeth to execute Leicester and threatens him. CAST ransacks her possessions for Mary; she asks for counsel, To protect himself, Leicester evidence, to the disgust of but her other lords offer tries to arrest Mortimer, but Elizabeth – Elizabeth Hawthorne Mary Stuart – Robyn Malcolm Mary’s companion, Hanna. contradictory opinions. Mortimer commits suicide. Hanna – Hera Dunleavy Leicester – Jon Pheloung Mary asks permission to Paulet delivers a letter from Burleigh tells Elizabeth that make her case to Queen Mary. Elizabeth sends the Leicester is a traitor. Leicester Shrewsbury – David Aston Burleigh – Stuart Devenie Elizabeth but Paulet refuses. lords away and asks Mortimer convinces Elizabeth that he Alone with Hanna, Mary is to murder Mary. He outwardly was only feigning allegiance Davison – Cameron Rhodes Paulet – Andrew Grainger wracked with guilt about her agrees, but when Elizabeth to Mary to serve Elizabeth’s Mortimer – Jonathan Kenyon Aubespine / Melvil – George Henare role in her husband’s murder. leaves, reiterates his loyalty cause. Burleigh and Elizabeth Paulet’s nephew Mortimer to Mary. Mortimer gives give Leicester the task of Bellievre / O’Kelly – Edward Peni visits Mary and reveals he Leicester Mary’s letter, in executing Mary. Left alone, has secretly converted to which she promises to marry Elizabeth signs Mary’s death With students Steven Chudley, Taofia Pelesasa and Alex Walker Catholicism and taken a vow Leicester (her past lover) warrant. She gives the from the UNITEC School of Performing and Screen Arts. to free Mary. Mary gives him if he frees her. Mortimer warrant to a servant but does a letter for Leicester, who she is distraught, as he loves not clearly tell him what to do says will secure her release. Mary and plans to rescue with it. Under duress he finally CREATIVE Lord Burleigh arrives from the her himself. When Mortimer gives it to Burleigh. court and pronounces that leaves, Leicester convinces Director – Colin McColl Set Design – John Parker ACT FIVE Mary has been convicted of Elizabeth to meet with Mary. Costume Design – Elizabeth Whiting Lighting Design – Phillip Dexter, MSc. treason. Mary argues that Mary is condemned. Her ACT THREE the verdict is unlawful and servants help her prepare Sound Design – Eden Mulholland unjust, and sweeps out. Mary has been allowed to for execution. She gives her Burleigh suggests it would walk in the prison grounds final confession and leaves to PRODUCTION be convenient if Mary died in and Leicester has arranged for be beheaded. Elizabeth and prison, but Paulet swears to Elizabeth to hunt nearby. The Shrewsbury receive news of Production Manager – Mark Gosling Technical Manager – Paul Nicoll protect Mary until the Queen’s two women meet, quarrel, Mary’s death from Burleigh. Stage Manager – Fern Christie Operator – Nik Janiurek verdict condemns her. and part on bitter terms. Shrewsbury resigns his post In the confusion, Mortimer and leaves. Elizabeth calls for Properties Master – Diana Kovacs Wardrobe Supervisor – Sophie Ham declares his love for Mary Leicester but he has left for and swears to rescue her. France. Elizabeth is left alone Set Construction – 2 Construct She flees his advances. News and friendless. ASB Community Trust Emerging Artist Apprentices: comes that there has been an attempt to assassinate Assistant Stage Manager – Kate Middleton-Olliver Wardrobe – Caitlin Brogan Queen Elizabeth, but she has survived. Mortimer stays to AUCKLAND THEATRE COMPANY WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR HELP WITH THIS PRODUCTION: try and protect Mary. Brendan Devlin, NBR NZ Opera, Fadi Nasrallah, Luvisa, UNITEC, Tom Appleton, John Ip, Judith Geare from Goethe-Institut Neuseeland MARY STUART is the third Auckland Theatre Company production for 2011 and opened on May 5th. MARY STUART is approximately 160 minutes long including an interval. Please remember to switch off all mobile phones, pagers and watch alarms. MARY STUART: QUEEN OF SCOTS Mary Stuart was Queen becoming King of Great Britain, VI) arrived in the Firth of Forth regnant of Scotland from replacing the House of Stuart hoping to capture the city of 14 December 1542 to 24 in Britain. Edinburgh and kidnap Mary, July 1567. She was the only Henry VIII of England took the but Mary of Guise hid her in surviving legitimate child of opportunity of this regency the secret chambers of King James V of Scotland. to propose England and Stirling Castle. She was six days old when Scotland be united through On 10 September 1547, known her father died and she was the marriage of Mary and his as “Black Saturday”, the Scots crowned nine months later. own son, Prince Edward. On suffered a bitter defeat at As Mary was still an infant 1 July 1543, when Mary was the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh. when she inherited the throne, six months old, the Treaty of Mary of Guise, fearful for her Scotland was ruled by regents Greenwich was signed, which daughter, sent her temporarily until she became an adult. On among other points, promised to Inchmahome Priory, 9 September 1543 Mary was Mary to be married to Edward. and turned to the French crowned Queen of Scots, with It was Henry’s wish that Mary ambassador Monsieur D’Oysel ‘such solemnity as they do should also move to England for help. use in this country, which is where he could oversee her The French, remaining true not very costly’ according to upbringing. However, feelings to the Auld Alliance, came to the report of Ralph Sadler and among the Scottish people the aid of the Scots. The new Henry Ray. towards the English changed French King, Henry II, was A popular legend, written by somewhat when Cardinal now proposing to unite France John Knox, states that James, Beaton rose to power again, and Scotland by marrying the hearing on his deathbed that and began to push a pro- little Queen to his three-year his wife had given birth to a Catholic and French agenda, old son, the Dauphin François. daughter, ruefully exclaimed, which angered Henry who On 7 July 1548 a Scottish “It came with a lass, it will wanted to break the alliance Parliament held at a nunnery pass with a lass!” with France and the papacy.