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Nell Gwynn Education Pack EDUCATION PACK Thanks to our supporters. Contents. Synopsis Music ATC Creative Learning thanks ASB as a key supporter P.05 P.40 of all school-focused activities in 2017. About the period Choreography P.11 P.44 Auckland Theatre Company receives principal and core funding from: About the play Student Activity: P.14 Reflecting on the Play P.48 Director — Colin McColl P.19 Additional Reading Thanks to The Infinity Foundation for its support in delivering and Resources school matinee performances at the ASB Waterfront Theatre in 2017. Set Design P.51 P.24 ATC Creative Learning Costume Design P.52 P.30 Curriculum Links Lighting Design P.52 P.36 ATC Creative Learning also thanks the ATC Patrons and the ATC Supporting Acts for their ongoing generosity. Venue: ASB Waterfront Theatre, 138 Halsey Street, Wynyard Quarter Please note. School matinee: Tuesday 29 August at 11am Running time: 2 hours and 45 minutes, including a 20-minute interval • Eating and drinking in the auditorium is strictly prohibited. Post-Show Takes place in the theatre immediately after the Please make sure all cell phones are turned off • Forum: performance (15 – 20 minutes) Please don’t bring school bags to the theatre. • Suitability: This production is suitable for Year Levels 11 - 13 • Photography or recording of any kind is strictly prohibited. Advisory: Contains occasional use of strong language 1 CAST Nell Gwynn — Claire Chitham | King Charles II — Tim Balme Lord Arlington / John Dryden — Mark Hadlow | Edward Kynaston — Byron Coll Nancy / Queen Catherine — Hera Dunleavy Lady Castlemaine / Louise De Keroualle / Old Ma Gwynn — Alison Bruce Charles Hart — Andrew Grainger | Thomas Killigrew — Roy Ward Ned Spiggett / William — Samuel Austin | Rose Gwynn / Servant — Vida Gibson All other parts played by ensemble CREATIVE Director — Colin McColl | Musical Director — John Gibson Choreographer — Malia Johnston | Set Designer — Rachael Walker Costume Designer — Elizabeth Whiting | Lighting Designer — Jo Kilgour MUSICIANS Violin/Cello — Charmian Keay | Trumpet — Mark Hadlow Alto Sax — Vida Gibson | Guitar — Tim Balme Mandolin/Tambourine — Byron Coll | Drums and Percussion — Samuel Austin PRODUCTION Production Manager — Robert Hunte | Company Manager (Maternity Cover) — Eliza Josephson-Rutter Technical Manager — Nik Janiurek | Venue Technical Manager — Josh Bond Stage Manager — Kirsten Lee | Assistant Stage Manager — Theresa Adams Technical Operator — Michael Craven | Props Master — Amy Snape Set Construction — 2Construct | ATC Production Intern — Nathanaël Ruestchmann EDUCATION PACK CREDITS Writer — Amber McWilliams | Additional Material— Lynne Cardy Editor — Lynne Cardy | Graphic Designer — Wanda Tambrin Production Images — Michael Smith | Design images courtesy of Rachael Walker & Elizabeth Whiting SCHOOL WORKSHOP PROGRAMME Director — Lynne Cardy | Youth Arts Coordinator — Nicole Arrow Teaching Artists — Freya Boyle and Ella Gilbert 2 3 Synopsis. ENGLAND IN THE 1660S. on the stage and selling With the support of King out shows because of it. Charles II, the theatres of Hart suggests they do the London are thriving, same, and introduces Nell. including the Kings After a few moments of Company at the Playhouse nervousness, she gives a Theatre, Drury Lane. wonderful performance, During a performance, a and the company (with the woman selling oranges – exception of Kynaston) Nell Gwynn – has a battle of are convinced. After the banter with the hecklers in others leave, Nell plays a the audience. Afterwards seduction scene with Hart, she is approached by the and kisses him. leading actor of the day, Mr In the palace, King Charles Hart. He tells her Charles is having issues off for her audacity, with his mistress, Lady but sees her potential and Castlemaine. He manages offers to teach her the to calm her down, and rudiments of acting. Nell begins a seduction. shows natural talent. Her However, while she flirts, sister, Rose doesn’t believe Lady Castlemaine insists she should do it, but Nell that he should have his decides to pursue the Chief Minister put to opportunity. death, and promote a A month later, Edward courtier called Arlington in Kynaston (an actor who his place. takes the women’s roles) Back at the Playhouse, bursts into the King’s the company are trying Company meeting to Nell out in rehearsals, say that a rival company although playwright, John is going to ruin theatre Dryden, hasn’t finished the forever by putting a woman script. Jealous, Kynaston 4 5 starts an argument, which has suggested that Lady to speak privately with night before because by offering the King a ends with Nell giving him Castlemaine should be the Nell. He offers her money somehow, she has eaten French mistress, but the advice on how to deliver Queen’s Lady in Waiting. to become his mistress. laxatives… Nell re-enters King sends him away. Nell his single line of dialogue. At the theatre, Hart and She turns him down. negotiations, making all suggests King Charles He stamps off, leaving Nell are playing Dryden’s He says he will go to the sorts of demands, but should listen to Arlington Dryden to complain about rewritten script brilliantly. Duke’s Theatre to watch finally agrees to become about signing a treaty with how hard it is writing the King Charles attends the (rival actress) Moll Davies the King’s mistress. the French, and coaxes script. At Nell’s request, he performance, and Nell instead. Nell lets him Nell is moved into Lady him into bed. Later, Ma reads what he has written, directs the flirtations of leave, but asks Nancy, the Castlemaine’s apartment. Gwynne, Nell’s mother, and she laughs, saying the love scene to him. After wardrobe mistress, to help The Lady comes to tell arrives with Rose: Nell is no woman would behave the performance, Hart is her with some ‘special’ Nell to make the most of it mortified, and sends Ma as the heroine does. Her scolding Nell for playing to baking. Hart arrives, and while it lasts, and ensure away. Rose says Nell should suggestions are brilliant the Royal Box, when King accuses Nell of having an she gets a title. Nell says visit her mother more and break his writer’s Charles comes into the affair with the King. She she is not there for the often. Nell argues that she block. dressing room and sends tells Hart that she turned money or the title – and sends coins to her family. On opening night, Nell is him away. King Charles the King’s offer down, but Lady Castlemaine is pitying The theatre company so nervous she can hardly woos Nell, but she engages the goodwill between the when she realises Nell has are panicking because walk, but makes it onto him in banter and then pair is broken. fallen in love with King the Duke’s Company are the stage and gives an leaves him bewildered by A few days later Charles. building a new playhouse. amazing performance. The simply walking out. Courtier Arlington comes Arlington is trying to They need a new and audience is in an uproar, The company argue to threaten Nell: she is to convince the King that spectacular play to woo the and Hart tells her she was about Dryden’s new play. have nothing to do with the he must sign treaties to audience back, one with a extraordinary. Manager, Killigrew points King or harm will befall her. protect his throne, but strong female character, In the palace, King out that the King will Rose urges her to listen, the King would rather but Dryden is all out of Charles is now having to literally put their heads on but Nell is not frightened. walk the dogs with Nell. ideas. Killigrew suggests calm his Portugese wife, spikes if he is displeased Charles II arrives and Arlington tries to break Lady Godiva. The team Queen Catherine, who with the content. At that says that Moll Davies was the infatuation and cement are convinced, but when is furious that Charles moment, Charles II arrives unable to satisfy him the political ties with France Nell hears that Godiva 6 was famous for baring Nell goes to find Dryden, At the playhouse, the her breasts she refuses to who has written the role company are trying to play the part. King Charles of Godiva “naked”, not teach Nancy to act, without walks in on this argument simply bare-breasted. success. The disaster with a stunning new While Nell is arguing the prompts Hart to say what French mistress, Louise. point, Killigrew comes in they’re all thinking: “We He invites Nell to go away to tell Nell that the theatre can’t do it without Nell.” to the country with them. company cannot afford to Several years later, Hart says Nell must stay be political, and that she Nell and King Charles are and rehearse. When the has insulted the French happily playing croquet. King and Louise leave, Nell within her satirical song. The King tries to convince agrees to play Lady Godiva. He ejects her from the Nell to go with him to the Only Nancy is let in on company, saying they have playhouse, but she has not Nell’s real secret – that she received threats from the forgiven the company. King is pregnant. Louise returns Palace. Nell brushes them Charles falls down with a to rub salt into the wound away – until Hart comes fit. Nell calls for help and by saying that the King in carrying Rose, who has the King is taken away. would not pay Nell if he been beaten unconscious. Nell and Rose wait loved her. Nell and Nancy Nell goes to tell King outside the King’s room – declare “war on France.” Charles that she is taking Nell is not allowed inside. At the opening of the Rose home, and that she Arlington comes out and play, Louise, sitting with cannot bear to share him.
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