A PBSK Partnership production in association with Vivien Green, the TEN Group and The Norfolk Community Foundation

A NEW ’s ADAPTATION FOR THE HOSTRY FESTIVAL KING LEAR 2016

Directed & Produced by STASH KIRKBRIDE IN NEW YORK Executive Producer PETER BARROW

Lighting Design TIM TRACEY Set Design MATT REEVE Original music MARK REUTER Soundscape CHRIS BOND

REBECCA CHAPMAN PETER BARROW REBECCA ALDRED NINA TAYLOR

In this special Supported by: Shakespeare anniversary year, the Hostry Festival proudly presents Melvyn Bragg’s KING LEAR IN NEW YORK,

a play especially re-written Norwich High School for Girls and adapted for the festival by aged 3 to 18 this internationally renowned presenter, broadcaster, author and playwright. LOUIS HILYER

Running Time: 90 minutes approx. No Interval. [Please note, the script contains occasional strong language] Cover picture MATT DARTFORD Stash Kirkbride with Sabrina Poole, Assistant Director

Director’s Note

In 2010 Peter Barrow and I set up Working with writers such as It is already one of the highlights of The PBSK Partnership, in order to stage Melvyn Bragg is precisely what our festival’s history so far. Thank you two plays he knew I had always wanted we’re also about. for being here. Enjoy the acting, with to produce whilst in London as an actor/ a capital A! The original music and producer. We decided to find a space We met Melvyn in early 2016 and straight soundscape, the lighting and set design, that offered “all new possibilities” and away we all agreed to stage his play. and this heavenly building that seems as Her Majesty the Queen had just With a real leap of faith on his part he to relish us turning it into a performance opened the Hostry building at Norwich entrusted us with presenting a whole space, creating ‘The Autumn Festival Of Cathedral we approached the Dean and newly updated one act, 90 minute Norfolk’ each year. Chapter. Our first year saw us produce adaptation of his work. 2016 would see a highly successful play, our second year the festival produce his only play, well No need to say any more about the play, we became a festival of events, and the over 20 years-on since the original version it will speak for itself now. Enjoy it all. rest, 6 years on as they say is history. I first saw at the Chichester Festival. The Hostry Festival has now become So, here we are tonight, ready to share a fixture on the cultural landscape of with you the results of our wonderfully Stash Kirkbride Norfolk, engaging with well over 100 satisfying working relationship with Director/Producer: volunteers each year. People such as this internationally recognised author, Artistic Director of the Hostry Festival Louis Hilyer whose credits include presenter and playwright. [email protected] the RSC and National Theatre choose to perform with us; as well as working King Lear In New York is a great piece actors in Norfolk who have been doing of storytelling, offering real theatricality, PS. Any comments, reviews and so simply for the love of it for many and reality, for those portraying thoughts on the production – we’d love years. Our job as producers, is to set Melvyn’s characters. We care about to hear from you. the scene and the standards of work to what happens to the people in this play. make it a comfortable fit for all involved. And I can safely say you will be The standards of work from the get go moved to laughter and to tears perhaps, are high, and our ethos remains simple – and above all else you will be entertained. “How good can we make it?” It is a brilliantly observed piece of writing, We offer an elevated experience for affording its actors the chance to shine, actors, writers, directors, designers, and as the director of this production I technicians and students, to flourish am more than proud of each and every and enjoy real job satisfaction. member of our cast and crew.

2 Cast list from the Original production photograph – Jenny Seagrove (left) original production and Kate O’Mara (right) – Photo by John Timbers Melvyn Bragg

A foreword from Melvyn Bragg

I think I got to know about ‘King Lear’ It’s very odd that I never met Richard I wasn’t commissioned to write it. I sent and Richard Burton at near enough Burton. In 60’s BBC television there was it off to Patrick Garland who ran the the same time. Just after the mid a well-established Tafia – a group of Chichester Theatre, and whom I’ve known 50’s I was reading ‘King Lear’ again Welsh men who were dominant; most of when we worked together on ‘Monitor’. and again because it was one of the all Huw Wheldon, for whom I worked with He put it on. We had the singular misfortune set books for my A Levels, and also on ‘Monitor’. They all knew Burton, but to have a fine actor playing the main part because I just couldn’t believe how somehow I never bumped into him. who was also, it turned out, sadly, one way he did it! At the same time, Richard and another pretty disruptive. Burton was beginning to emerge. Even more curious, I was asked to write a He came from a mining family, the film on Malcolm Lowry’s shimmering novel Anyway, it got done. Some good 13th of 14 children (my Grandfather, ‘Under The Volcano’ which was to star reviews. Some not. And it did not transfer who worked the coal mines which ran Richard Burton. We never met while I was to London. under the sea, came from a family of writing the script because he was busy on 16 children). Somehow Burton had another project on another continent – or Frankly I’d more or less forgotten about it rocketed to national lustre as a very it may have been another planet. And then until Stash Kirkbride met me in Norwich great actor (though he had no formal he could not make the Director’s deadline after I’d spoken at the UEA on my latest training) and soon afterwards he because of other commitments and most novel. He was tremendously enthusiastic became an international film star and reluctantly, his poetic Welsh persuasiveness about the play and full of ideas about celebrity, and doomed tragic hero. not being enough on this occasion, the it, and more or less steam-rolled me caravan moved on without him. into doing it with him. When I read it I wanted to write a novel set at the turn of again a few times, I thought it was too the 19th and 20th century, and thought But I’m glad I never met him. Had I done long and too repetitive, lacked the really that the Richard Burton story would so, that meeting would have figured clear line and was in need of care and be a good template for it. Word got disproportionately in the book. As it was, attention. So I cut it down to 90 minutes out through my publisher, and reached I rowed across his family and friends, (without interval). I’ve seen several such Richard’s widow, Sally Burton, who called both professional and private, and most productions in London recently and I me to say that she had three tea chests especially his teacher, Philip, and got a thought they worked very well. full of Burton’s notebooks. She had never huge amount of good material. had the heart to go through them and Stash was extremely encouraging and would I like a look? One of the tensions in his later life was we ding-donged about the final script. between his English friends who thought His and Peter Barrow’s remarks are I went to Burton’s house in Switzerland, he should stay in London and become the always detailed and helpful and usually thinking I would be there for a day next Olivier and do all the Great parts, and taken up by me. His excitement has trip... and stayed three days going run the National Theatre because that was rubbed off and I can’t wait to see it. through these addictive and compelling Art. Or he could be a commercial Philistine notebooks. They were literary, they were and renounce Art (those were the days of It is in many ways a new play. I have cut social comment, they were gossipy, they undisguised cultural snobbery) and prostitute out completely one of the main characters were intermingled with responses from himself on celluloid. One upshot was he in the first version. I have transformed , they were marvellous; never did ‘King Lear’ which he wanted to do. another of the chief characters. I’ve they totally destroyed the idea that I reworked a lot of the dialogue. I wish this could write a novel! Sally asked me if I For reasons which I can’t now remember, had been a version I’d sent to Patrick would write his biography and I agreed on I thought I would like to try and write Garland at the Chichester Theatre! two conditions. One – that there was no about someone like Burton taking on editorial interference from her whatsoever, ‘King Lear’ at a tipping point in his life. and two – that the publishers must pay for When these two professional strands and Melvyn Bragg the copyright of his notebooks because a most complex and distressing family the price was way out of my league. drama were intertwined, I thought I had Both those were settled and I got on with it. the basis for a play.

3 The HOSTRY FESTIVAL

Stash Kirkbride & Peter Barrow present, a PBSK Partnership production, THANK YOUS in association with Vivien Green, and The Norfolk Community Foundation Vivien Green and Lesley Catton. Graham Tuttle and the Norfolk Melvyn Braggs’ KING LEAR IN NEW YORK Community Foundation. A new One Act adaptation for the Hostry Festival 2016 The Norwich Town Close Trust. The Paul Bassham Trust. Dick Palmer and the TEN Group. Running Time: 90 minutes approx. No Interval. Kirsty von Malaisé and The play is set sometime in the late 1980’s, in New York city. Norwich High School for Girls. [Please note, the script contains occasional strong language] Richard Nobes, Director of Marketing and Communications at Norwich High Cast Production team School for Girls. Corrienne Peasgood, Jon Holland, LOUIS HILYER STASH KIRKBRIDE – Brian Brewer, Hannah Newson, Robert, a magnificent actor Director/ Producer Tara Mayall, Louise Stone and all PETER BARROW – Executive Producer REBECCA CHAPMAN at City College Norwich. SABRINA POOLE – Jackie, TV Journalist, a personality The John Jarrold Trust. Assistant Director/ASM Booja-Booja. PETER BARROW HAMILTON WILSON – The Norse Group. Alec, Robert’s brother, an actor Assistant Producer Emma Knights and all at MIKE KING – Associate Producer REBECCA ALDRED the Eastern Daily Press. MATT REEVE – Set Designer Robert’s second wife, an agent Robert Setchell and all at Mustard TV. MARK REUTER – Original Music Nanette Aldous and NINA TAYLOR CHRIS BOND – Original Soundscape all at BBC Radio Norfolk. Juliet (Julie) Robert’s daughter TIM TRACEY – Lighting and Jo Edye and all at Crude Apache. by first wife Production Manager Tom Carver. Jesse Kirkbride. ELEANOR HICKS – WILL HARVEY Tracey Catchpole. Chris Bealey. Production Assistant Chris, TV Crew, Floor Manager Sarah, Madeleine and Matthew Young. SCOTT MEACOCK – SABRINA POOLE Voluntary Norfolk. Front Of House Manager Lesley TV Crew, Sound Amanda Harrold, Maddermarket Theatre. ZOE JONES – Hassanah Wilson and all at ABIGAIL BURREL Head Of Festival Volunteers Subud Norwich. TV, Camerawoman CATHARINE LANGAN – Assistant Volunteers Coordinator TAWA GROOMBRIGE The Dean & Chapter of Norwich Cathedral MATT DARTFORD – Drug Dealer and all their volunteers and staff. Production Photography Gareth and staff at The Refectory. ANDY BENNETT RICHARD NOBES – Drug Dealer Head of Graphic Design And our grateful thanks to all our REBECCA HOUSTON – SEAMUS WALSH Hostry Festival Volunteers for their Desire Marketing Drug Dealer wonderful support. KATY WENT – STEPHEN GOYMER Festival Website Management Harry SHEILA GARRET – SUBUD Festival Administrator NORWICH

4 Cast biographies

commissioned The Norfolk Arts Awards, Total Ensemble Theatre Company, Paint Out Norwich, A Norfolk Home Companion, Never Too Late! as well as original opera with Lisa Cassidy. Their work together continues to encourage and supply the county with LOUIS HILYER – Robert platforms of opportunity for actors, REBECCA ALDRED – Bett Louis has appeared in a large writers, directors, designers, Rebecca trained at The Drama number of professional shows graduates, artists, dancers, and Centre, London. Earlier this year including: ‘Waste’ and volunteers. Peter is delighted to she played the parts of ‘An Inspector Calls’ at The National have worked closely with Melvyn Mrs. Sullen in ‘The Beaux’ Theatre, ‘King Lear’, ‘Macbeth’, Bragg and Stash Kirkbride to have Stratagem’ and Regan in ‘King ‘The Taming Of The Shrew’, and returned this powerful play back Lear’ at the Maddermarket ‘Les Liaisons Dangereuses’ with into the spotlight. And who knows Theatre. She continues to combine The RSC, ‘The Tempest’ and where the production may be her acting career alongside her ‘Richard II’ at The Old Vic, seen next?, London, Paris... physiotherapy work. Once again ‘The Changing Room’ New York perhaps. she is honoured to return to the with The Royal Court, and Hostry Festival to work alongside ‘Farewell To The Theatre’ at this fabulous cast in the most The Hampstead Theatre. magical space. He has also worked on film and TV with credits including: ‘Troy’, ‘Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow’, ‘Tina and Bobby’, ‘Downton Abbey’, ‘Lewis’, ‘Absolutely Fabulous’, ‘Minder’ and ‘The Catherine Tate Show’. REBECCA CHAPMAN – Jackie A graduate with a BA Hons Performance Arts from Middlesex and a diploma in professional acting from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Rebecca has extensive NINA TAYLOR – Julie experience in professional Nina is a local actress and singer, acting and contemporary dance, specialising in Vintage Jazz, Swing appearing in productions in and Blues. She has worked on a London’s West End and all over number of student films around the country. Most recently she Norwich; most recently her worked for Curious Directive in first feature film 'Set Me Free', PETER BARROW – Alec ‘Spindrift’ as part of the Norfolk & which premiered recently at The Peter Barrow is the Hostry Norwich Festival 2016 and at the Forum and was directed by local Festival’s Executive Producer Drum, Theatre Royal, Plymouth. filmmaker Kristopher Smith. and co-founder. Since 2010 he’s appeared as a 97 year old poet, She works as a freelance director This is Nina's second appearance a sheriff and a villain in 2011, a and drama practitioner for several at the Hostry Festival, after dead Shakespearian jester in 2012, arts organisations in the Norwich appearing last year as Alma Mahler a doomed Scandinavian doctor area and is one of the producers in ‘Mahler’s Conversion’. in 2013, a 1675 cuckold in a big that brings in the annual Hostry Her most recent performance was wig in 2014, a priest who converts Festival, the county’s autumn arts in ‘King Lear’ at the Maddermarket Gustav Mahler to Catholicism festival celebrating artists based in Theatre. Other credits include in 2015, and this year as a Big Norwich & Norfolk. Rebecca is the ‘The Star Spangled Girl’ by Neil Star’s brother in NYC. By way of Artistic Director of Total Ensemble Simon and ‘The Ghost Train’ comic relief, he’s also appeared at Theatre Company which she by Arnold Ridley. She will be The Maddermarket Theatre as a founded in 2011. Total Ensemble performing later in the year as German doctor in Agatha Christie, brings together casts made up Cinderella in ‘Into the Woods’. a litigious Massachusetts farmer in of disabled and non-disabled Arthur Miller, and Noel Coward’s performers to produce and butler. Oh yes, and a defrocked perform entirely original devised priest at Dragon Hall with Crude theatre, demonstrating a rare Apache. Working with his creative brand of equality in performance partner Stash Kirkbride, The PBSK and a heart-felt celebration of Partnership has initiated and talent in its many forms.

5 Cast / production team biographies

TAWA GROOMBRIDGE – ANDY BENNETT – Drug dealer CHRIS BOND – Drug dealer Andy Bennett is a poet and performer. Original Soundscape Tawa has worked with several He has performed at festivals and Chris has been recording and local theatre companies in Norwich fringes across the country including producing music since the 1980’s. and is thrilled to be involved in her Edinburgh Festival, and once took an He has also been a live sound first Hostry Festival. Tawa will be anarchic puppet show to Finland for engineer for several Norwich bands providing a supporting role as a drug some reason. Due to a mild obsession and performers and is part of the dealer in this play. “It is lovely to be with metre, Andy can often be technical crew for Crude Apache part of a festival with such a diverse found wandering around woodland, Theatre Co. He is currently working group of people with all levels of counting on his fingers. This is his first on albums of Progressive Rock and experience”. Tawa and her children Hostry Festival. Electronica, soundscapes for theatre are members of Total Ensemble and writing for a spoken word project. Theatre Company this year as well.

SEAMUS WALSH – Drug dealer WILL HARVEY – Seamus is 25 years old and MARK REUTER – Original Music Chris/TV Crew/Floor Manager graduated from De Montfort Mark is a scientist, composer Will has been a regular helper at University with a degree in Drama and musician based in Norwich. the Hostly Festival since joining Studies. Credits include: Cherea in Previously he has written for Total Ensemble for the prelude to ‘Caligula’ at Sewell Barn Theatre, various ensembles as part of the Hamlet: The Undiscovered Country Azdak in the ‘Caucasian Chalk London Composers Forum annual in 2012; and is delighted to be joining Circle’, and Vladimir in ‘Godot was concert series. Mark recently Peter, Stash and Bec's wonderfully Here’. This is the first time Seamus composed music for a production diverse team once more. By day, Will has worked with the Hostry Festival. of Zastrozzi (Crude Apache). Mark is works as an architect designing and currently working on the score for a building low energy schools. forthcoming production of Richard III and the second album for Norwich electronica band Army of Mice.

TIM TRACEY – Production Manager Tim Tracey is a co-director of STEPHEN GOYMER – Harry Tin House, a community and Stephen has been involved with local participatory arts organisation based ABIGAIL BURRELL – TV crew drama productions for over 40 years, in Norwich that provides bespoke Having been out of acting for including the Maddermarket theatre, arts solutions for a diversity of a number of years, but having Great Hall Players, Sewell Barn practitioners and organisations. maintained a strong interest in theatre and Anglia Television. He has Tim provides technical and drama, an exciting opportunity arose recently acted in ‘Witness for the production management (e.g. to be involved in the Hostry Festival Prosecution’ at the Maddermarket SeaChange Arts, Holt Festival, 2016, which she is delighted to be a and is delighted and proud to be in Norwich Puppet Theatre), lighting part of. She works for Booja-Booja this production as part of the Hostry design and installation (e.g. NPT, so already has a close connection to Festival, which he and his wife The Voice Project, The Neutrinos the festival and is looking forward to Angela have supported in various KlangHaus) and has 30 years of being a part of this great production. roles since its inception. performance experience.

6 MATT REEVE – Set Designer STASH KIRKBRIDE - Since his return to Norfolk he has Matt is a graduate of BA (Hons) Director/Producer co-founded The Hostry Festival Theatre Dramaturgy from Bretton Hall Artistic Director of and The Norfolk Arts Awards College of the University of Leeds the Hostry Festival & in association with the EDP, and MA Animation & Sound Design Norfolk Arts Awards. commissioned Total Ensemble from the Norwich School of Art and Stash trained as an actor at The Theatre Company, Paint Out Norwich Design. Primarily a visual artist, his Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and and It’s Never Too Late! with Mustard professional work includes theatre has over 25 years of professional TV. He is currently focussing on design, puppetry, sculpture, animation, acting work in London and maturing the festival into its full and illustration and performance. In 2015 throughout the UK to his credit lasting potential. he received the EDP People’s Choice including: West End productions, Award for Individual Artist at the National No:1 Tours with Bill His passion for discovering talent Norfolk Arts Awards. Kenwright and The British Actors and supplying projects of merit Theatre Company, perfoming at continues to drive him forward, numerous Regional Theatres such and with his long term creative as Theatre Royal Bristol, Leicester partner Peter Barrow, he thrives Haymarket, Westcliff, Cambridge on “Creating Projects In Norfolk”. Arts Theatre – in all he has been in Always ready to meet for a creative over 80 plays, taking lead roles in coffee – do contact him to discuss over 30 of them. ideas, support, interest, or in being involved in 2017’s Hostry Festival. He has initiated dozens of projects Visit www.stashkirkbride.com or in London from 1992 to 2005. email him at [email protected]

HAMILTON WILSON – Assistant Producer Hamilton has been associated with the Hostry Festival since the first season, providing script support and as a writer in residence making a new English language version of Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’ and writing ‘Starlings in the Green’, a contemporary comment on the play’s themes. ‘Disappearing Friends’, first SABRINA POOLE – Assistant ELEANOR HICKS - performed as part of The Hostry Director/Assistant Stage Manager/ Festival 2014, will be broadcast Assistant to the Festival Assistant to the artistic director/ Eleanor currently studies Professional on Radio Norfolk during Dementia Lesley (TV Crew) Awareness Week next May. Acting at Drama Studio London. Prior Sabrina is a local director and actress to this she studied Drama and Theatre recently returned from the Edinburgh Studies at University of Kent and holds Fringe Festival where she was the a Masters in Directing. She worked director and production manager with Stash as Assistant Director on of “The Necessity of Atheism”. She ‘The Vortex’ at the Maddermarket works closely with Cambridge-based Theatre in May. She has worked to company Anglia Ruskin Creative with bring together the brochure as well whom her productions have won as assist with the organisation and awards at local drama festivals. She running of the festival. In return Stash has also worked as a production coached her on her audition speeches, and stage manager on a number helping her to gain entry to drama of productions including two fringe school. She has enjoyed working on shows. She most recently appeared on the festival immensely. the stage as Pattie in Dennis Potter’s “Brimstone and Treacle” at the Sewell Barn. This is her first Hostry festival.

7 The Hostry Festival is a Not-For-Profit, Community Interest Project, produced by the PBSK Partnership in association with The Norfolk Community Foundation

KING LEAR IN NEW YORK AT THE HOSTRY FESTIVAL 2016 IS DEDICATED TO Kate O’Mara who starred in the original version at the Chichester Festival in 1992.

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