Caryl Churchill’s CLOUD NINE PROJECTS PACK compiled by Beckie Mills and Rebecca Manson Jones I to the Almeida Theatre’s production of Cloud Welcome n Nine by Caryl Churchill. As we write, the production is in preview period, a week t during which the director, cast and creative team make changes r after each performance in response to the audience reaction (is o the story clear?) fine tune the design (lighting, music, sound), costume changes whilst the actors and the stage crew get used d to bringing all the elements which form a successful show together. It is a very busy time as rehearsals and technical calls take place during the day with a performance in the evening. u Why do we go to all this trouble? Our aim as a company is to c present an eclectic mixture of high quality theatre so that the plays are revealed in a fresh light. Caryl Churchill’s modern t classic CLOUD NINE is an extraordinary play and we’ve found in i the last few weeks that its strength lies as much in its richness as o a piece of stagecraft as it does in the notoriety of its themes. n Set in colonial Africa and late 20th century Britain, the play explores relationships – between women and men, men and men, women and women. It is about sex, work, mothers, Africa, power, children, grandmothers, politics, money and Queen Victoria presented in an unforgettable juxtaposition of satire, farce, high and low comedy and uncompromising prose that is as funny and as disturbing as when it first appeared on our stage in the 1980s. Director Thea Sharrock and playwright Caryl Churchill have kept to the original settings, allowing us to look back to the eras of Colonialism and to just before the Thatcher government: a time when mothers started to return to work and women started to get equal pay, when young couples started to live together unmarried, and gays and lesbians began to live openly - the moment just before the Falklands War, the Miners’ Strike, Live Aid and the world pandemic AIDS. For today’s students, the play opens up the challenges and the choices which confronted their parents and grandparents and asks us to consider: How tolerant are we? Where do our taboos lie? What freedoms do we have that we didn’t have before? What has been lost? What responsibilities must we take on now? Since beginning rehearsals in September, the Almeida Theatre Company has been delighting in the questions and the zest for life that this play explores and we very much hope that you and your students are able to draw energy both from its ideas and the skill with which they are presented. We look forward to welcoming you to the Almeida soon. Note: Rebecca Manson Jones Quotations from the play are contained in this pack which Director, Almeida Projects sometimes include explicit references to sex acts and sexu- ally explicit language, or racist attitudes exprssed by some characters as members of the British colonial establishment in the Victorian era. Almeida Projects: Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill 2 C PROJECTS PACK This packprovides an insight into our process in taking the pro- duction from research stage to performance. We hope you will o use it help you in your own investigations into the play both before and after your visit to the Almeida. This pack contains n quotations from the play which use strong language. t ALMEIDA PROJECTS e Under the artistic directorship of Michael Attenborough, the Almeida presents an eclectic programme, ranging from n redefined major classics to the cutting edge of brand new work. Our Projects reflect the main programme's ambition by finding ways to challenge and excite our participants about the work you t come to see at the Almeida. We hope to inspire you to approach s your own theatre work in the same spirit of generosity and risk-taking that we encourage in our rehearsal room. Workshops Before you see the production, one of our Projects Team will be visiting you for a workshop, bringing some of the techniques explored in the rehearsal room, the challenges the play presents and some questions. The sessions are designed to be practical and participatory so please come energised, ready to work and wearing appropriate clothes and shoes. Hosts When you come to the theatre, you will be met by one of the Projects Team who will be on hand to answer your questions and listen to your feedback about the production. Please do take advantage of this opportunity to find out more about how the production has evolved. Thanks to all of the creative team and the cast who have been so generous in their enthusiasm and support of the Projects work. PROJECTS PACK CONTENTS Introduction Production credits Plot summary Characters and doubling Caryl Churchill Thea Sharrock Task - ideas Design - the model box Costume - the dresser In the rehearsal room Movement Voice Key events timeline Act One Key events timeline Act Two Further Investigation Almedia Projects Sophie Stanton and James Fleet in rehearsal Photo: MarcBrenner Almeida Projects: Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill 3 P d Cast in order of speaking Clive/Cathy James Fleet r Betty/Edward Bo Poraj o Joshua/Gerry Mark Letheren Edward/Betty Nicola Walker d Maud/Victoria Joanna Scanlan Ellen/ Mrs Saunders/Lin Sophie Stanton u Harry Bagley/ Martin Tobias Menzies c Direction Thea Sharrock Designer Peter McKintosh t Lighting Peter Mumford i Sound Gregory Clarke o Music Stephen Warbeck Choreography Scarlett Mackmin n Casting Sarah Bird Dialect Coach Penny Dyer Fight Director Terry King c Assistant Director Kate Budgen r Production Manager Igor e Company Manager Rupert Carlile Stage Manager Suzanne Bourke d Deputy Stage Manager Nicole Keighley Assistant Stage Manager Lucy Taylor i Costume Supervisor Mary Charlton t Wardrobe Supervisor Catrina Richardson s Wardrobe Deputy Eleanor Dolan Dresser Charlotte Damigos Wigs and hair Kathryn Fa Chief Technician Jason Wescombe Lighting Technician Robin Fisher Sound Technician Howard Wood Theatre Technician Mark Jenkins Production Carpenter Craig Emerson Set built by All Scene All props Set painted by James Rowse at DAP Studio Costume Makers Elsa Threadgold The design Anna Kesteven Photo: Peter McKintosh Production Photography Marc Brenner Hugo Glendinning Student on attachment to stage management Ali Hunter For Almeida Projects Director, Almeida Projects Rebecca Manson Jones Projects Co-ordinator Beckie Mills Projects Administrator Charlotte Payne/ Clare Lomas Workshop Team: Ayesha Antoine, Kate Budgen, Amy Hodge, Kirsty Hoiles, Nicholas Khan. Audience Development Katie Southall Placement Almeida Projects: Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill 4 P l o t s u m m a Clive introduces his family r Photo: Hugo Glendinning y The first half of the play is set in Colonial Africa during the Victorian era. The second half takes place in a park in North London in the late 20th century, but for the characters it is only 25 years later. Act One Scene One - 1879. A British Colony in Africa. “Come one and all for A song paying tribute to England. Clive introduces his family: his wife Betty (played by a man), nine year-old son Edward England, rally to the flag... (played by a woman), daughter Victoria (a doll), mother-in-law Maud, governess Ellen and black servant Joshua (played by a From North and South and white actor). East and West Come one and all for Clive returns home and greets Betty on the verandah. He has been managing troubles among the local tribes. She has been England!” reading poetry. She misses Clive when he is away but recognises that boredom is her form of service to the Empire. Clive has news that they are to expect a visit from Harry Bagley, an explorer. Betty is pleased but pretends that Harry is a bit of a bore. She complains that Joshua, the servant, is rude to her. Joshua brings Clive a drink. Clive tells Joshua off but undermines Betty by winking at Joshua. He sends for his children, Edward (nine) and Victoria (four). Victoria (played by a doll) does not speak. Clive is annoyed, the others make excus- es for her. Clive catches sight of Edward holding Victoria’s doll. “We’re not in this country He claims to be minding it for Vicky. Edward is let off with a to enjoy ourselves” warning. The children are dismissed. Clive waxes lyrical about Clive (then Betty) the sunset and the British Empire. He spots Harry Bagley and goes to welcome him. Maud, Betty and Ellen speculate on how Harry’s stay may bring a bit of variety to the household. Maud sends Ellen away and then complains to Betty that she lets Ellen get above her station. Clive returns carrying Mrs Saunders, a wealthy widow, who has sought sanctuary from the warring tribes. Maud worries they Almeida Projects: Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill 5 P will be killed by the tribes. Clive tells Joshua to check the barns every night and arms him with a rifle. Harry arrives. Betty and Edward are both especially delighted to see Harry. Betty and l Harry flirt. Despite attempts to resist his urges, Harry goes to o kiss Betty but is interrupted by the arrival of Joshua. Betty leaves. Harry asks Joshua to have sex with him, and they leave for the t barn. s Act One Scene Two - Christmas Day. A Picnic. u Clive chases Mrs. Saunders away from the house and declares his lust for her. Mrs Saunders resists which confuses Clive. He m does not understand that Mrs Saunders who has already slept with him once could decide not to do it again.