Mottisfont Abbey
on21st to 30th July 1988
Aphra Behn (1640-89)
Aphra Behn was an English playwright, novelist and poet. Her position as England’s first professional authoress has overshadowed her genuine abilities as a dramatist. She was brought up in Guiana, where her father was lieutenant-governor. In England she married a wealthy Dutch merchant, but by 1666 was reduced to a state of penniless widowhood. After this she worked for a time as a government spy in the Low Countries, though her only reward appears to have been a period of imprisonment for debt. After her release, Aphra Behn turned to writing to support herself and in the eighteen years from 1671 produced fifteen plays, as well as novels and poetry.
Her most successful dramatic work was The Rover (1677) and the comedy was frequently revived during the following century. Much of Aphra Behn’s work has been criticised for its coarseness, but it is important to see this as a reflection of a quite extraordinarily coarse age. It would be fairer to view her as a fiercely independent spirit and writer of real talent and warmth, the first woman playwright to live by her own lights and make her way in a man’s profession.
Cast (in order of appearance) | |
Belville | Brian Stansbridge |
Frederick | Iain Coleman |
Blunt | John Souter |
Willmore | John Carrington Jnr |
Lucetta | Hazel Burrows |
Sancho | Alan Watson |
Florinda | Catherine Nolan |
Valeria | Siân Turner |
Hellena | Philippa Venn |
Don Pedro | Jim Smith |
Stephano | Huw Thomas |
Callis | Sheana Carrington |
Angellica Bianca | Ros Liddlard |
Moretta | Meri Lawther |
Sebastian | Matty West |
Biskey | Derek Sealey |
Don Antonio | Malcolm Brown |
Diego | Andrew Burrows |
Philippo | David Bartlett |
The Carnival | |
Matador | Heidi Sheehan |
Bull | Alan Watson |
Dancer | Loo White |
‘Roses’ | Maria Hutchings, Sophie Price, Angela Stansbridge |
with | Mary Andrade, Georgina Bance, Miriam Bance, Jane Britt, Janet Cairney, Julia Campone, Emma Carington, Gemma Crane, Claire Dobson, Robert Dobson, Emma Jacobs, Susannah Lawther, Davey McKee, Debbie Moorehouse, Adrian Pike, Vicky Rickman, Jane Sealy, Amy Stansbride, Tom Stansbridge, Jan Ward, Kate Ward, Samantha Wareham, Alice Watson, Ellen Watson, Jenni Watson, Lucy White, Becky White |
The Musicians | Siobhan Nelson, Chris Nelson, Chris Monks, Milton Grimleigh |
For the Maskers: | |
Director | Peter White |
Production assistant | Hazel Burrows |
Stage Manager | Angela Barks |
Assisted by | Sue Cunningham |
Properties | Ella Lockett |
Special Properties | Peter Liddiard |
Lighting | Tony Lawther, Clive Weeks |
Sound | Anthony Baldery |
Pyrotechnics | Mike Jones |
Circus Techniques | Andrew Harris |
Photography | Hilary Bowen |