Maskers' Emsworth Road Studio
onMonday 20th to Saturday 25th October 2008
Director's Notes
This piece, first staged in 1728, made history as the longest run -- 63 nights! -- on the English stage up to then. John Gay's play-with-songs was the experimental theatre of its day, and was the forerunner of many more such 'ballad operas' during the 18th century, in which the dialogue was interspersed with with appropriate short songs set to traditional or currently popular tunes. The society of its time is satirised in the play, where self-interest and greed are the only motivations of most of the characters, and where the behaviour of the ruling class is parodied by that of the criminal class. Our version of this 'Negate Pastoral' does not claim to be fully authentic; we have taken some liberties with the script, but have endeavoured to the vigour and rumbustiousness of the original. Our singing in places may be enthusiastic rather than operatic, but this is an entertainment to performed by singing actors, rather than acting singers, so we hope you will accept it in that spirit.
Philip de Grouchy
| The Cast | |
| The Governor of Newgate Jail | Philip de Grouchy |
| The Governor's Lady | Avril Woodward |
| The Beggar | Graham Buchanan |
| MacHeath | Lewis Brunt |
| Peachum | Ian Wilson |
| Mrs Peachum | Hazel Burrows |
| Filch | Daniel Humphreys |
| Polly | Ruth Kibble |
| Lucy | Joanna Iacovou |
| Lockit | David Jupp |
| Mat o'the Mint | Ian Morley |
| Jemmy Twitcher | Ken Hann |
| Ben Budge | Graham Buchanan |
| Crook-fingered Jack | Ken Spencer |
| Robin of Bagshot | David Collis |
| Nimming Ned | Paul Baker |
| Wat Dreary | Ron Randall |
| Jenny Diver | Hayley Cheesworth |
| Sukey Tawdry | Rae Kibble |
| Mrs Coaxer | Leah Barlow |
| Mrs Slammekin | Moyra Allen |
| Dolly Trull | Katy Mortimer |
| Mrs Vixen | Hazel Burrows |
| Mrs Trapes | Avril woodward |
| Guards | Ken Hann, David Collis |
| For the Maskers | |
| Director | Philip de Grouchy |
| Musical Director | Pam de Grouchy |
| Director's Assistant | Avril Woodward |
| Accompanist | Rosa Longman |
| Setting | Roger Lockett, Ken Spencer |
| Properties | Gill and Graham Buchanan, Adam Taussik, Ella Lockett |
| Costumes | Christine Baker, Kay Hann |
| Lighting | Clive Weeks, Jamie McCarthy |
| Stage and Production Manager | Meri Mackney |
| Business Manager | Sarah Russell |
| Artwork and Programme | Anja McCloskey |
| Printing | Geoff Wharam |
| Photography | Clive Weeks |
| Box Office | Christine Baker |
| Front of House | Julia Jupp |
| Catering | Jan Spiers |
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