Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Nwynn
Jessica
Swale’sl
G 11th - 22nd July 2017
wt
Director’s Note Jessica Swale’s play is a joy to have had the pleasure of
working on for the last 4 months and I am so grateful to
have had the opportunity to direct this warm, witty play
as the climax to my three years as Artistic Director for
the wonderful Wokingham Theatre.
As one of our new (cast) members said tonight at our dress rehearsal:
“I’m feeling post show blues already”.
Nicola Allpress
Production Manager
Lighting Design by Jan Cameron Sound Design by
Bob Spence Set Design by Liz Newman
Nicola Allpress
Costume Design by
Kate Hughston & Rosemary Matthews
Props by Publicity Design by Programme Design by Stage Manager
Jacqui Myatt & Sophie Pierce Thomas Joy Mel Hampshire
Becca Tizzard Set Construction
Wokingham Theatre Set Team
Welcome from Jessica Swale
It’s fascinating to ask whether Nell’s
celebrity was because of her brilliance as
an actress or because she was the king’s
mistress. Pamphleteers - like paparazzi
today - would quickly report the activities
of the famous, and Charles (and his
mistresses) were the hot topic.
What was important to me was to capture the quick wit of the time and the
equivalent of that for us is more akin to modern farce. So that’s what this is.
I’ve peppered it with period references, but I’ve chosen to use modern syntax
and diction, with the occasional anachronism for comic effect.
Nell was a highly successful and popular comic actress and, although she was
illiterate, it’s very likely that she really did invent and perform the Epilogue
of this play. The people loved her because she was one of them. It’s not clear
how Nell got onstage, but I like to imagine that she was spotted wittily doing
her job by Charles Hart.
The key events of the play are historically accurate, but I’ve allowed myself to
embellish. Primarily, I wanted it to be fun. And if it’s a play that Nell would
have enjoyed, that’s enough for me.
Jessica Swale
PLAYWRIGHT AND WOKINGHAM THEATRE PATRON
The Music of Nell Gwynn
is show is one of those elusive hybrids, not quite play, not quite musical, but
a blend of the two. Nigel Hess’ score is full to the brim with contemporary
references, from Purcell in particular, but it also incorporates a rich tradition of
English folk music, tavern songs and traditional ditties.
The style and sound is very much based on Purcell; born in 1659, Purcell
grew up and during the earliest years of the English restoration period and is
considered as one of the
greats of English Baroque
music, a stylistic blend
of European sounds and
textures but remaining
noticeably melody-
driven as per the English
tradition.
Our greatest challenge has been trying to emulate the sound that ‘Nell Gwynn’
deserves, with the original production carrying a full band of musicians
specialising in period music. In our production, there are but two of us on stage,
myself on keys and the wonderful Emma Merchant on violin.
The cast have worked exceptionally hard throughout rehearsals and I’m grateful
to them for their enthusiasm and perseverance. I very much hope you enjoy the
show and apologise now if, like me, you have the songs stuck in your head for
the next week!
Thomas Joy
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Choreography and Nell Gwynn
I’ve been familiar with the excellent productions at Wokingham Theatre for
quite some time and was thrilled to be invited to work on their production of
Nell Gwynn. The style of the play, the music the characters are so well drawn,
so the movement and dance challenge was
to keep the essence of that 17th Century
world alive. I looked at the Baroque styles of
the time and then at the more peasant ones
of the people and added a contemporary
feel. Thanks to our super talented cast and
production team, it worked! Thank you
everyone for your humour, patience and
daisy chains!
The Band
KEYS Thomas Joy
VIOLIN Emma Merchant
The Production Team
DIRECTOR Nicola Allpress
MUSICAL DIRECTOR Thomas Joy
CHOREOGRAPHER Auriole Wells
PRODUCTION MANAGER Jan Cameron
COSTUMES Rosemary Matthews
Kate Hughston
and the Wokingham Theatre Costume Team
WIGS Bethany Addington
and Shepperton Wig Hire
LIGHTING DESIGN & Bob Spence
OPERATION Neil Goodhand
SOUND DESIGN & OPERATION Liz Newman
PROPS Jacqui Myatt
Becca Tizzard
STAGE MANAGER Mel Hampshire
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Jess Mallett
REHEARSAL PROMPT Joe Haynes
Ray Carmody
REHEARSAL PHOTOGRAPHY Simon Vail
George Riddell
PUBLICITY DESIGN Sophie Pierce
PROGRAMME DESIGN Thomas Joy
SET DESIGN Nicola Allpress
SET CONSTRUCTION Paul Baily; Barry Cannam; Richard
Coleman; Kevan Daykin; Keith
Graham; Bob Hill; Neil Hodgson; John
Hooper; Tony Jordan; Ben Kellett; Alan
Long; Jacqui Myatt; Mike Paterson;
Rachel Pearson; Jerry Radburn; Mike
Rogers; Jim Russell; Tom Shirley; Tony
Thompson; Becca Tizzard; Ken Wright
LOUISE MURRAY JERRY
YOUNG LINDO RADBURN
ANTHONY DAVID
FLEMMING STACEY
JULIA ANNA
CHAPMAN McCORMACK
The ‘hat’ took approximately 12 hours to make, including our Technical Directors
help in making a plywood frame for the base which we then mounted the lining
fabric on and covered with another 10 metres of fabric to create the finished hat.
Add to that a cunningly concealed cardboard box from of one of our more upmarket
supermarkets we used to create the crown, and a huge number of staples, parcel tape
and double-sided tape to hold it all together!
This is a very brief description of what we get up to behind the scenes in the costume
department and we are always on the look out for more talent. If you would like to
know more and have sewing skills to offer the team, there is always a small group of
costume makers at the Theatre in the ‘Green Room’, our current home, on a Tuesday
morning from approximately 10am. So please come and see what we get up to. If
you would like to get involved you can join the Theatre too. Now just sit back and
relax, we certainly are!
Kate Hughston
BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND: CANTLEY PARK
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FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
WWW.WOKINGHAMFESTIVAL.CO.UK
Next Season at Wokingham Theatre
The Things We Do for Love by Alan Ayckbourn
Wednesday 6th - Saturday 16th September - Booking Open!
Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen
Thursday 19th - Saturday 28th October - Booking from 1st August
Talking Heads by Alan Bennett Extra!
Wednesday 8th - Saturday 11th November - Booking from 1st September
It’s a Wonderful Life by Joe Landry
Wednesday 6th - Saturday 16th December - Booking from 1st October
Doubt - A Parable by John Patrick Shanley
Thursday 25th January - Saturday 3rd February - Booking from 1st November
WYT Production (TBC)
Thursday 15th - Saturday 17th February - Booking from 1st December
A Flea in Her Ear by Feydeau (Adapted by John Mortimer)
Wednesday 14th - Saturday 24th March - Booking from 1st January
Bette and Joan by Anton Burge Extra!
Wednesday 4th - Saturday 7th April- Booking from 1st February
The Deep Blue Sea by Terrence Rattigan
Thursday 3rd - Saturday 12th May- Booking from 1st March
Happy Now? by Lucinda Coxon
Thursday 7th - Saturday 16th June - Booking from 1st April
When We are Married by J B Priestley
Wednesday 18th - Saturday 28th July - Booking from 1st May
Future P lans
We are thrilled to announce that our planning application for the future development
of Wokingham Theatre has been unanimously approved by Wokingham Borough
Council’s Planning Committee. Our thanks go to all the volunteers at WT for preparing
and submitting the application, and we look forward to sharing this exciting new chapter
in Wokingham Theatre’s history with you!
The Official Bits
We are a thriving amateur repertory group presenting 8 major productions a year
alongside Youth Theatre productions, short runs of less well known plays, evenings of
new writing, and a wide range of theatrical skills training. We also make our auditorium
available to others for work as varied as hair-dressing training and Brass Band
performance. The group was founded in 1947, is a registered charity and our purpose
has always been to promote the enjoyment of theatre in Wokingham. The theatre is
staffed entirely by volunteers who give their time and skills to support all aspects of our
operation. Why not join us?
The Board is elected by democratic vote at our AGM in May each year.
Chairperson Hedda Bird
Executive Directors Rachel Pearson (Artistic), Ben Kellett
(Technical), Bob Spence (Operations),
Scott Hamilton (Finance), Jess Hadleigh
(Marketing), Zoe Bishop (Youth
Theatre)
Non-Executive Directors Thomas Joy, Sophie Pierce, Alan Long,
Sue Daykin
Theatre Licensee Bob Hill
Membership Secretary Chris Bowring
In accordance with the requirements of Wokingham Borough Council all gangways,
passageways and stairways shall be kept clear of chairs or any other obstruction.
The public may leave at the end by all exits from the auditorium.
The Theatre reserves the right to refuse admission and to make any alterations to the cast
which may be rendered necessary through illness or other unavoidable cause.