SWiss Family robinson - Christmas 2019
When a family finds itself shipwrecked on a deserted island, they have to use all of their wits, strengths and skills to build a new home. As well as finding shelter and safety on the island, they (and their dog) must also makes friends with the local wildlife inhabitants, some friendly and some not.
In a production overflowing with puppets, epic storms, songs and wonderful performances this was the perfect Christmas treat.
"James Farrell has created a genuinely touching production that was loved by our whole family. Even our two year old sat still for the whole, captivating show."
In a production overflowing with puppets, epic storms, songs and wonderful performances this was the perfect Christmas treat.
"James Farrell has created a genuinely touching production that was loved by our whole family. Even our two year old sat still for the whole, captivating show."
Crimes on the Coast - Autumn 2019
A secluded island hotel just off the English coast becomes a crime scene, as a scandal-inducing femme-fatale is felled. All the guests on the island are suspects, but are they alone and is all quite what it seems?
A comedy thriller, the show features four brand new actors playing multiple outrageous characters, and a plot that romps along in the return of last year's New Old Friend's Crimes Under the Sun. Inspired by Agatha Christie, Noel Coward and classic thrillers, you are invited on an hilarious but murderous trip to a classic English Riviera retreat.
A comedy thriller, the show features four brand new actors playing multiple outrageous characters, and a plot that romps along in the return of last year's New Old Friend's Crimes Under the Sun. Inspired by Agatha Christie, Noel Coward and classic thrillers, you are invited on an hilarious but murderous trip to a classic English Riviera retreat.
Crimes On the Nile- Spring 2019
Belgian detective extraordinaire, Artemis Arinae, is set to enjoy a holiday cruise along the river Nile when tragedy strikes once more. All the passengers and staff aboard are suspects, and the murder count is growing, will Arinae’s little grey cells identify the murderer in time? A cast of just four perform multiple outrageous characters, inventive set pieces and whisk the plot along in a romp.
The show opened in January 2019 with an exclusive three-week run at the Theatre Royal Bath's Ustinov before heading out on a large national tour - dates and venues here.
The show opened in January 2019 with an exclusive three-week run at the Theatre Royal Bath's Ustinov before heading out on a large national tour - dates and venues here.
This is a selection of James' directing work. For full directing credits and to see James' assisting work please see the Biography page or you can download James' full CV by clicking here.
For more images of James' work click here.
For more images of James' work click here.
The Handlebards - Twelfth Night - Summer 2018
"This current production of Twelfth Night explodes with energy. It’s a genuine treat from start to finish.
A company of four men play every role, but in a storyline fuelled by gender reversal and mistaken identity it’s fascinating how director James Farrell loses nothing of the comedy and maintains all the romance. For example Ross Ford is a marvellously inebriated Sir Toby Belch, filching wine from most of the front row but as Olivia wooing Mark Collier’s determined Caesario, he oozes sincerity.
Farrell’s direction is notable for his slick handling of the physical comedy and there’s controlled chaos by the water-filled bucket-full. Horns are honked, bells are tinkled to switch scenes and at one point an actor actually somersaults in and out of his costumes to populate the stage.
There may be plenty of action but these 21st century troubadours also take pains to make the storytelling coherent as well as entertaining. Credit here must also go to designer Connie Watson, whose colourful cycle-themed set and costumes are ingenious – which is especially impressive as it all has to be hauled around the country on the back of cycles."
Review in The Stage
A company of four men play every role, but in a storyline fuelled by gender reversal and mistaken identity it’s fascinating how director James Farrell loses nothing of the comedy and maintains all the romance. For example Ross Ford is a marvellously inebriated Sir Toby Belch, filching wine from most of the front row but as Olivia wooing Mark Collier’s determined Caesario, he oozes sincerity.
Farrell’s direction is notable for his slick handling of the physical comedy and there’s controlled chaos by the water-filled bucket-full. Horns are honked, bells are tinkled to switch scenes and at one point an actor actually somersaults in and out of his costumes to populate the stage.
There may be plenty of action but these 21st century troubadours also take pains to make the storytelling coherent as well as entertaining. Credit here must also go to designer Connie Watson, whose colourful cycle-themed set and costumes are ingenious – which is especially impressive as it all has to be hauled around the country on the back of cycles."
Review in The Stage
Crimes UNder The sun - Spring 2018
A secluded island hotel just off the English coast becomes a crime scene, as a scandal-inducing femme-fatale is felled. All the guests on the island are suspects, but are they alone and is all quite what it seems?
A comedy thriller, the show features four actors playing multiple outrageous characters, and a plot that romps along in New Old Friend's trademark inventive style. Inspired by Agatha Christie, Noel Coward and classic thrillers, you are invited on an hilarious but murderous trip to a classic English Riviera retreat.
“Murder most fun” - British Theatre Guide
“James Farrell brings his West End experience from The 39 Steps to bear, in ratcheting up the velocity and immaculate timing.” - The Reviews Hub
A comedy thriller, the show features four actors playing multiple outrageous characters, and a plot that romps along in New Old Friend's trademark inventive style. Inspired by Agatha Christie, Noel Coward and classic thrillers, you are invited on an hilarious but murderous trip to a classic English Riviera retreat.
“Murder most fun” - British Theatre Guide
“James Farrell brings his West End experience from The 39 Steps to bear, in ratcheting up the velocity and immaculate timing.” - The Reviews Hub
A secluded island hotel just off the English coast becomes a crime scene, as a scandal-inducing femme-fatale is felled. All the guests on the island are suspects, but are they alone and is all quite what it seems?
A comedy thriller, the show features four actors playing multiple outrageous characters, and a plot that romps along in New Old Friend's trademark inventive style. Inspired by Agatha Christie, Noel Coward and classic thrillers, you are invited on an hilarious but murderous trip to a classic English Riviera retreat.
“Murder most fun” - British Theatre Guide
“James Farrell brings his West End experience from The 39 Steps to bear, in ratcheting up the velocity and immaculate timing.” - The Reviews Hub
A comedy thriller, the show features four actors playing multiple outrageous characters, and a plot that romps along in New Old Friend's trademark inventive style. Inspired by Agatha Christie, Noel Coward and classic thrillers, you are invited on an hilarious but murderous trip to a classic English Riviera retreat.
“Murder most fun” - British Theatre Guide
“James Farrell brings his West End experience from The 39 Steps to bear, in ratcheting up the velocity and immaculate timing.” - The Reviews Hub
Shakespeare Odes - April - May 2016
In 1769, the actor and impresario David Garrick organised a Shakespeare Jubilee in Stratford-upon-Avon. It began with a cannon firing at dawn. Young men sang under the windows of their sweethearts. There were country dances and horse-races. But the highlight was Garrick’s own specially written Shakespeare Ode with music by Thomas Arne (Rule Britannia).
To mark Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary in April 2016, Ex Cathedra – in partnership with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the Shakespeare Institute and in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company – toured a semi-staged, period-instrument performance of the Garrick Ode.
There was also a new Ode written by the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, and composed by Sally Beamish for Ex Cathedra, children’s choir and a ‘broken consort’ of instruments that Shakespeare would have recognised.
To mark Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary in April 2016, Ex Cathedra – in partnership with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the Shakespeare Institute and in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company – toured a semi-staged, period-instrument performance of the Garrick Ode.
There was also a new Ode written by the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, and composed by Sally Beamish for Ex Cathedra, children’s choir and a ‘broken consort’ of instruments that Shakespeare would have recognised.
The handleBards - A Midsummer Night's Dream & Hamlet - Summer 2015
Cast - Callum Brodie, Tom Dixon, Calum Hughes-Mcintosh & Matthew Seager.
Hamlet Co-Director - Emma Sampson
Designed by Nik Corral
Music By Guy Hughes
Assistant Director - Stanley Walton
Hamlet Co-Director - Emma Sampson
Designed by Nik Corral
Music By Guy Hughes
Assistant Director - Stanley Walton
THe HandleBards - Macbeth & The Comedy of Errors - Summer 2014
After a hugely successful inaugural tour in summer 2013, the four-strong, all-male HandleBards company got back on their bikes and cycled the UK in May, June, July and August 2014, before setting out across Europe. On just four bicycles they carried all the necessary set, props, costumes and camping equipment to perform two of Shakespeare's greatest plays – 'Macbeth' and 'The Comedy Of Errors'.
Reviews:
**** "...back to basics storytelling in the best way..." - What's On Stage
**** "Macbeth is engrossing, highly entertaining and sometimes moving" - Edinburgh Review
**** "The Comedy of Errors was wonderfully refreshing, and the cast were incredibly engaging..." - Nouse
***** "...the HandleBards have succeeded where many have failed." - Nouse
For more information go to www.peculius.com
Reviews:
**** "...back to basics storytelling in the best way..." - What's On Stage
**** "Macbeth is engrossing, highly entertaining and sometimes moving" - Edinburgh Review
**** "The Comedy of Errors was wonderfully refreshing, and the cast were incredibly engaging..." - Nouse
***** "...the HandleBards have succeeded where many have failed." - Nouse
For more information go to www.peculius.com
Animal Farm - Royal & Derngate - March 2014
The year is 2033…Twitter and Facebook have empowered the downtrodden beasts of Manor Farm to get the Animal Spring underway. Mr Jones, the dictator farmer, has been ousted and the new republic of Animal Farm has been created. All are awash in collectivist zeal…
…but within months the Pigs have seized control and the animals are left wondering what, if anything, has really changed.
A dystopian tale of what occurs when corruption and greed are met with indifference and ignorance.
George Orwell's classic fairy tale brought to life on stage with a modern and exciting twist…!
Adapted for the stage by Ian Wooldridge
Directed by James Farrell
Designed by Nik Corral
Lighting Design by Cat Webb
Sound Design by Martin Thompson
Music by DJ Walde
Fights by Tom Jordan
…but within months the Pigs have seized control and the animals are left wondering what, if anything, has really changed.
A dystopian tale of what occurs when corruption and greed are met with indifference and ignorance.
George Orwell's classic fairy tale brought to life on stage with a modern and exciting twist…!
Adapted for the stage by Ian Wooldridge
Directed by James Farrell
Designed by Nik Corral
Lighting Design by Cat Webb
Sound Design by Martin Thompson
Music by DJ Walde
Fights by Tom Jordan
Mucky Kid - Theatre 503 - November 2013
‘Can you imagine what it’s like? To have done something so awful when you were a child, that no matter what you do for the rest of your life you can never escape it?’
Mae has been in prison since she was ten and she thinks it’s about time she did something different.
Does a national hate figure deserve a second chance?
Written by Sam Potter
Directed by James Farrell
Designed by Nik Corral
Lighting Design by Anna Sbokou & Sarah Crocker
Sound Design by Dan Jeffries
Assistant Direction by Chloe Masshiter
Fight Direction by Andrei Zayats
Cast - Sonya Cassidy, Rob Whitcomb, Pamela Dwyer, Adam Loxley & Serena Manteghi
★★★★★ One Stop Arts – ‘a powerful engaging production that is definitely worth watching’
★★★★ Time Out - 'gripping production... unfolds with pace and power... a playwright to watch'
★★★★ Exeunt - ‘a complex and compelling drama’
★★★★ Female Arts - ‘an impressive debut’
★★★★ The Upcoming - ‘Sonya Cassidy lights up Theatre503′s intimate space’
The Public Reviews - 'a well-crafted and very thoughtful piece of work'
British Theatre Guide - 'a riveting production...Sonya Cassidy is absolutely captivating'
Reviews Gate - 'a terrific performance, one you can hardly take your eyes off'
Monkey Matters - 'a stunning central performance by Sonya Cassidy'
A Younger Theatre - 'This is a brilliant play. Go and see it.'
A Theatre 503 Production in association with Peculius and Ine Van Riet.
Mae has been in prison since she was ten and she thinks it’s about time she did something different.
Does a national hate figure deserve a second chance?
Written by Sam Potter
Directed by James Farrell
Designed by Nik Corral
Lighting Design by Anna Sbokou & Sarah Crocker
Sound Design by Dan Jeffries
Assistant Direction by Chloe Masshiter
Fight Direction by Andrei Zayats
Cast - Sonya Cassidy, Rob Whitcomb, Pamela Dwyer, Adam Loxley & Serena Manteghi
★★★★★ One Stop Arts – ‘a powerful engaging production that is definitely worth watching’
★★★★ Time Out - 'gripping production... unfolds with pace and power... a playwright to watch'
★★★★ Exeunt - ‘a complex and compelling drama’
★★★★ Female Arts - ‘an impressive debut’
★★★★ The Upcoming - ‘Sonya Cassidy lights up Theatre503′s intimate space’
The Public Reviews - 'a well-crafted and very thoughtful piece of work'
British Theatre Guide - 'a riveting production...Sonya Cassidy is absolutely captivating'
Reviews Gate - 'a terrific performance, one you can hardly take your eyes off'
Monkey Matters - 'a stunning central performance by Sonya Cassidy'
A Younger Theatre - 'This is a brilliant play. Go and see it.'
A Theatre 503 Production in association with Peculius and Ine Van Riet.
The HandleBards: Romeo & Juliet / Twelfth Night - National Tour - July - August 2013
4 actors, 4 bicycles, 40 characters and a 926 mile adventure. For two months the HandleBards - a four-strong, all-male troupe of travelling players presented by Peculius - cycled from Glasgow to London, carrying with them all the necessary set, props and costumes needed to perform two of Shakespeare's greatest plays: 'Twelfth Night' and 'Romeo and Juliet'.
Presenting the plays with only what they can carry (on a journey equivalent to Land's End - John 'o Groats), the HandleBards performed with bicycle-powered sets, a lot of surprises and eight very sore legs!
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by James Farrell
Designed by Libby Todd
Assistant Direction by Emma Sampson
Fight Direction by Andrei Zayats
Movement Direction by Leigh Tredger
Voice and Text by Jacquie Crago & Lara Muths
Cast - Callum Brodie, Callum Cheadle, Tom Dixon & Paul Moss
Presenting the plays with only what they can carry (on a journey equivalent to Land's End - John 'o Groats), the HandleBards performed with bicycle-powered sets, a lot of surprises and eight very sore legs!
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by James Farrell
Designed by Libby Todd
Assistant Direction by Emma Sampson
Fight Direction by Andrei Zayats
Movement Direction by Leigh Tredger
Voice and Text by Jacquie Crago & Lara Muths
Cast - Callum Brodie, Callum Cheadle, Tom Dixon & Paul Moss
Twelfth Night - Royal & Derngate - March 2013
Set in 1950s England, this version of Twelfth Night creates a dark and dangerous world where the revelations of the characters can lead to torture & death.
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by James Farrell
Designed by Helen Coyston
Original Music by Jon Gilbert
Lighting Design by Aaron J Dootson
Sound Design by Martin Thompson
Fight Direction by Andrei Zayats
Assistant Director - Fiona McDonnel
Cast - Rebecca Pearce, Dom Blakey, Orlagh Rose, Josh Harvey, Vinnie Barker, Hannah Blofield, Michael Rogerson, Tara Dykes, Leanne Villiers, Georgina Butt, Lewis Gadson, George Haycock, Jack Adir, Jess Simmons & Jamie Staton.
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by James Farrell
Designed by Helen Coyston
Original Music by Jon Gilbert
Lighting Design by Aaron J Dootson
Sound Design by Martin Thompson
Fight Direction by Andrei Zayats
Assistant Director - Fiona McDonnel
Cast - Rebecca Pearce, Dom Blakey, Orlagh Rose, Josh Harvey, Vinnie Barker, Hannah Blofield, Michael Rogerson, Tara Dykes, Leanne Villiers, Georgina Butt, Lewis Gadson, George Haycock, Jack Adir, Jess Simmons & Jamie Staton.
The Trojan Women - Jack Studio Theatre - January 2013
Wars don’t come to an end when the fighting stops.
Troy has fallen. The city has been destroyed and its people slaughtered. The few survivors are prisoners of the Greek Army which is waiting to sail back to Greece. The army is disintegrating in the wake of its victory, but the killing continues. And the fate of the prisoners hangs in the balance.
Written by Howard Colyer
Directed by James Farrell
Designed by Libby Todd
Movement Direction by Leigh Tredger
Original Music and Sound Design by Max Pappenheim
Lighting Design by Steve Lowe
Fight Direction by Andrei Zayats
Assistant Director - Saran Marr
Cast - Mariam Bell, Tania Batzouglo, Jacquie Crago, Georgio Gallassi, Avita Jay, Hatty Jones, Edward Mitchell, Jess Tobert, Josephine Rogers, Kathy Trevelyan, Karl Wilson, Daniel Wiltshire.
Reviews - “…director James Farrell spreads the large cast artfully across the stage and the layering of the chorus' voices is very effective.”
“…it is very well performed, handsomely staged and James Farrell’s direction is assured”
“James Farrell’s direction attracts the audience with tense fight scenes and desolate monologues”
Troy has fallen. The city has been destroyed and its people slaughtered. The few survivors are prisoners of the Greek Army which is waiting to sail back to Greece. The army is disintegrating in the wake of its victory, but the killing continues. And the fate of the prisoners hangs in the balance.
Written by Howard Colyer
Directed by James Farrell
Designed by Libby Todd
Movement Direction by Leigh Tredger
Original Music and Sound Design by Max Pappenheim
Lighting Design by Steve Lowe
Fight Direction by Andrei Zayats
Assistant Director - Saran Marr
Cast - Mariam Bell, Tania Batzouglo, Jacquie Crago, Georgio Gallassi, Avita Jay, Hatty Jones, Edward Mitchell, Jess Tobert, Josephine Rogers, Kathy Trevelyan, Karl Wilson, Daniel Wiltshire.
Reviews - “…director James Farrell spreads the large cast artfully across the stage and the layering of the chorus' voices is very effective.”
“…it is very well performed, handsomely staged and James Farrell’s direction is assured”
“James Farrell’s direction attracts the audience with tense fight scenes and desolate monologues”
Pericles - Courtyard Theatre (RSC) - October 2012
Shakespeare's Pericles, a unique collaboration between the RSC and amateur performers.
The expertise, values and knowledge of the RSC meets the passion and talent of the amateur sector in a unique collaboration on Pericles playing at The Courtyard Theatre in October.
A cast of experienced amateur performers working with RSC directors, designers, stage managers and technicians to create an exhilarating new production of Shakespeare's rarely performed tragic romance.
Pericles is the fourth and final part of the 2012 Summer What Country Friends is This? season of work looking at migration, exile, and the discovery of brave new worlds, following on from The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night and The Tempest.
Directed by James Farrell & Jamie Rocha Allan
Designed by Georgia Lowe
Movement Direction by Anna Morrissey
Fight Direction by Tom Jordan
Lighting Design by Matt Peel
Sound Design by Chris Vernon
Voice & Text Work by Michael Corbidge
Performed by the RSC Amateur Ensemble
The expertise, values and knowledge of the RSC meets the passion and talent of the amateur sector in a unique collaboration on Pericles playing at The Courtyard Theatre in October.
A cast of experienced amateur performers working with RSC directors, designers, stage managers and technicians to create an exhilarating new production of Shakespeare's rarely performed tragic romance.
Pericles is the fourth and final part of the 2012 Summer What Country Friends is This? season of work looking at migration, exile, and the discovery of brave new worlds, following on from The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night and The Tempest.
Directed by James Farrell & Jamie Rocha Allan
Designed by Georgia Lowe
Movement Direction by Anna Morrissey
Fight Direction by Tom Jordan
Lighting Design by Matt Peel
Sound Design by Chris Vernon
Voice & Text Work by Michael Corbidge
Performed by the RSC Amateur Ensemble
Homework - Jack Studio Theatre - November 2011
Vincent wants to be free of his mother but she is old and he cares for her. She wants to rule his life, but she can't remember her own.
What is an individual but a collection of memories on legs? Take away the memories and what's left? Legs. And even they aren't working well any more.
Written by Howard Colyer
Designed by Libby Todd
Lighting Design by Anna Sbokou & Sarah Crogan
Sound Design by Dario Burns
Cast - Jean Apps & Marc Forde
Reviews - “…there is not one dull moment in this production, so skilfully directed by James Farrell…go see this wonderful production.”
“This play is well–crafted…and James Farrell steers clear of cheap emotional shots in his direction.”
What is an individual but a collection of memories on legs? Take away the memories and what's left? Legs. And even they aren't working well any more.
Written by Howard Colyer
Designed by Libby Todd
Lighting Design by Anna Sbokou & Sarah Crogan
Sound Design by Dario Burns
Cast - Jean Apps & Marc Forde
Reviews - “…there is not one dull moment in this production, so skilfully directed by James Farrell…go see this wonderful production.”
“This play is well–crafted…and James Farrell steers clear of cheap emotional shots in his direction.”
Miracle - Hen & Chickens - September 2011
A struggling troupe of actors arrives in a poor, rural town, intent on performing a play. However their lives are transformed when an apparent stranger enters their midst and draws them into acts of sacrifice, betrayal and revenge.
Atmospheric and engaging with a folkloric twist, this play mixes the ordinary with the extraordinary, truth with illusion, and despair with salvation, to reveal something both human and magical.
Written by Reza de Wet
Designed by Irina Borisova & Emma Thatcher
Sound Design by Dario Burns
Lighting Design by Anna Soboku
Cast - Edmund Dehn, Davin Eadie, Annabelle Lanyon, Hatty Jones, Christie Miller & Edward Mitchell.
Reviews - **** "...An excellently crafted performance and a real triumph for Nameless Theatre..."
"...Miracle has a sense of purpose, is thematically clear and well supported by a strong cast."
Atmospheric and engaging with a folkloric twist, this play mixes the ordinary with the extraordinary, truth with illusion, and despair with salvation, to reveal something both human and magical.
Written by Reza de Wet
Designed by Irina Borisova & Emma Thatcher
Sound Design by Dario Burns
Lighting Design by Anna Soboku
Cast - Edmund Dehn, Davin Eadie, Annabelle Lanyon, Hatty Jones, Christie Miller & Edward Mitchell.
Reviews - **** "...An excellently crafted performance and a real triumph for Nameless Theatre..."
"...Miracle has a sense of purpose, is thematically clear and well supported by a strong cast."
The Comedy of Errors - The Scoop - October 2010
The Comedy of Errors opened the 2010 Bardathon Festival - 12 hours of Shakespeare's plays, sonnets and speeches at London's newest open-air theatre.
Cast - Daniel Wiltshire, Gareth Pilkington, Conor Short, Karl Wilson, Zahra Brown, Emma Britton, Michael J Ansley, Annabelle Pemberton, Matthew Curran, Shannon Harris, Laura Evelyn, Sarah-Jane Scott
Cast - Daniel Wiltshire, Gareth Pilkington, Conor Short, Karl Wilson, Zahra Brown, Emma Britton, Michael J Ansley, Annabelle Pemberton, Matthew Curran, Shannon Harris, Laura Evelyn, Sarah-Jane Scott
Reverie - Pleasance Dome - August 2010
The lead character James embarks on a quixotic adventure to harness the power of his dreams and live forever. But once you’ve opened the door to infinite possibilities can you ever truly live in the real world? Enchanting and funny in equal measure, Three’s Company fly you over a landscape of love, memory and unreachable perfection. Utopia, it seems, is exactly how you imagined it.
Written by Tom Crawshaw
Designed by Alison Neighbour
Produced by Three's Company
James - Yaz Al Shater
Anna - Alexandra B Harris
Holly - Ashleigh Kaye
David - Ben Hadley
Caroline - Ingrid Evans
Reviews:
***** - All The Festivals
"...a stylish and well crafted production..." - The Scotsman
"...truly distinctive style..." - Fringe Guru
Written by Tom Crawshaw
Designed by Alison Neighbour
Produced by Three's Company
James - Yaz Al Shater
Anna - Alexandra B Harris
Holly - Ashleigh Kaye
David - Ben Hadley
Caroline - Ingrid Evans
Reviews:
***** - All The Festivals
"...a stylish and well crafted production..." - The Scotsman
"...truly distinctive style..." - Fringe Guru
The Government Inspector - LOST Theatre - July 2010
The Government Inspector exposes the ridiculous, and often unscrupulous, pretence that local government officials undertake in order to appear effective to their superiors.
When the mayor of a small country town and his subordinates discover that a government inspector is coming to visit them, they whip themselves into a frenzy of fear and incompetence. Going on to mistakenly identify the inspector as a lowly clerk with ideas above his own station in life, they are ultimately taken for every penny they have.
Written by Nikolai Gogol
Designed by Becky Gunstone
Produced by LOST Theatre
Reviews:
**** "...the work of LOST's young actors is well worth a look"
(Alan Edwards, News of the World, 25th July 2010)
When the mayor of a small country town and his subordinates discover that a government inspector is coming to visit them, they whip themselves into a frenzy of fear and incompetence. Going on to mistakenly identify the inspector as a lowly clerk with ideas above his own station in life, they are ultimately taken for every penny they have.
Written by Nikolai Gogol
Designed by Becky Gunstone
Produced by LOST Theatre
Reviews:
**** "...the work of LOST's young actors is well worth a look"
(Alan Edwards, News of the World, 25th July 2010)
The Invitation - Theatre 503 - September 2009
Eleanor and Carter are getting ready to host a dinner party. The only problem is that neither of them know who invited the guests. Was it a simple misunderstanding, or something more sinister?
The Invitation is a satire on social class in modern-day America.
Written by Reen Polonsky
Eleanor - Genevieve Adams
Carter - Jeff Peterson
An extract of The Invitation was developed as part of the London Playwrights' Collective directors' project and was subsequently selected to be performed at the LPC's Crash Test Audience at Theatre 503.
The London Playwights' Collective is a collaborative, supportive and proactive community for writers.
www.londonplaywrights.co.uk
The Invitation is a satire on social class in modern-day America.
Written by Reen Polonsky
Eleanor - Genevieve Adams
Carter - Jeff Peterson
An extract of The Invitation was developed as part of the London Playwrights' Collective directors' project and was subsequently selected to be performed at the LPC's Crash Test Audience at Theatre 503.
The London Playwights' Collective is a collaborative, supportive and proactive community for writers.
www.londonplaywrights.co.uk
Miss Julie - King's Head Theatre - July 2009
When Miss Julie, the daughter of a nobleman, sleeps with her father's servant what folows is a conflict between sexual passion and socail position which ultimately leads the pair to tragedy.
Written by August Strindberg
Miss Julie - Mariam Bell
Jean - Hugh O'Shea
Christine - Gabriella Schmidt
Nowhere Man - Etcetera Theatre - May 2009
A Man armed with a phone book and felt tip pens;
Another, who drives away from everything;
A woman searching for answers;
And a widower who tries to remember.
Four lives that intertwine in the middle of nowhere.
Nowhere Man: a play about what we find when we’re lost.
Written by Sam Lebens.
Produced by Back2Back Productions.
Ted - Daniel Wiltshire
Hugo - Davin Eadie
Jake - Robert Witcombe
Nadia- Tess Mawle
Another, who drives away from everything;
A woman searching for answers;
And a widower who tries to remember.
Four lives that intertwine in the middle of nowhere.
Nowhere Man: a play about what we find when we’re lost.
Written by Sam Lebens.
Produced by Back2Back Productions.
Ted - Daniel Wiltshire
Hugo - Davin Eadie
Jake - Robert Witcombe
Nadia- Tess Mawle
Carve - Tristan Bates Theatre - April 2008
When a New York Gallery debuts his gruesome painting, Carve, struggling artist Josh finally thinks he's hit the big time. But when the fictional female subject of his painting appears shivering, angry and most definitely alive on his Brooklyn fire escape, Josh is forced to confront his assistant and lover Jessa and the dark secrets they've both been harbouring. In this suspenseful thriller, Josh and Jessa are forced through the rabbit hole to figure out how a supposed figment of Josh's imagination has bloomed into vibrant, desperate life.
Written by Molly Smith Metzler
Josh Darbin - Peter Brooke
Jessa Campbell - Kosha Engler
Ryan Duffy / Scott Mason - Simon Lee Philips
Maureen Duffy - Ann Wittman
Reviews - "James Farrell successfully directs his first full-length play with a perfectly cast ensemble...The production is tight, energised and entertaining with great use of the small space."
Lisa Williams - Remote Goat
Written by Molly Smith Metzler
Josh Darbin - Peter Brooke
Jessa Campbell - Kosha Engler
Ryan Duffy / Scott Mason - Simon Lee Philips
Maureen Duffy - Ann Wittman
Reviews - "James Farrell successfully directs his first full-length play with a perfectly cast ensemble...The production is tight, energised and entertaining with great use of the small space."
Lisa Williams - Remote Goat
The Atlantic Project - Warehouse Theatre, Canal Cafe Theatre & Tristan Bates Theatre - February - September 2007
The Atlantic Project was an eight month long process which saw six American writers develop their new work on the London stage. This included short plays as welll as extracts from their full length pieces. The final part of the process had the audience choose their favourite play which was then produced in full. Carve was the selected play performed in 2008.
Written by Molly Smith Metzler, John O'Shea, Kate Snodgrass, Ginger Lazarus, Ronan Noone and Jacob Strautman.
Cast - Rebecca Handswick, David Mildon, Catherine Bellamy, Alex Woodhall and Jack Fortescue
With thanks to the United States of America Embassy in London for their generous donation.
Written by Molly Smith Metzler, John O'Shea, Kate Snodgrass, Ginger Lazarus, Ronan Noone and Jacob Strautman.
Cast - Rebecca Handswick, David Mildon, Catherine Bellamy, Alex Woodhall and Jack Fortescue
With thanks to the United States of America Embassy in London for their generous donation.
The Sperm Monologues - E4 Udderbelly - August 2006
In some sperm donation clinics, donors are invited to record a message for their as-yet-unborn son or daughter to view when they reach eighteen.
If you only had one chance to speak to your child, what would you say?
The Sperm Monologues gives you the chance to hear a selection of these messages. Find out what some men leave behind in this funny and emotive production.
Written by Jon Gilbert
With additional material by James Farrell, John-Paul Gayford & Joanna Lee
Original Music & Lyrics by Nick Jew
Cast - Paul Hessey, David Mildon, Martin Scott-Thomas
Reviews:
"The only show I’ve seen so far whose merit outshines its ridiculous title is ‘The Sperm Monologues’. Several men were interviewed to find out the message they would give to children born from sperm they’d donated at a clinic, in a filmed session that would be shown to the child on their eighteenth birthday…the interviewees produced the basis for a script that was both funny and moving. Amid the harsh natural selection process for Fringe publicity-seekers, this is a piece that deserves to go all the way."
Rachel Halliburton, Mon Aug 14 - Time Out
“A great show in the making.”
Mhari Hetherington – www.scottishtheatre.co.uk
“Well crafted…consistent, realistic and believable”
Andrea Mullaney – The Scotsman
“The fully engaged performances successfully keep you wondering what sort of dad is about to appear onstage next.”
Three Weeks
If you only had one chance to speak to your child, what would you say?
The Sperm Monologues gives you the chance to hear a selection of these messages. Find out what some men leave behind in this funny and emotive production.
Written by Jon Gilbert
With additional material by James Farrell, John-Paul Gayford & Joanna Lee
Original Music & Lyrics by Nick Jew
Cast - Paul Hessey, David Mildon, Martin Scott-Thomas
Reviews:
"The only show I’ve seen so far whose merit outshines its ridiculous title is ‘The Sperm Monologues’. Several men were interviewed to find out the message they would give to children born from sperm they’d donated at a clinic, in a filmed session that would be shown to the child on their eighteenth birthday…the interviewees produced the basis for a script that was both funny and moving. Amid the harsh natural selection process for Fringe publicity-seekers, this is a piece that deserves to go all the way."
Rachel Halliburton, Mon Aug 14 - Time Out
“A great show in the making.”
Mhari Hetherington – www.scottishtheatre.co.uk
“Well crafted…consistent, realistic and believable”
Andrea Mullaney – The Scotsman
“The fully engaged performances successfully keep you wondering what sort of dad is about to appear onstage next.”
Three Weeks
