- November 2005
ALL MY SONS opens on a Sunday morning in a garden in the Mid-West in August 1947. The day is to be burning hot but now it is cool as Joe Keller reads the want ads in the paper. The silence of mundanity hangs in the air as he, his wife and neighbours go about their weekend leisure. But his son has arrived home to marry the childhood sweetheart of his brother whose jet went missing over the South China Seas in the war. What follows is a devastating and tragic deconstruction of the American way of life- family, morality and community are all held to trial in Arthur Miller’s first great play:
“What was Larry to you? A stone that fell into the water? It’s not enough for him to be sorry.”
- October 2005
- October 2005
A story of two brothers and the tramp who comes to stay, The Caretaker is the most important play of one of the twentieth century's most important playwrights. This is a mysterious, obliquely comic and utterly unforgettable account of Aston, Mick, Davies, and the room that becomes their shelter and their prison.
The Caretaker perpetuated a theatrical revolution on its opening almost half a century ago and now three of Cambridge's finest actors make a fresh exploration into a modern masterpiece that terrifies, moves and delights all at the same time.
- June–July 2005
2005, finally, sees the revival of the 'legendary' Pembroke Players German Tour! This summer we'll be touring German schools and universities with a slick, traditional, flexibly staged production of everyone's favourite Wilde play. We'll also be running workshops with German students, giving actors a real chance to show their off-the-cuff skills, and techies time to fiddle with awkard foreign power supplies.
- March 2005
On Christmas Eve, two strangers arrive in the Irish village of Bochtan. The crops are blighted, and all must prepare for another year of poverty. But in the face of their misfortunes, the villagers begin a laughing contest... Years later, Mommo tells the story of this night of mirth, repeating it time and again without ever reaching its tragic conclusion. Every evening her tale intrudes on her granddaughters' modern lives, and its repetition seems to hide the secret of their broken family. But tonight, things turn out differently...
Tom Murphy´s unique combination of drama and storytelling has made him one of the most acclaimed contemporary Irish dramatists. In this grotesque Christmas tale, he addresses the haunting past of Ireland's poverty with all the fierceness of satire and the black humour of tragi-comedy. When bedtime stories go wrong, and families are torn apart by misfortune, what else can we do... but laugh?
- March 2005
"This is the game of life as we all have to play it." The devious Mrs. Chevely gatecrashes the party of Sir Robert Chiltern, MP, to inform him that unless he supports her fraudulent schemes she will reveal to the press that he made his fortune by selling a government secret. Trapped in the glittering, steely and unforgiving world of Victorian politics, Sir Robert, with the help of his suave, sophisticated friend Lord Goring, must walk the tightrope between corruption and disaster, and above all, prevent his secret from ever reaching the ears of his perfect wife, Gertrude. But Lord Goring has problems of his own. His irascible father keeps insisting that he marry, or do something else useful with his life. Mabel, Sir Robert's pretty and vivacious younger sister, is of the same opinion. Mrs Chevely is openly trying to blackmail him into marriage. But all he wants to do is... nothing.
- February 2005
INTRODUCING THE THEATRE OF TOM MURPHY: a round-table discussion with live
scenes from the theatre of an Irish outsider.
Introducing a mini-season of Tom Murphy’s plays in Cambridge, we would like
to invite you to a round-table discussion of his work on Monday the 28th of
February, at 5 pm in the English Faculty Drama Studio (Sidgwick Site). The
round-table will provide a general introduction to his work and place in
contemporary Irish theatre, with more detailed presentations and
discussions of live scenes from The Morning After Optimism (2-6th March,
10.30pm, Fitzpatrick Hall) and Bailegangaire (8-12th March, 10.30pm,
Pembroke New Cellars).
The speakers will be Dr Deana Rankin, Yvonne McDevitt, Liliane Campos and
Saraid Dodd. The discussion will be informal and all are welcome to take
part: no prior knowledge of Murphy is necessary!
‘On the Outside…’ Dr Deana Rankin, Fellow of Girton College, will introduce
Murphy and his position as an outsider in Irish theatre.
‘The Impact of EXILES (1912) by James Joyce on Tom Murphy’ Yvonne McDevitt,
director and Judith E. Wilson Fellow, will take a look at Joyce’s influence
on Murphy’s work.
‘A Theatre of Voices: voice acts and speech acts in Murphy’s Bailegangaire’
Liliane Campos, director of Bailegangaire, will analyse the tension between
voice and language in Murphy’s work. A short scene from Bailegangaire will
be performed for discussion.
‘The Morning After Optimism: should we show it to children?’ Saraid Dodd,
director of The Morning After Optimism, will give a director’s view on the
play. A short scene from The Morning After Optimism will be performed for
discussion.
- February 2005
‘Entrails feed the sacrificing fire, whose smoke like incense doth perfume the sky.’
Titus Andronicus returns to Rome from war with his remaining sons to face a violent election campaign between the dead Emperor’s two sons for power. Titus names the eldest son as Emperor, but in doing so he sets off a horrific chain of revenge, murder, rape and mutilation in which he is stripped of his pride, children and sanity.
One of the most rarely performed of Shakespeare's plays, Titus Andronicus penetrates the very heart of evil and brutality, yet still finds humanity at its centre.
- February 2005
If a part-time waiter and retired wrestler came to your front door, completely uninvited, and started to load the attic with enormous tanks of petrol, shamelessly explaining their plan to destroy the neighbourhood, you’d probably think they were joking. But this is exactly the situation thrust upon Herr Biedermann, a typically narrow-minded and unexciting bourgeois gentleman, who just happens to have a ‘very favourably situated’ house.
A comic allegory of the appeasement of Hitler, The Fire Raisers is a colourful tapestry of paradox. It deals with delusion, persuasion, political blindness, the folly of mankind, and yet all in such a darkly hilarious way that you won’t know what to feel.
Comedy, original music and lots of mind warping psychology: this show is guaranteed to blow you away.
- February 2005
'Inspired by a true story of a young black con man, Paul, who insinuates himself into the lives of wealthy New York couple, Ouisa and Flan Kittridge, claiming he knows their son at Harvard. They are captivated by Paul's fascinating conversation and allow him to stay with them, but discover him in bed with a young male hustler. They discover friends of theirs have had a similar run-in with Paul. Intrigued, they piece together the connections that gave Paul access to their lives. Meanwhile, Paul's cons unexpectedly lead him into darker territory. As the final events of the play unfold Ouisa suddenly finds herself caring for Paul, feeling that he gave them far more than he took, and that her once idyllic life was not what it seemed to be...' An exciting and engaging piece of contemporary theatre. A tight, stylized production, focussing on isolation, paralysis, social responsibility, and how we are only ever separated by 6 degrees from any other person in the world.
- November 2004
After his mother runs off with a bisexual trainee dentist and his American cousin leaps unceremoniously out of the closet, David is forced to confront difficult issues about his own sexuality. As his best friend Jane tries to get her mother to understand what a lesbian is and his father Derek is keen to ensure he doesn't let the family down by becoming an uphill gardener, this new comedy proves that from chaos can come a happy conclusion!
- November 2004
Born a slip of a girlyboy named Hansel in commmunist East Berlin, escape was only possible via a dodgy sex-change operation, a marriage to a lecherous American GI, displacement to a Kansas trailerpark and a quest to become America's biggest rock star. But the newly-christened Hedwig didn't count on meeting Tommy Gnosis - the love of her life, who stole her songs and became a star without her. Tonight, Hedwig is about to exorcise a few demons, tell us a few home truths, and play the most raucous, raunchy rock show Cambridge has ever seen, whilst Tommy himself plays at the Corn Exchange nearby.
A cult hit across the Atlantic, this is its first ever amateur student outing. Douse yourselves in blood and glitter for a unique rock musical. You'll laugh You'll cry. You'll get Hed.
- November 2004
LIFE: The work of John Donne.
CANCER: Ovarian; aggressively metastatic.
DEATH.
This award-winning play stretches one woman's emotional solitude in the long journey through cancer. Professor Vivian Bearing undergoes chemotherapy that drains her of all energy and reserve. As the treatment and tumours progress, Vivian comes to depend on simple human kindness, and reassesses with profundity and humour, the principles which guided her life.
With proceeds to Cancer Research
- November 2004
This year sees a renaissance for the Pembroke Smoker of yesteryear, back when a young Clive James was running the show and a certain bunch of Pythons were sliding across the boards for the first time. Cambridge's finest comic talent at one of its finest settings combine to provide all the ingredients needed for a night of cummerbund creasing hilarity.
Dress is Black Tie. Jazz and free glass of bubbly from 8.30pm. Comedy from 9.30pm. Champagne Cocktails and the like available all evening.
With £50 audience-voted prize to best comic act!
Proceeds to support one of Cambridge's most active charities, the SCA.
- November 2004
The Bacchae is the ultimate Greek tragedy, combining tense dialogue, unforgetable characters, matricide, mass slaughter and a little bit of lesbianism to keep everyone's attention. This brand new re-working combines original text with modern langauge to create a new and exciting play set in the world of the 1920's, featuring sex, violence, unbelievable magic and "all that jazz"!
"Simon Evans’ version of The Bacchae is an assured and vigorous performance
text. The writing is sharp and urgent, giving a contemporary feel without
ever seeming self-conscious. None of the play’s challenges were ducked – in fact, several were given illuminating interpretations... The theatrical concept was extremely effective... There was a highly unified feel to the piece, and in terms of writing, directing, design and acting."
Dr Peter Raby (editor of numerous Cambridge Companions, including Oscar Wilde and Harold Pinter)
"This was a very exciting piece of theatre – coherent, original and
theatrical... Simon Evans’ version is vivid and playable and his ensemble highly talented."
Simon Waters, author of “World Music” (Donmar Theatre, 2004) and “After the Gods”
- November 2004
When divorced couple Elyot and Amanda discover they are occupying adjacent apartments on the French Riviera, there is potential for sparks to fly. The fact they are both there on honeymoon with their new respective partners sets the scene for Coward's wittiest comedy.
Coward assesses the farcical and the serious; the passionate and the plain, in an hilarious presentation of man's ever-conflicting desires.
- June 2004
Salad Days is a light hearted, comedy musical set in the early-mid 20th century, in an almost Shakespearian style, combining magical singing pianos and flying saucers from outer-space! Staged on Pembroke's bowling green (the oldest in Europe!) in the anticipated sunshine and frivolities of Mayweek, the production will be popular, a lot of fun, and a good break from work!
- March 2004
"What we're trying to do is write cricket bats, so that when we throw up an idea and give it a little knock, it might...travel..."
Art within life ... life within art ... Stoppard's "The Real Thing" explores relationships, life and love in a complex and witty web of playful theatrical games. Henry, a playwright and intellectual, weaves his words for a living, but where does the boundary between writing and living lie? Why does a man so engaged with his art find it so hard to express his love for Annie? ...And just what is it about cricket?
- February 2004
"So I try to tell them about Richard Branson’s evil plans, but he won’t listen, so instead my good-looking boyfriend decides to serenade me with 'When A Man Loves A Woman'. The police block also consisted of a grand piano, which a rather butch-looking policewoman proceeded to play with extreme skill"
Do you ever lose the connection between reality and imagination? It’s not difficult, given the right catalyst. Become lost in your imagination. But Kitty’s bored with her own imagination, so she takes it upon herself to invade the lives of former school friend James and his womanising flatmate Colin. What unfolds is an exploration of Kitty’s eccentric, often drug-induced, thoughts and their impact on those around her.
- February 2004
Five Night Stand will comprise five nights of stand-up comedy with a different comedian each night. It offers comedians the rare opportunity to experiment with sustained stand-up in Cambridge.
- February 2004
The Mystery Plays are a cycle of plays from late-Medieval England; the cycle consists of many short pageants, each of which was part of a chronological sequence drawn from the Old and New Testaments. This production of the York Mystery Plays aims to work with a small group of dedicated and versatile actors to present around 20 episodes from the original cycle.
- December 2003
Joe is ten years old, severely disabled, wheelchair bound and completely dependent on her parents. She will have no life. So why is she allowed to live? Bri and Sheila have to live with the moral dilemma that nobody should have to face. Bri clowns his way through life. Sheila clings to the hope that one day, somehow, all will be right again. Throw in the questionable support of their friends and family, and the group soon begins to realise they are all experiencing a day in the death of Joe Egg. Peter Nichols' darkly comic masterpiece balances somewhere on the verge between tragedy and hilarity. 'A Day in the Death of Joe Egg' demands answers to questions that cannot be ignored, and will leave you wondering whether to laugh or cry. Presented in one of Cambridge's most unique and exciting venues.
- November 2003
"Shall I tell you what you heard just now? Nothing in the world but your own terrors calling"
Locked in a cellar during the Red Terror in St Petersburg, 5 British people are held captive, unsure of their future. After 6 weeks as the strain is starting to show, each individual responds to the pressure in different ways: one focuses on maintaining her beautiful image, another resorts to British stiff upper lip, a third survives through exaggerated concern for others. Into this situation steps a small man, Derry Moore, "the Irish Hans
Andersen", who has been mistakenly captured in place of his
counter-revolutionary brother. Derry relieves the tension by helping the captives to get lost in a tale of leprechauns and wonderful colours - the fairy tale of the title.
- November 2003
- October–November 2003
Set in 18th century Venice, A Servant To Two Masters is a classic tale of love, honour, sun-dried tomatoes, and Truffaldino- a servant trying his best to earn an extra lira. Underpaid and over-stretched, Truffaldino scurries through mishap after mishap as he performs chores for two unwitting masters: Florindo, and his lover, Beatrice, in disguise as her dead brother. As excuses for his mistakes become more fanciful, chaos ensues - mistaken identities, betrothals, duels, near-suicide and a fabulous feast twice-enjoyed occur, before Truffaldino is finally found out. With its colourful array of comic characters, Carlo Goldini´s farce, given a new lease of life by Lee Hall´s recent adaptation, mixes historical Italy and classic 18th century commedia with cockney cheek.
- April–May 2003
- March 2003
Controlled mayhem.
- November 2002
- November 2002
- October–November 2002
- March 2002
- October 2000
'Road' represented the theatrical debut of Jim Cartwright, described by The Sunday Telegraph as “a writer of outstanding talent”. It won the Samuel Beckett Award in 1986, and launched his reputation as one of the country's most eloquent, radical playwrights. His string of subsequent successes culminated in the 1998 filming of his play 'Little Voice', starring Jane Horrocks, who had also taken a leading role in the original production of 'Road'.
One of the most striking of the 1980's state of the nation dramas, 'Road' casts an unsparing mirror on an industrial town ravaged by the economic policies of Margaret Thatcher. The works of Jim Cartwright have never been performed in Cambridge before. Pembroke Players' 'Road' is a timely recognition of his genius.
- November 1999
"The Wave" is based on a true incident that occurred in the Palto High School, California, in 1969. A history teacher, Ron Jones, tried to inspire his disaffected students by conducting an 'experiment in discipline' - reproducing the mentality behind the Hitler Youth movement.
The result, according to Jones, was "one of the most frightening events I have ever experienced in the classroom". No one talked about what happened for 3 years.
It was in 1981 that, under the pseudonym 'Morton Rhue', Jones wrote "The Wave". A minor classic, particularly in Germany, it seeks to get to grips with the psychology behind Nazism, and has sold 1.5 million copies world-wide. It has been made into a play in 16 different countries.
Jack Thorne's new adaptation of The Wave has been described by Ron Jones as 'a wonderful and important play'. It aims to reveal how the pressures towards conformity thrown up within the classroom can create the conditions necessary for a cult born out of adolescent despair. In a year in which members of a secret group of 'outsiders' - the Trenchcoat Mafia - shot dead 24 of their classmates in a Colorado school, the enduring relevance of the message cannot be doubted.
