I'm just back from your production of Great Expectations in Listowel.
‘Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts.’ Charles Dickens (Great Expectations) Accessible and enjoyable to all, Hotbuckle Productions is a five-year old touring Theatre Company that comprises five creative and visionary actors. The actors play all the parts in this fast-paced, moving, humorous and novel re-making of Great Expectations. With the bicentenary of Dicken’s birth in 2012, this is an opportunistic moment to be reintroduced to this all time classic. During this dramatic performance we follow Pip’s travels as he endeavours to become a Gentleman and win the heart of Estella to whom he has bestowed unrequited love since his childhood. Estella however is under the influence of her guardian, Miss Haversham who is intent on hardening Estella’s heart to any possible suitors as a way of seeking revenge for her own past heart-break. She encourages Estella to beguile men with her beauty, misleading them in order to break their hearts. As the story unfolds, we are transported from the Kent Marshes to the vibrant City of London where Pip is transformed to fulfill his ‘great expectations’ and discover his purpose in a hostile world. His quest for manhood however is not an easy one. As the story is told in the first person, we are privileged to be a part of his self-discovery. Before the production begins there is an air of excitement and anticipation as the set is purposefully minimalistic. It relies on three stage props that are utllised in many surprising and imaginative ways. The script is wordy and fast paced, requiring great demands from the actors, but it is with this they excel, the versatile quintet delighting the audience with a torrent of comical and apt lines that do not detract from the original text or setting. All actors delivered their roles with charm, wit, passion and dramatic intent. Ben Warwick as Pip kept the pace and drove the performance along with his intermittent monologues. Adrian Preater and Bobbi O’Callaghan were spectacular in their roles, demonstrating their versatility as actors. Fiona Leaning was particularly formidable as Miss Haversham and exploited her strong role as Mrs Joe, in contrast to Christian Rennie as Joe Gargery, who won the audience over with his compassion and playful ignorance. Through the skillful adaptation and direction of Adrian Preater, this production is a clever and novel re-birth of a famous classic that does not fail to grip you through its contemporary approach. Entertainment for all ages and definitely worth a viewing whether you are a Dicken’s traditionalist or just looking for a new slant on Victorian literature. Reviewer: Nicola Harrison The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 stars/5
Charles Dickens wrote some cracking tales, and this version of a classics was innovative, compelling and dramatic. Produced in story-telling theatre style, with direct-address insights, a talented cast of just five brought to life the rich tapestry of characters who peopled Dickens’ bleak landscape. Artistic Director, adapter of script and director of the piece, Adrian Preater led as the convict Magwitch, determined to make Pip (a credible Ben Warwick) into a gentleman. Fiona Leaning was Pip’s hard sister and the mysterious Miss Haversham. Bobbi O’Callaghan played the cold Estella superbly and Christian Rennie completed the company as the affable Joe and the aloof solicitor, Jaggers. Pip was always Pip, but the rest took on the range of minor roles convincingly. The richness of description, grotesqueness of life and often ironic humour of the original was captured and delivered with a deceptive lightness of touch. Changes with versatile boxes and flowing drapes created memorable scenes as the narrative flowed. This was a production delivered on the great expectations in full measure. Hotbuckle will be welcomed back to the Seagull on their next tour without doubt "The Norwegians were daft and masterley" Gordon Travers "Fantastic show tonight, hope to see this group of actors again." P Jenkins "Fantastic acting and beautifully choreographed. This play Ballad of a Bird was a gem. What a pleasure." Keith Peacock Karen Darcy (Whalley) : "Enjoyed the production and the conviviality" Margaret Henman (Clitheroe) "Clever, poignant, amusing. Very cleverly performed. Impressive! Arthur Geldard (Blackburn): "Very good play" Mrs M Lofthouse (Blackburn): "Excellent play" Jean Goodwin (Padiham): "Very good play - unusual, original and funny." V. Grooby (Citheroe): "Really enjoyed show" Review: Joshua, Hotbuckle Productions, The Studio, York Theatre Royal9:23am Monday 13th September 2010 The Press WARNING: the performance contains fast-moving images, alerts the programme cover. The same could apply to The Studio autumn season; such will be the quick turnaround of shows. This one has been and gone already, last Thursday and Friday, marking the first visit to York of Hotbuckle Productions, a company so named from the translation of two words into French that when then pronounced in English sounded like Hotbuckle. These are the workings of the mind of Adrian Preater, writer, director and old comic hand of this essentially young touring troupe from Walton on Thames, Surrey. Joshua is your typical modern studio show: not too long (90 minutes straight through); arch and economical in its theatrical style; and equipped with a multi-media dimension (the aforementioned fast-moving video imagery that passes literally in the blinking of several eyes before taking on the role of surveillance cameras in a cell). There sits a condemned man, the bearded and boiler-suited Joshua (Irishman Andrew Steele), awaiting death by public stoning and crucifixion. He has no idea what his crime was, and no-one, least of all his prosecutor, ex-wife Elizabeth (Fiona Leaning), will tell him. For revolving-door company he has a rubber duck called Derek; a jailer (Roberta Mann) with a multiple personality disorder; a cleaner (Gemma Aston); and an executioner (Preater), forever looking on the bright side of life. This is theatre of the absurd, redolent of Kafka’s The Trial refracted through Joe Orton’s Sixties’ farces: daft, not too weird, increasingly humorous, and peppered with Orwellian politics. Hotbuckle hope to return to York; Joshua is a promising start.
The mood swings back and forth, from dark and bleak to uproariously funny (and sometimes, darkly funny): I laughed loudly and surprisingly often for a play about a condemned man. There are echoes of Ionesco, but this play is a lot funnier, and fine, virtuoso performances carry it along with wit and energy. A moving and challenging evening - seek it out! -- RGW, London Well, I am still reeling from an absoloutely fantastic night watching 'Joshua'. It was truly a remarkable live theatre experience with gut wrenching emotion and a lot of great laughs. Again, the acting was superb and we 3 in the front row felt privileged to be there and part of it. It kept us enthralled throughout and for me second time around the story and themes became even more profound. Huge congratulations to Adrian, he has great talent and I hope he gets the recognition he deserves for this piece of work. It is a very relevant play in these times and provided so many discussion areas amongst those who see it. Well done to you Gemma, I laughed and laughed at all those characters who were so comical and those voices - Annette and I had a very deep chat about Mrs Whelan in the car on the way home! Caroline, you were brilliant as the killer cleaner! I loved Mrs E who cleans and tidys and then literally does sort the evil Stenson and just despatches him away with her pinnie on. We are in awe of you all. The rest of the cast were all fantastic. We had a magical evening. I am fearful I am sounding schmaltzy but I loved it, hope the rest of the tour goes brilliantly for you. Thank you so much, I came along to see 'Joshua' on Thursday night at Wimbledon but unfortunately had to rush off before I could say congratulations on a wonderful play! I have been intrigued by 'Joshua' ever since I read the audition sides and it did not disappoint. I was on the edge of my seat one moment and laughing out loud the next. All the best with the rest of the tour! Kind Regards,
Congratulations to Surrey County Council, Elmbridge Borough Council, The Charity of Robert Phillips and the RC Sheriff Trust for having the courage to sponsor this play of shifting allegiences, betrayal , and of human faith. Whom do you trust and what do you believe? Joshua is a dark play, laced with unexpected humour, written and directed by Adrian Preater (who also plays two rôles in it). Drawing on the traditions of Kafka and Brecht., the drama opens with a condemned man (Simon McCoy) in his cell talking to his jailer (Gemma Aston, clearly in this, the first of her two rôles, a Lancashire lass). He has painted, on one of the walls, a beautiful butterfly. It is unfinished and will never be finished because this, as the Executioner (Adrian Preater) coming in to visit, and discuss the manner of his execution, tells him, is his day of execution. Joshua does not know why he is there or – even after his trial – what he has been accused of. He has achieved nothing in his life, but with the butterfly he has finally expressed himself for the first – and, it would seem, the last – time. No doubt it is an expression of his will, and of the yearning of human kind, to be free. Gradually it transpires that Joshua is, unwillingly, separated from his wife (played with icy separation by Fiona Leaning); she – fed up, she says, with his inability to do anything, and the unexpected conception of a child - has left him and, so it later transpires, hitched up with the leader of the party that has seized control of the country and wants to execute him. But was that the reason, or was she attracted to the physical attributes of power, or are these two sides of the same coin? But Joshua is to be executed, along with six others, as an example to the population. That example turns out to be: “Avoid the seven deadly sins.” Joshua works out that, being the seventh to be executed, he represents ‘Pride’. The seven are to be stoned then crucified – indeed, it seems that the other six have already been ‘done’; and we are told that the angry crowd is outside baying for the seventh and last. It is the wife’s responsibility to see the execution carried out. Meanwhile the cleaner, Mrs E (Caroline Dooley), comes in to ask whether Joshua minds her cleaning out the cell early so that she can get away to hunt for her husband’s supper. Outside the cell, the atmosphere is clearly sulphurous, as visitors to the cell come in wearing gasmasks. But our victim is tricked by the leader (played by Adrian Preater) to confess to his ‘crime’ on the promise that he will be allowed to see his child and will be secretly pardoned – after the stoning; but someone else will be crucified in his place. No one else, particularly the executioner, will believe this story and he is about to be led out when the leader is, rather unexpectedly, assassinated. Most of the women turn out to be related to each other, and it is Mrs E, who turns out to be the mother of the leader , who has done the deed. The three of them, the leader’s mother, her daughter (the jailer), and the condemned man’s wife, are involved in an armed standoff before sense prevails, the wife steps into the vacuum caused by the assassination and takes over control of the Government and all the others are left to seize the opportunity to try to survive in the poisoned world outside the relative comfort of the womb, which the cell possibly represents. A strange story, out of which I could extrapolate any number of morals (avoid dictatorships - or giving central government too much power; recognise that global warming has no future; and understand that you can trust no one, everyone having his or her price. Perhaps that is enough. Alan Williams You know how much I enjoyed Joshua. Unfortunately when I got back to my diary and Polly neither of us could come Friday or Saturday, but I would happily have seen the play again. You were both BRILLIANT! I really hope at the end of the run you'll have done well. Much love and hugs, Mary xx Many congratulations on the whole thing, but especially on the individual performances. I thought you, of course, (and Adrian naturally) were great! But in all honesty, all the roles came over very strongly and had obviously been considerable developed since the read-through in April. I particularly liked the much more obviously stylised comedic playing (noticeably yours!). Perhaps it could take even more of the same? Very Kafkaesque! (That’s meant as a compliment). Ken "Please go and support this wonderful play. It is well worth going to see and is equally as good as anything you would see in the West End if not better!!!!!!!!" Julie It was a wonderful performance - we all enjoyed it so much and discussed the storyline on the train home and the different ways that we had interpreted it!! Well done to you both we were very proud to be there and support you. Goodluck with the rest of shows. Love Lisa xx "I laughed myself into a coughing frenzy - thank you my wonderfully gifted & talented friends for a brilliant night. I applaud you for your hard work and believing in your talents to produce such a great piece. Love you loads. "Ooh-arh me 'arties! Hillarious show last night! Thanks very much. So great to see something genuninely creative, witty, thought-provoking and downright funny." Amanda "Thank you sooo much for a brilliant evening, you are such a talent and I truely hope someone influential sees you as you deserve a break. You make me howl!!! Well done to Ado too for being such a gifted and very funny writer/actor.I LOVE Mavis, I want to keep her!!!!! P.S who did the artwork? Gems, just wanted to say I really enjoyed the show and thought the script was brilliant. Bet you and Adrian are so chuffed with what’s been achieved. Onwards and upwards for Hotbuckle XXXX Charlie (Daily Telegraph) didn't love it but he did say it's the genre of play he likes least. He felt it was rather derivative - Theatre of the absurd, Kafka, Joe Orton, Dario Fo, Monty Python and Ionesco and that he didn't truly sympathise with any of the characters. |
Just a note to say thank you very much for your input to our 'theatre week'. The children received a great workshop session which has enabled us to build on their experience of Romeo and Juliet. We felt that the structure of the day and the sessions, as well as your delivery and handling of the children was excellent.
Some the comments from the children-
'everything was brilliant', Janesh, 'I loved it when we had to shout at out parnters', Laura, 'I think the whole thing was a great learning exercise', laura C, 'I liked doing the freeze' Lucy, 'I liked it when they acted it out' Amy' I think it was all fantastic', Jay, 'the play was interesting and different', Brendan, 'I liked their expressions and jumping over the wall', Matthew, 'I liked the tableaux', Rose.
Once again thank you and we look forward to working with you again.
Best regards
Year 3 Team, Cleves Junior School, Walton on Thames
"Fantastic, really Funny" " 5 star! I'll rate them 10/10" "Kind and fun to write with" "Bestest actors I've ever seen" "They were Brilliant" "I hope they come again" "I recommend Hotbuckle to all schools around the World!" "Excellent story tellers" "I'd like to do what they do when I grow up" ( Year 4 Ashley School, Walton on Thames )
I loved your productions on stories you did in fron of us in school. We made a wicked story in our group and it was really funny. After attending your group session it has helped me like story writing and I am beginning to write my own stories. My favourite bit of one story we made was when Roland said "imagine what his w***** would be like" and the man would butt in! I learnt a lot from what you showed us, but the most thing I learnt about , was how to plan a story. I loved what you do and I would love to see you in the future. Thank-you. (child from yr 5, Royal Kent School)
I am writing this letter to say how wonderful it was to share some time with you. Before I had experienced what creative writing was really meant to be like, I thought it was a boring subject whaere you had to sit just like a frump and write, but from now onwards O will find this very exciting and interesting. Some of the things I really enjoyed were your funny plays, your very well rehearsed songs and I especially liked going off in groups and thinking, planning, writing and reading our stories aloud to the rest of the class. ( I was in the hoooowll group by the way) Thankyou so much for coming in, I learnt a lot yesterday. ( child yr 5, Royal Kent School, Oxshott )
Funny, exciting, educating and jolly ( child, Lady Eleanor Holles, Hampton Hill )
Brilliant .....funny, a comedy.......splendid ....funny, exciting, ejoyable .....I extremely did enjoy it! ....Great ... Amazing and fantastic ... Extremely wonderful .... Interesting and funny ..... Entertaining ....Funny, eciting. ( children, Lady Eleanor Holles, Hampton Hill )
"To Hotbuckle Productions. We are writing on behalf of 4CD at Bellfarm school.We are to thank you for thge excellent production we saw yesterday, it must have been hard work and thank you for using your time to produce a production for us to see" ( Class 4 CD Bellfarm School, Walton )
"To Staff and pupils involved in the "Big Environmental Project". Thank you for letting us come and see your wonderful production. Beeble and Bobble and Lord Compost were our favourite! We were very lucky to be invited to the production. We thought the animations were amazing! We learned a lot and we thank you all for your hard work." ( Class 4 CD Bellfarm School, Walton )
"I have no idea how to improve this, it was so much fun. If children are having fun they learn + we are all happy. Thanks. All staff involved have come to me to praise the 'Hotbuckle Experience'. Our school target is Creative Writing and we are sure the children will be buzzing with ideas". (Lorna Tebby, St Francis, Caterham )
"This was an inspirational and outstanding performance for both children and staff. Watching the children's enthralled faces was a delight and they have demonstrated since the workshop that they have taken on board many of the teaching points." ( Jo Ashby, Teacher KS2, St Cuthberts, Egahm, Surrey )
"Great, Brilliant. It involves the children from the start. Plenty of humour. Process of story writing clearly explained through action and song. Great that adjectives, metaphors and similes were introduced." ( Teacher, Alton Convent School, Hants )
"Very impressed with the whole show and workshop. The actors were very professional and subject knowledge of story writing excellent. A real balance between fun and learning. You adapted to suit our needs and were flexible - Thankyou. Excellent resource pack which we bought". ( Serena Beasley, Meath Green Junior, Horley, Surrey )
"Absolutely brilliant! Hilarious, relevant, super! The children say "Really good!", "I had an excellent, extraordinary time!" "It was wicked and funny" " ( Martha McLachlan, Watchetts Jr School, Camberley, Surrey )
Fantastic! The performance struck just the right balance between being educational and fun. The children, from Reception to year 5 were enthralled for the whole hout. In the workshop, the children's enthusiasm was gently but firmly directed by the actors, resulting in some very humerous, skilfully acted stories. We will definately have you back! ( Laura Hawkins, Duke of Kent School, Ewhurst, Surrey )
"Fantastic, really Funny" " 5 star! I'll rate them 10/10" "Kind and fun to write with" "Bestest actors I've ever seen" "They were Brilliant" "I hope they come again" "I recommend Hotbuckle to all schools around the World!" "Excellent story tellers" "I'd like to do what they do when I grow up" ( Year 4 Ashley School, Walton on Thames )
"Very age appropriate. Motivating - especially for boys which is a good thing. Very well prepared and delivered. I liked the breakdown of story writing - think it, plan it etc. ( Teachers @ Marshgate Primary School, Richmond )
"Great acting at the children's level! Very entertaining with catchy tunes." ( Alison Allen, Meath Green Junior, Horley, Surrey )
"Fantastic! Excellent pace - pitched at the right level. Entertaining, funny and educational. The children were spellbound." ( J Davis, Alton Convent School, Hants )
"Children were enthusiastic and keen. Fully engaged". ( Jacqui Allison, St Thomas of Canterbury, Guildford )
"It was very entertaining, very animated. Good interaction with the children. We are looking forward to booking you again!" ( Jacqui Elliott, Chennestone Primary School, Sunbury, Middx )
"Different. I found it imaginative and creative. A very enjoyable afternoon!" ( Harry Innes, Meath Green Junior, Horley, Surrey )
"Fantastic! The whole show/workshop was brilliant! The children loved it all and learnt something" ( C. Hillier, Alton Convent School, Hants)
"The material was excellent and pitched exactly right for tthe age-group. The presentation was first-class, punchy, humerous and memorable for the children ( and staff! ) The approach was not juvenile or patronising and the emphasis on co-operation was greatly appreciated by the staff!" ( J. Clayton, Duke of Kent school, Ewhurst, Surrey )
"I thought it was excellent. It did look like you were enjoying what you did which really helps to convey your message. The children really enjoyed the afternoon." ( Fiona, St Lawrence, East Molesy, Surrey )
"Fantastic! I really enjoyed it as a memorable and entertaining afternoon. Thank you!" (Mrs S.J.Cavell, Meath Green Junior, Horley, Surrey )
"The show was excellent as it held the attention of all the children, even the ones who are inclined to wander." ( Gill Wilson, St Lawrence, East Molesey Surrey )
"Both for staff and children, it was fantastic. Whole audience glued to the performances. Children were very enthusiastic during the workshops. I was pleased we mixed children across Y4-6 - produced great variety of ideas." ( Lizzie Wilding, Alton Convent School, Hants )
"Superb. Initial stories very engaging and totally suitable for yr 3. They were funny, informative and memorable - perfect! The following workshop was also well planned, carefully organised and presented and great fun. The children were absolutely ecstatic to see their story performed. What a wonderful idea." ( K. Field, Duke of Kent School, Ewhurst, Surrey )
The children were enthusiastic about all aspects of the performance/workshop. The show held the attention of 400 children ranging in age from 5-11 for an hour. No mean Feat! I have spoken to all my colleagues and they don't think there was anything that could be improved upon! (Sarah White, Chandlers field, West Molesey, Surrey)
"Fantastic. Really enjoyed it and good to see the great enthusiasm from all the pupils involved." ( J.M. Silver, Duke of Kent School, Ewhurst, Surrey )
We and the children thoroughly enjoyed the show - it was appropriate to what we have been covering in lessons, and excellently presented. Fantastic value for money too! Your team were professional and punctual. The children were actively involved too. ( Teacher, Lady Eleanor Hollis, Hampton, Middx)
Photos by JP Bland and Claire WalderArtwork by Julian Farrer and Martina Selway