Six Edward Bond Plays At The Cock Tavern

The c*ckTavern Theatre is presenting a landmark season of six Edward Bond plays from six decades from Tuesday 14 September to Saturday 13 November 2010. During the nine week season it is presenting the UK premiere of Olly's Prison (1993), a revival of The Pope's Wedding (1962), the London première of The Under Room (2005), The Fool (1976), the first revival of Red, Black and Ignorant (1985) and will culminate with a new, yet untitled première that Edward Bond has been commissioned to write for the c*ckTavern Theatre.

The Under Room is directed by Hamish MacDougall in The c*ckTavern Cellar. This new venue seats 25. Running Time 45 minutes. In the cast are Matt Christian Reed (Dummy), Gavin Brocker (Jack); Donnla Hughes (Joan), the designer is Katie Bellman, with lighting by Keith Marston and sound by Jack Harris. Lawrence Carmichael is the Fight Director.

Donnla Hughes was in Max Stafford Clark's production of ‘Mixed Up North'; Gavin Brocker has just completed filming Bonded by Blood; Matt Christian Reed was in Berry's Way with Lenny Henry and Shelley Lang.

The Under Room was first presented by Big Brum in 2005. Set in the cellar of a dull city dwelling, Joan discovers a foreign stranger living on her property, citing marching soldiers in the street as the reason for his presence. Demanding he provide an explanation, the stranger's story unfolds before Joan in a manner both tragic and comic, which is destined to change her life irrevocably.

The Fool will be directed by Andrea Ferran who has directed Edward Bond's The Woman, Have I None and Summer. She has directed at La Mama and Manhattan Repertory Theatre and most recently at the Arcola. The cast of 14 include Ben Crispin as John Clare, James Kenward as Darkie, Rosanna Miles as Patty and Rebecca Smith Williams as Mary.

The Fool concerns the life of the 19th century peasant poet John Clare who described the spirit of the rural rebellion against growing industrial capitalism. The play explores the artist's place and role within contemporary society. It was first produced at The Royal Court Theatre in 1975.

The new untitled work will be directed by Adam Spreadbury-Maher; Red Black and Ignorant will be directed by Maja Milatovic-Ovadia.

The c*ckTavern Theatre won the Dan Crawford Pub Theatre Award at the Peter Brook Empty Space Awards in November 2009 after only 10 months. Since April 2010 it is London's only full-time fringe producing house. For 6 months it was home to OperaUpClose's record-breaking extended run of La Boh?me, which is currently at Soho Theatre. There are two resident companies in the theatre Good Night Out Presents and OperaUpClose. The Artistic Director is Adam Spreadbury-Maher and Creative Producer is Berislav Juraic.