by Nick Stafford
directed by Claire Grove
Theatre in Bristol in the 1980s was more diverse than simply the Bristol Old Vic. At the bottom of my road Avon Touring was based. It had been founded by the actor Tony Robertson and the writer David Illingworth in the 1970s, when many such small-scale touring companies had emerged to challenge both the aesthetics and the politics of the bricks-and-mortar theatres. I had been keen to work for Avon Touring since arriving in the city, and now my chance had come.
Roberston and Illingworth having moved on in their careers, the artistic directorship of the company was in the hands of Claire Grove. The project at hand was a new play, Moll Cutpurse, by Nick Stafford. It was about a notorious 18th century criminal, real name Mary Frith. I can’t remember what music I contributed, but I do recall getting on well with Claire and Nick.
Claire eventually joined BBC Radio as a drama producer, where she won several awards (including one for another of Nick’s plays, A Matter of Sex. She died, far too soon, from cancer in 2013, only 60 years old.
Nick continues as a dramatist. He has had notable successes, particularly at the National Theatre, with his play Battle Royal and his adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse. We’ve bumped into each other quite a bit over the years. It’s always good to see him.
Many years later, Moll Cutpurse and I were to encounter each other again, but it didn’t work out as well….
