Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I can now see this production as a kind of restart of my creative life. It seemed at the time to be business as usual; there I was, acting, composing and musically directing a show at the Bristol Old Vic, in what was now my home town. Lucky, lucky me. But this was no ordinary production.
For one thing, Phyllida brought in her friend Anthony Ward to design the set and costumes. The set and costumes were amazing. For another, she included a brilliant movement director in the cast — James Durrell. The rest — Rosie Rowell, Caroline Loncq, Owen Teale, Brian Hickey, Colin Hurley, Sean Murray, Stephen Ley, Elena Ferrari, Christine Moore, Darren Tunstall — were also brilliant. I was undoubtedly the weak link among the actors, but , bless them, my colleagues carried me along.
The production was a gigantic hit. It was a powerful experience at the end to take our bows to an auditorium packed to the rafters by an audience screaming with delight, approval, enthusiasm, joy…The kind of reception usually reserved for rock stars.
Word of mouth was such that national press came. Phyllida’s name was being spoken of in high cultural places. This was just the beginning.
directed by Phyllida Lloyd
designed by Anthony Ward
Bristol Old Vic
