By Mark Dooley Directed by Charlotte Gwinner
Designed by Sophie Mossberger
Sound Composer Andrew Green
Cast: Tony Bell, Tina Gray, Cate Hamer, Sarah Howarth, Jamie Samuel
Linda must rebuild her life but first she must finish the conservatory
In a mixed up world of meetings, memories and malt loaf, Linda reflects on a life-changing year. An over protective mother with angina, a builder married to ‘Scary Spice’ and a teenage son who leaves football boots in the sink, don’t help matters. Linda always wanted a conservatory but perhaps a gazebo would have been a better idea after all.
In this hilarious drama, a broken life unfolds in the goldfish bowl of one woman’s leaky suburban home. As dreams shatter and words of comfort aren’t always as they seem, Linda learns, no matter what, her life must goes on. The Conservatory is written by Mark Dooley and directed by Charlotte Gwinner.
After studying Drama at Bristol University Mark joined the Royal Court’s Invitation Group and was selected to be one of the writers on a week long New Writing workshop at The National Theatre Studio. He is currently working on his second full length play, Revitalising Apricots, with the Soho Theatre. Previous work includes Fantasy Football (BAC), Barbara (Soho Studio), The Iron Ship (SS Great Britain) and the short film Waiting for Patel. The Conservatory is his first full length play.
Charlotte was invited to join the young emerging directors programme at the National Theatre Studio in 2001 and since then her directing credits include Men Should Weep (Oxford Stage Company), Every Thing Must Go, Riders To The Sea, The Shadow of The Glen, The Tinkers Wedding (Southwark Playhouse), The Blood of Others (The Arcola), Titus Andronicus (Jerwood Space), Julius Caesar (Wandsworth Prison) and The Country of The Blind (The Gate).
Cate Hamer, plays the role of Linda. Her credits include Monica in Larkin With Women, for which she received a Manchester Evening News Award for Best Supporting Actress. The cast also includes Tony Bell (A Winter’s Tale, Rose Rage and Henry V for Propeller Theatre, and a What’s On Stage nomination for Best Supporting Actor in A Man for All Seasons at the Theatre Royal Haymarket), Tina Gray whose 2007 credits include Mrs. Clegg in Alan Bennett’s Enjoy (York), Ethel Thayer in On Golden Pond (New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme), and The History Boys for the National Theatre at Wyndhams, and Sarah Howarth and Jamie Samuel both of whom graduated in 2007 but have already been cast by major touring companies.
"Full marks to Charlotte Gwinner for her warm-hearted, tough but entirely unhysterical production Sunday Times**** (on Men Should Weep)
www.theconservatoryplay.co.uk
At The Old Red Lion, London.
15 January – 3 February 2008
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Venue The Old Red Lion, 418 St John Street, London EC1V 4NJ
Dates 15 January – 3 February
Times Tues – Sat at 7.30pm, Sunday at 3.30pm
Ticket Prices Preview £8
Monday – Friday evenings and Sunday Matinee £12 (£10 conc)
Saturday Evening – all tickets £12
Box Office 020 7837 7816 or www.ticketweb.co.uk
