Southend Shakespeare Company presents
BARTHOLOMEW FAIR
by Ben Jonson
performing at various venues - see poster
Bring your own seating
More info call 01702 473163
"Roll up! Roll Up!"
BARTHOLOMEW FAIR
by Ben Jonson
performing at various venues - see poster
Bring your own seating
More info call 01702 473163
"Roll up! Roll Up!"
Summer’s here and it’s time for Southend Shakespeare to invite you to their exciting forthcoming outdoor show. This year the dramatic action takes place in a notorious London Fair, visited by citizens from all levels of society to enjoy the pleasures and vices on offer. Ben Jonson brilliantly introduces us to a variety of dubious, deluded, delicious and idiotic characters whose actions lead to comic consequences. He also evokes the flavour, smells and sounds that once haunted Smithfield in his penning of “Bartholomew Fair”. And there is a puppet show! Roll up! Roll up!
Interview
We chat to Denis Foot, 69, from Benfleet, who plays the role of Adam Overdo in the play
We chat to Denis Foot, 69, from Benfleet, who plays the role of Adam Overdo in the play
When did you start to take an interest in theatre? Did you take part in any productions at school?
I acted in a production of ‘Coppelia’ when I was at Primary School. I played Dr. Copellia apparently. I have no memory of it but it made my mother cry, so I presume I was ok.
Are or were any members of your immediate family involved in drama?
My parents were members of an amateur operatic company, so I got bitten by the magic of bring on the stage very early on. My wife was a professional dancer.
Have you done any sort of formal training for acting/singing/dancing?
I did Drama as part of my teacher training and have taught Drama at Secondary School level for many years. I haven’t had any formal training in acting specifically.
I acted in a production of ‘Coppelia’ when I was at Primary School. I played Dr. Copellia apparently. I have no memory of it but it made my mother cry, so I presume I was ok.
Are or were any members of your immediate family involved in drama?
My parents were members of an amateur operatic company, so I got bitten by the magic of bring on the stage very early on. My wife was a professional dancer.
Have you done any sort of formal training for acting/singing/dancing?
I did Drama as part of my teacher training and have taught Drama at Secondary School level for many years. I haven’t had any formal training in acting specifically.
Do you have any specialist skills – anything from stilt walking to dress-making – which you work into your repertoire?
Nothing that immediately springs to mind. Which experience/role do you regard as the highlight of your amdram career to date? Many years ago in the late 1970s I played Fagin for the Westcliff Operatic Society at the Cliffs Pavilion. More recently I played Trotter in Journey’s End for the SSC. I was very proud to be a part of that wonderful production. What has been your most embarrassing moment involving drama, on or off stage? In our production of ‘Flare Path’ one night I entered about two pages early and found myself staring at the audience wondering what on Earth I should do. It was, of course, a key moment of the play. I managed to get out of it but time seemed to stand still for a while. How do you earn your living? I’m retired now but I used to be a teacher. Following on from the previous question, has your theatre career ever been useful in your day job, and/or have you ever drawn on your day job for any of your stage activities? My theatre experience helped me enormously both when teaching Drama and in my general teaching. The ability to project your voice can be important! As an English teacher it helped to be able to give a passable performance when reading aloud to the class. |
Are your friends mostly involved in theatre - perhaps even working with you on a regular basis - or do you socialise across a wider circle?
My friends tend to be ex colleagues but I have made some good friends amongst the SSC and am greatly enjoying their company.
Which actor do you most admire and why?
I’m a great fan of David Suchet and Emma Thompson, but if I had to pick one actor I think it would be Kenneth Branagh.
What role would you most like to play and why?
I’ve always wanted to play King Lear. I’m not sure I have the energy for it now but I’d love to have a go. It’s a great test of an actor but it’s also my favourite Shakespeare play.
Ever corpsed on stage? What happened?
I can’t recall corpsing in a performance but there have been many times in rehearsal. ‘Playboy of the Western World’ was a classic example. The play was hilarious and the cast got on really well together so there was lots of laughter. Actually the play we are about to perform Bartholomew Fayre has lots of hilarious scenes in it. Watching Andy Sugden’s portrayal of the puritanical, Zeal of the Land Busy, (one of the greatest character names I have ever heard) has been very entertaining. I thoroughly recommend it.
Tell us a bit about your part in "Bartholomew Fair".
I play Justice Adam Overdo. He is a judge of the Court of Pie Powders, specially set up to deal with all the many crimes committed every year at the Fair. He has decided to disguise himself to look for ‘enormities’. He is convinced that this will allow him to get to the real offenders instead of the petty criminals he encounters every year. Unfortunately he’s not very good at being a detective and makes some catastrophic misjudgements. He has an interesting day during which he is beaten and put in the stocks as the many rogues he encounters go on with their roguish behaviour completely unhindered by his presence.
Any plans for the future, after "Bartholomew”
I think I will have a little time off!
Any tricks for remembering your lines or other useful tips to pass on to others involved in drama?
Do a little every day, get that under your belt and move on. I go for walks and say the lines over to myself. I get some odd looks sometimes!
My friends tend to be ex colleagues but I have made some good friends amongst the SSC and am greatly enjoying their company.
Which actor do you most admire and why?
I’m a great fan of David Suchet and Emma Thompson, but if I had to pick one actor I think it would be Kenneth Branagh.
What role would you most like to play and why?
I’ve always wanted to play King Lear. I’m not sure I have the energy for it now but I’d love to have a go. It’s a great test of an actor but it’s also my favourite Shakespeare play.
Ever corpsed on stage? What happened?
I can’t recall corpsing in a performance but there have been many times in rehearsal. ‘Playboy of the Western World’ was a classic example. The play was hilarious and the cast got on really well together so there was lots of laughter. Actually the play we are about to perform Bartholomew Fayre has lots of hilarious scenes in it. Watching Andy Sugden’s portrayal of the puritanical, Zeal of the Land Busy, (one of the greatest character names I have ever heard) has been very entertaining. I thoroughly recommend it.
Tell us a bit about your part in "Bartholomew Fair".
I play Justice Adam Overdo. He is a judge of the Court of Pie Powders, specially set up to deal with all the many crimes committed every year at the Fair. He has decided to disguise himself to look for ‘enormities’. He is convinced that this will allow him to get to the real offenders instead of the petty criminals he encounters every year. Unfortunately he’s not very good at being a detective and makes some catastrophic misjudgements. He has an interesting day during which he is beaten and put in the stocks as the many rogues he encounters go on with their roguish behaviour completely unhindered by his presence.
Any plans for the future, after "Bartholomew”
I think I will have a little time off!
Any tricks for remembering your lines or other useful tips to pass on to others involved in drama?
Do a little every day, get that under your belt and move on. I go for walks and say the lines over to myself. I get some odd looks sometimes!
The cast in rehearsal plus photos of Denis in previous SSC productions below:-
Cast List - in order of appearance
John Littlewit – Elliot Bigden
Win-The-Fight Littlewit – Maddy Spink
Winwife – Simon Cannon
Quarlous – Matthew Willis
Waspe ‘Numps’ – Julie Carter
Dame Purecraft – Carrie Groves
Zeal-Of-The-Land Busy- Andrew Sugden
Bartholomew Cokes – Molly Chase
Mistress Overdo – Nicola Green
Grace Wellborn- Cathy Memery
Judge Overdo – Denis Foot
Lantern Leatherhead – James Carter
Joan Trash – Maddie Carter
Costard-Monger – Justina Esan
Ribbons and Buttons – Jennifer Quaye
Eel Seller – Tracey-Anne Bourne
Hat Seller – Peter Bailey
Mousetrap – George Bassett (Ian Hart on 9th July)
Corn-Cutter – Gillian Bates
Nightingale – Liam Bailey
Ursula – Katie Bysouth
Mooncalf – Emrys Corallini
Dan ‘Jordan’ Knockem - David Goodger
Ezekiel Edgeworth – Marius Clements
Captain Whit – Edith Osborn-Culf
Haggis - Justina Esan
Bristle – Jennifer Quaye
Trouble-All – Tracey-Anne Bourne
Punk Alice – Gillian Bates (Tracey-Anne Bourne on 9th July)
Sharkwell – Liam Bailey
Filcher – Madeleine Ayres
Puppet Leander – George Bassett (Ian Hart 9th July)
Puppet Cole – Gillian Bates (Tracey-Anne Bourne on 9th July)
Puppet Pythias - George Bassett (Ian Hart on 9th July)
Puppet Damon - Gillian Bates (Tracey-Anne Bourne 9th July)
Puppet Hero – Jennifer Quaye
Puppet Dion – George Bassett (Ian Hart 9th July)
Director – Vanessa Osborn
For more information about the SSC visit our new website at
southendshakespeare.org.uk
Facebook
https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/8772568988/photos
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https://instagram.com/southendshakespearecompany?utm_medium=copy_link
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John Littlewit – Elliot Bigden
Win-The-Fight Littlewit – Maddy Spink
Winwife – Simon Cannon
Quarlous – Matthew Willis
Waspe ‘Numps’ – Julie Carter
Dame Purecraft – Carrie Groves
Zeal-Of-The-Land Busy- Andrew Sugden
Bartholomew Cokes – Molly Chase
Mistress Overdo – Nicola Green
Grace Wellborn- Cathy Memery
Judge Overdo – Denis Foot
Lantern Leatherhead – James Carter
Joan Trash – Maddie Carter
Costard-Monger – Justina Esan
Ribbons and Buttons – Jennifer Quaye
Eel Seller – Tracey-Anne Bourne
Hat Seller – Peter Bailey
Mousetrap – George Bassett (Ian Hart on 9th July)
Corn-Cutter – Gillian Bates
Nightingale – Liam Bailey
Ursula – Katie Bysouth
Mooncalf – Emrys Corallini
Dan ‘Jordan’ Knockem - David Goodger
Ezekiel Edgeworth – Marius Clements
Captain Whit – Edith Osborn-Culf
Haggis - Justina Esan
Bristle – Jennifer Quaye
Trouble-All – Tracey-Anne Bourne
Punk Alice – Gillian Bates (Tracey-Anne Bourne on 9th July)
Sharkwell – Liam Bailey
Filcher – Madeleine Ayres
Puppet Leander – George Bassett (Ian Hart 9th July)
Puppet Cole – Gillian Bates (Tracey-Anne Bourne on 9th July)
Puppet Pythias - George Bassett (Ian Hart on 9th July)
Puppet Damon - Gillian Bates (Tracey-Anne Bourne 9th July)
Puppet Hero – Jennifer Quaye
Puppet Dion – George Bassett (Ian Hart 9th July)
Director – Vanessa Osborn
For more information about the SSC visit our new website at
southendshakespeare.org.uk
https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/8772568988/photos
https://instagram.com/southendshakespearecompany?utm_medium=copy_link
https://twitter.com/SouthendShakes1