Southend Shakespeare Company presents
A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY
by Ivan Turgenev
A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY
by Ivan Turgenev
On the Islayev country estate life moves at a leisurely pace. People laze about reading classics, playing cards and debating the big questions about the universe. The lady of the house, Natalya Petrovna, has little to worry about; and her ward of seventeen, Vera Aleksandrova, seems happy enough. Then a young handsome tutor arrives ...what could possibly go wrong?
A month is a long time when you fall in love (and are surrounded by fools!)
Southend Shakespeare Company offer a rare chance to see this masterpiece, mixing romance, tragedy and comedy into an irresistible cocktail.
Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre
1st Nov - 5th Nov 2022
Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat at 7.45pm Sat Mat 3.00pm
£16.00 / Concs. £1.50 off
A Month in the Country – Cast & Backstage Crew
· Natalya Petrovna, Carrie Groves
· Mikhail Aleksandrovich Rakitin, James Carter
· Aleksei Nikolayevich Belyaev, Ben Smerdon
· Arkady Sergeyevich Islayev, Andrew Sugden
· Kolya, Logan Birchall
· Vera Aleksandrovna, Megan Goodger
· Anna Semyonovna Islayeva, Sally Lightfoot
· Lizaveta Bogdanovna, Katie Bysouth
· Adam Ivanovich Schaaf, Liam Bailey
· Afanasi Ivanovich Bolshintsov, Ross Norman-Clarke
· Ignati Ilyich Shpigelsky, George Bassett
· Matvei, John Newell
· Katya, Maddy Spink
A month is a long time when you fall in love (and are surrounded by fools!)
Southend Shakespeare Company offer a rare chance to see this masterpiece, mixing romance, tragedy and comedy into an irresistible cocktail.
Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre
1st Nov - 5th Nov 2022
Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat at 7.45pm Sat Mat 3.00pm
£16.00 / Concs. £1.50 off
A Month in the Country – Cast & Backstage Crew
· Natalya Petrovna, Carrie Groves
· Mikhail Aleksandrovich Rakitin, James Carter
· Aleksei Nikolayevich Belyaev, Ben Smerdon
· Arkady Sergeyevich Islayev, Andrew Sugden
· Kolya, Logan Birchall
· Vera Aleksandrovna, Megan Goodger
· Anna Semyonovna Islayeva, Sally Lightfoot
· Lizaveta Bogdanovna, Katie Bysouth
· Adam Ivanovich Schaaf, Liam Bailey
· Afanasi Ivanovich Bolshintsov, Ross Norman-Clarke
· Ignati Ilyich Shpigelsky, George Bassett
· Matvei, John Newell
· Katya, Maddy Spink
- Directors, Michael Clements & Marius Clements
- Script Co-ordinator, John Newell
- Set, Tracey Peacock
- Costume, Madeleine Ayres
- Stage Manager, Jess Ackland
- Business Manager, James Carter
CURTAIN CALL
with
CARRIE GROVES, 51, from Leigh on Sea, who plays Natalya Petrovna
with
CARRIE GROVES, 51, from Leigh on Sea, who plays Natalya Petrovna
|
When did you start to take an interest in theatre? Did you take part in any productions at school?
I have always loved performing starting with putting on shows for my parents friends at home, they loved it, honestly! Lots of dancing shows as a child, then my primary school teacher, Beryl Foster cast me as the Prince in Beauty and the Beast. I wasn’t happy…I wanted to wear a long dress…she assured me that it was a great part. I loved it, enjoyed the reviews and never looked back. Are or were any members of your immediate family involved in drama? I joined my first amdram company, The Wednesday Players, with my mum when I was ten. She said it was “something for us to do together on a Sunday afternoon”. We both loved it and were members for years and did lots of panto together. Both of my sons have trodden the boards too but we have never performed together. Which experience/role do you regard as the highlight of your amdram career to date? I loved playing the part of Mel in John Godber’s Shakers. Just four actors played the roles of the cocktail waitresses and all the customers too! |
What's your occupation?
I have been a teaching assistant for the last 16 years but I’m about to take up an admin role within a grammar school.
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?
Working in a classroom you put on a performance everyday! I also got involved in the nativity every year too
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 are from all walks of life but I have made some wonderful friends through drama, both old and new.
Which actor do you most admire and why?
Nicola Walker. She is always so authentic and versatile.
Ever corpsed on stage? What happened?
I was playing the part of Diana in Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends, she has an important speech which includes the line about wanting to “join the Royal Mounted Police.” For some reason this made me really giggly and before long the whole cast were hysterical, with tears coursing down our cheeks! This happened at every rehearsal, with the shoulder-shaking laughter approaching in anticipation of the line. Fortunately we got it together by the first performance.
Tell us a bit about your part in A Month in the Country
I play Natalya Petrovna…she is the lady of the house and a very complicated woman. During the course of the play the audience have the opportunity to see her multi-faceted personality!
Any plans for the future, after A Month in the Country?
I'm looking forward to getting involved with another production, perhaps with less lines to learn!
Any tricks for remembering your lines or other useful tips to pass on to others involved in drama?
Unfortunately not! Any advice would be gratefully received.
I have been a teaching assistant for the last 16 years but I’m about to take up an admin role within a grammar school.
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?
Working in a classroom you put on a performance everyday! I also got involved in the nativity every year too
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 are from all walks of life but I have made some wonderful friends through drama, both old and new.
Which actor do you most admire and why?
Nicola Walker. She is always so authentic and versatile.
Ever corpsed on stage? What happened?
I was playing the part of Diana in Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends, she has an important speech which includes the line about wanting to “join the Royal Mounted Police.” For some reason this made me really giggly and before long the whole cast were hysterical, with tears coursing down our cheeks! This happened at every rehearsal, with the shoulder-shaking laughter approaching in anticipation of the line. Fortunately we got it together by the first performance.
Tell us a bit about your part in A Month in the Country
I play Natalya Petrovna…she is the lady of the house and a very complicated woman. During the course of the play the audience have the opportunity to see her multi-faceted personality!
Any plans for the future, after A Month in the Country?
I'm looking forward to getting involved with another production, perhaps with less lines to learn!
Any tricks for remembering your lines or other useful tips to pass on to others involved in drama?
Unfortunately not! Any advice would be gratefully received.
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