Sixth Form Performance - Programme

Dahling, You Were Marvellous

By Steven Berkoff Directed by Deborah Foote

Cast: Tara Yvonne Zoe

Director’s note: Dahling You Were Marvellous is mostly set in a London restaurant, the favourite haunt of all those on the theatre and film scene. The play was published in 1994 and attempts, in the words of the author, “to parody those precious dahlings and those utterly self-important creatures whose lives desperately depend on the outside world to give them form and shape, adulation and importance, having very little substance of their own”.

In this edited three-hander production, Tara, Yvonne and Zoe have taken on Berkoff's mantle to poke fun at the ridiculous pretensions of thespian glitterati and poked a little fun elsewhere too... Sometimes the right performance can grab those headlines and lead to a partying lifestyle in the Prime Ministerial or Presidential office!

The Trial

By Steven Berkoff Directed by Kim Albone Cast: Tara Zabeetah Nina Charlotte Director’s note: Steven Berkoff has a unique and visually interesting theatrical style. He was heavily influenced by his study of mime, and drew inspiration from the Chorus in Ancient Greek Theatre. You can see these influences particularly in his adaptations of the Kafka stories. However, he also drew inspiration from his own upbringing in London’s East End, and many of his original works utilise grotesque characterisations to tell the stories of the East End characters they depict.

I have aimed to employ Berkoff’s unique styling to his stage adaptation of Franz Kafka’s novel: ‘The Trial’. The Trial is the terrifying tale of Josef K, a respectable bank officer who is suddenly and inexplicably arrested and must defend himself against a charge about which he can get no information. Whether this is an existential tale, a parable, or a prophecy remains open for interpretation.

To bring this complex piece to life I needed a cast who could rise to the challenge of depicting Berkoff’s physically demanding theatrical style (that also requires a complete lack of inhibition). Fortunately, I was lucky enough to acquire such a cast. Tara, Nina, Zabeetah, and Charlotte have been delightful to work with on this nightmarish piece. They have taken the theatrical stylings completely in their stride, and with a great sense of humour too.

I am delighted to be able to share their excellent work with you all as we take you, our audience, on Josef’s uncertain journey.

Production team Lighting design/technical director

Charlotte Cooper

Assistant technician

Liberty Wright

Sound Operators

Kate O’Hearn, Willow Zhang

Lighting Operators

Iris, Echo

Sound Mixing/Camera Operators: Claire, Jay, Abigail Backstage Crew

Zoë, Catherine

Props, costumes and set

Helene Barrell with students from backstage theatre enrichment

Makeup

Oliva

Programme cover

Abigail

Front of house

Rebecca Jones

Photography

Marie Barley Photography

With thanks to…..

The Estates department Holroyd Howe, our caterers Reception and Office staff The Art department Other backstage theatre enrichment students who have contributed behind the scenes: Erin Amy Nick Hannah Amy Elena Sage Ashley