Scratch Days

Saturday 1st August Performance online 7.00pm Q&A 8.30pm THE FIELD a play by Mark Norfolk

The Muse Gallery and Ka Zimba Theatre as part of SCRATCH DAYS at The Muse, are pleased to present The Field, Mark Norfolk’s timely play about the life of 19th century activist, William Davidson featuring members of the cast from the West End production of Witness For The Prosecution.

With the abrupt closure of UK theatres in March due to Covid-19, the thrilling murder mystery by Agatha Christie closed its doors with just a few weeks to go for the current cast, leaving behind a distinct sense of anti-climax. But now, largely due to actor and director Jeffery Kissoon, some of the cast have an opportunity to ‘tread the boards’ together one more time, albeit digitally, in a play that coincides with the 200th anniversary of one of the most politically charged periods in British social history. Tackling themes such as equality, poverty, race and justice, The Field reflects on a slice of British history often overlooked. Synopsis Not long after the Peterloo Massacre, Jamaican-born William Davidson attends a meeting of the radical group, The Spencean Philanthropists where he meets charismatic leader Arthur Thistlewood and is persuaded to carry out an audacious plan to topple the government. However William is caught and charged with high treason. His wife, Sarah Davidson, learns of her husband’s offence when she is visited by the police and is horrified at what it means for her young family. As William and Sarah face up to the consequences of his actions, William makes a final heartfelt plea from the dock about the rights of English men to protest against tyranny. Cast includes: Sarah Davidson - ALEXANDRIA GUELFF Arthur Thistlewood - OWEN OAKESHOTT Tom Swaggart - KEVIN McMONAGLE William Hulton - MARK GRINDROD William Davidson - BENJAMIN CAWLEY The Jailer/Guard - GEORGE HOWARD Thomas Trafford - RILEY STEWART directed by Jeffery Kissoon written by Mark Norfolk Ka Zimba Theatre c/o: PL Productions Ltd book your tickets online on Eventbrite https://bit.ly/380FbgC This year we’re hosting our annual theatre productions ‘Scratch days’ online, using webinar technology. ‘Scratch days’ was established as a low risk platform for writers and directors to workshop material in front of live audiences. Originally the onbook production ‘Readings’ with The Muse Group Theatre, directed by Penny Bosworth, the platform grew to include other emerging and established talent, including our current writer laureate Mark Norfolk.

In 2020, we are hosting one play per month starting in May with ‘Resurrection of a Post Rape Zombie’ and in June with ‘Cor

nucopia Soup’, both written by Mark Norfolk and directed by

JK Taylor

Jeffery Kissoon, and in August “The Field”.