Theatre Designer - Plague over England

Chantelle Staynings and Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre present

Plague Over England

The world Premeire of a new play by Nicholas de Jongh Finborough Theatre February 2008 Director: Tamara Harvey, Set Design: Alex Marker, Lighting Designer: James Farncombe, Sound Design: Colin Pink, Costume Design: Penn O'Gara Cast David Barnaby, Jasper Britton, David Burt, Simon Dutton, Steve Hansell, Nichola McAuliffe, Leon Ockenden, John Warnerby, Timothy Watson, Robin Whiting Press * * * * Four Stars The Times * * * * Four Stars The Guardian * * * * Four Stars The Daily Express * * * * Four Stars The Sunday Times * * * * Four Stars The Mail on Sunday * * * * Four Stars The Sunday Telegraph * * * * Four Stars The Sunday Express * * * * Four Stars Time Out 'The director Tamara Harvey and the designer Alex Marker, whose Victorian public lavatory is a particular triumph, both achieve miracles of compression in the cramped surroundings.' Charles Spencer - The Daily Telegraph 'Director Tamara Harvey marshals the action with finesse, keeping it moving in other ways, too, on this tiny stage with Alex Marker's resourcefully-designed set making scene changes as adept as possible.' Mark Shenton - The Stage 'The setting [is] ingenious (Alex Marker) with book flats opening to reveal a sleazy 1950's bar, a gentleman's book-lined study, a theatre dressing room, and most impressive, a tiled and marble urinal, the pride of its attendant (the versatile David Burt).' Barry Grantham - Extra Extra

Set Model - Home secretary's office	Set Model - John Gielgud's dressing room

Arrest by the pretty police. Photo by Robert Workman	Home secretary's office

Queen Mabs. A soho bar	John Gielgud's dressing room. Binkie Beaumont and John Gielgud Photo by Robert Workman

Dudmaston Mews public lavatories
In Autumn 1953, Sir John Gielgud, then at the height of his fame as an actor, was arrested in a Chelsea public lavatory. He pleaded guilty the following morning to the charge of persistently importuning men for immoral purposes. Poised to appear in the West End in a play he was directing and recently knighted, Gielgud's conviction caused a sensation, threatened the continuation of his career and helped break the great taboo upon general discussion in the national press of homosexuality. A great national debate began with The Observer accusing those who spoke out against Sir John of "speaking in the rabble- rousing tone of the witch-hunt." The production was set in the back-stage world of a 1950's theatre where John Gielgud is rehearsing 'A Day by the Sea' with Sybil Thorndyke, At the back of the stage was a series of assorted set flats and rehearsal furniture which transformed into the locations featured in the play.

Last updated: 30 December, 2008