| pillowman_prog_notes.docx |
Pillowman, a play by Martin McDonagh, is a joint production from the Lyric Theatre and Prime Cut. In keeping with McDonagh’s other works, for example the Beauty Queen of Leenane, it is a work which deals with many uncomfortable themes, set as it is in a totalitarian society and dealing with the individual’s right to be creative in an oppressive society which restricts freedom of expression. There is humour in the play, too. Although it is very black humour. It will give you plenty to think about and to discuss with your friends. At Sightlines we hope you enjoy the show which is in Three Acts. The first two acts take place before the interval. We certainly found the experience very thought provoking.
Cast
Ariel is played by Stephen Calvert. He is a well built tall man with narrow blue eyes a fine nose a pointed chin and slicked back dark brown hair. He wears dark green trousers a white shirt with rolled up sleeves and a gun holster strapped to his back.
Tupolski is played by Abigail McGibbon. She is a large woman, big and fat, with long blonde hair, a plump round face, blue almond shaped eyes and a wide mouth. She wears green trousers with a green waistcoat over and a white long-sleeved shirt beneath, indicating it is some kind of a uniform when combined with regulation black flat shoes.
Katurian is a slim figure, slightly bent. He has short darkish hair and a lean faceHe wears a grey top over a whitish shirt with grey trousers beneath. His dress looks quite uncared for and his feet are bare. Keith Singleton plays Katurian.
David Murphy takes the part of Michal, Katurian’s brother. In contrast to his brother he is a solid chunky figure with a square face, wide apart eyes and a broad mouth. His brown hair is receding from his forehead. He wears orange trousers, a brown and cream check shirt with an orange body warmer over
The Mother is played by Rosie McClelland. She is an upright slender figure with long, straight, dark hair an oval face, wide apart, large brown eyes under fine eyebrows a wide mouth and noble nose. In the second act she wears a waisted, full skirted black and white dress, with cap sleeves and high heeled black shoes. In the final act she appears in a strange full length witch- like robe of tatters which emphasises her slenderness, making her appear almost like a stick figure.
The Father is played by Jude Quinn. He is a tall, very thin figure with a narrow face, wide apart eyes and a thin mouth. His dark hair is receding from his forehead. When he first appears he is wearing a sweater patterned with large diamond checks and grey trousers. In the final act he wears a similar outfit to the mother. A long tattered robe in greys emphasises his almost spectral appearance and adds to the evil fairy tale quality of his part.
The Girl is a small slight figure with a faintly plump baby face and small rounded features, a small nose and full mouth, almond shaped brown eyes and long straight brown hair. She wears an Alice in Wonderland type dress, tight in at the waist and with a very full, stiff skirt. The Girls is played by Erin Barry or by Amelia Skillen. Both girls are ten years old and similar in appearance.
The Set
The play begins in the interrogation room. It is a bare room with a large, old fashioned decrepit doorway up two wide shallow steps on the left. In the centre of the room is a table on which are laid out a variety of papers, folders books and a box file. Behind the table, placed centrally is a basic chair and another institutional type chair is placed to the right of the table. The table is set on a platform made of blocks which fit together and at each corner of the rectangular platform strong hawsers reach up to the ceiling. At certain points in the play the platform is raised up by the hawsers taking the table and its papers as well as the chairs with it. One block, slightly to the left of the table is detached from the main platform and remains in position on the stage. Katurian is often standing on this block while the rest of the platform is lifted high above him. in the dark an empty door frame is placed right back and two single beds also appear. The bed on the left is covered with a bright striped counterpane and seems to be made up. The other bed to the right is covered with a grey bedspread and a grey pillow is evident. This bed looks as though something could be concealed under the cover.
The play is directed by Emma Jordan who has wanted to direct it since reading it when it first appeared, Ciaran Bagnall designed the set and the lighting with Rosie McClelland responsible for the costumes and Carl Kennedy designing the sound.
Don’t forget you can download all the programme notes for the coming shows from www.nisightlines.co.uk Enjoy.
Cast
Ariel is played by Stephen Calvert. He is a well built tall man with narrow blue eyes a fine nose a pointed chin and slicked back dark brown hair. He wears dark green trousers a white shirt with rolled up sleeves and a gun holster strapped to his back.
Tupolski is played by Abigail McGibbon. She is a large woman, big and fat, with long blonde hair, a plump round face, blue almond shaped eyes and a wide mouth. She wears green trousers with a green waistcoat over and a white long-sleeved shirt beneath, indicating it is some kind of a uniform when combined with regulation black flat shoes.
Katurian is a slim figure, slightly bent. He has short darkish hair and a lean faceHe wears a grey top over a whitish shirt with grey trousers beneath. His dress looks quite uncared for and his feet are bare. Keith Singleton plays Katurian.
David Murphy takes the part of Michal, Katurian’s brother. In contrast to his brother he is a solid chunky figure with a square face, wide apart eyes and a broad mouth. His brown hair is receding from his forehead. He wears orange trousers, a brown and cream check shirt with an orange body warmer over
The Mother is played by Rosie McClelland. She is an upright slender figure with long, straight, dark hair an oval face, wide apart, large brown eyes under fine eyebrows a wide mouth and noble nose. In the second act she wears a waisted, full skirted black and white dress, with cap sleeves and high heeled black shoes. In the final act she appears in a strange full length witch- like robe of tatters which emphasises her slenderness, making her appear almost like a stick figure.
The Father is played by Jude Quinn. He is a tall, very thin figure with a narrow face, wide apart eyes and a thin mouth. His dark hair is receding from his forehead. When he first appears he is wearing a sweater patterned with large diamond checks and grey trousers. In the final act he wears a similar outfit to the mother. A long tattered robe in greys emphasises his almost spectral appearance and adds to the evil fairy tale quality of his part.
The Girl is a small slight figure with a faintly plump baby face and small rounded features, a small nose and full mouth, almond shaped brown eyes and long straight brown hair. She wears an Alice in Wonderland type dress, tight in at the waist and with a very full, stiff skirt. The Girls is played by Erin Barry or by Amelia Skillen. Both girls are ten years old and similar in appearance.
The Set
The play begins in the interrogation room. It is a bare room with a large, old fashioned decrepit doorway up two wide shallow steps on the left. In the centre of the room is a table on which are laid out a variety of papers, folders books and a box file. Behind the table, placed centrally is a basic chair and another institutional type chair is placed to the right of the table. The table is set on a platform made of blocks which fit together and at each corner of the rectangular platform strong hawsers reach up to the ceiling. At certain points in the play the platform is raised up by the hawsers taking the table and its papers as well as the chairs with it. One block, slightly to the left of the table is detached from the main platform and remains in position on the stage. Katurian is often standing on this block while the rest of the platform is lifted high above him. in the dark an empty door frame is placed right back and two single beds also appear. The bed on the left is covered with a bright striped counterpane and seems to be made up. The other bed to the right is covered with a grey bedspread and a grey pillow is evident. This bed looks as though something could be concealed under the cover.
The play is directed by Emma Jordan who has wanted to direct it since reading it when it first appeared, Ciaran Bagnall designed the set and the lighting with Rosie McClelland responsible for the costumes and Carl Kennedy designing the sound.
Don’t forget you can download all the programme notes for the coming shows from www.nisightlines.co.uk Enjoy.
