Venue: Main House
Date: Fri 05 Oct - Sat 27 Oct
Time: 7.30pm (with 2pm Thu and 2.30pm Sat matinees)
Produced by: York Theatre Royal and Vroom Productions
Written by: Susan Watkins
Directed by: Damian Cruden
Designed by: Joanna Scotcher
Lighting: Richard G Jones
Sound: John Leonard
Musical Director and Arranger: Christopher Madin
Reviews
Mon 08 Oct 2012
Written by Steve Pratt
Two visionary and inspirational men from the world of medicine are at the heart of York Theatre Royal’s premiere of The Guinea Pig Club.
Thu 11 Oct 2012
Written by Helen Cadbury
The Guinea Pig Club opens in an empty Second World War hangar. Over the course of the evening, this space is filled with the extraordinary story of Archibald McIndoe (played with warmth by Graham Hawley), a pioneering plastic surgeon, and the airmen whose lives he saved.
Fri 12 Oct 2012
Written by Will Ramsey
Susan Watkins has described it as the “miracle of ward three”. And while the playwright’s drama doesn’t shirk from the horrors of war, it creates something glorious and transformative in its telling of one man’s determination to help those scarred by battle.
Fri 12 Oct 2012
Written by Ellie, Hannah, Phoebe, Chris and Jessica
The Guinea Pig Club is a truly unique piece based on the saddening and yet uplifting story of the disfigured RAF pilots of World War II.
Fri 12 Oct 2012
Written by Julia Pattison
Every journey begins with the first step, and this latest production presented by York Theatre Royal shows how a remarkable man, Sir Archibald McIndoe, inspired patients who had little hope of survival, to take not only their first step towards connecting with the outside world, but to make great strides too.
Fri 12 Oct 2012
Written by Julian Cole
You Do wonder what sort of a play this might be, on hearing that it concerns disfigured Second World War airmen and the pioneering surgeon whose work to heal these men, body, soul and sexual libido, took him and them beyond the very edge of what was considered the proper ways of doing things.
Fri 12 Oct 2012
Written by Mark Smith
The Guinea Pig Club was formed in June 1941 among patients treated at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead for extreme burns and other potentially critical injuries resulting from plane crashes and malfunctions. This play sets out to tell the remarkable story of a group of these patients and the surgeon, Archibald McIndoe, whose techniques revolutionised not just the medical field but also the lives of so many wounded men.
Mon 15 Oct 2012
Written by
This thoughtful and clever play is based on a true story about a revolutionary surgeon and the unorthodox way he transformed his patients’ lives.
Mon 15 Oct 2012
Written by Elisabeth Shuker
Susan Watkins began writing The Guinea Pig Club after she met one of Sir Archibald McIndoe’s ‘Guinea Pigs’. McIndoe was an experimental reconstructive plastic surgeon during the Second World War who treated victims of war with serious burn injuries. Watkin’s play presents not only the physical achievements of McIndoe, but also captures the essence of the pain, desperation and eventual hope that the patients, known as the Guinea Pigs, experienced.
Mon 15 Oct 2012
Written by Lauren Masterman
The remarkable story of Dr. Archibald McIndoe and his Guinea Pig Club may have originally provided a mere side-plot to the events of World War II but this autumn York Theatre Royal has given the astonishing tale of pain, hope and humanity the recognition it deserves with this brave performance.
Wed 17 Oct 2012
Written by Kate Bull
The Guinea Pig Club, written by Susan Watkins, premiered this week at York Theatre Royal. Based on a true story, the play follows the story of a pioneering plastic surgeon during the World War II. Archibald McIndoe applied dexterity and care to the burned and crippled bodies of RAF pilots who were wounded in action, and training exercises.As Dr Ludwig Guttmann refused to give up on his paralysed patients at Stoke Newington, the Sussex town of East Grinstead was populated with wounded pilots who were encouraged to continue to live in the outside world, rather than hide away with (and behind) their battle scars.
Wed 17 Oct 2012
Written by Emma Cawthorne
The Guinea Pig Club was an amazing and thought provoking piece of theatre which portrayed the characters realistically and convincingly, therefore allowing the audience to empathise with the situations. The fact that it was a true story meant also that the audience connected with the story and as a result, much of those watching the play felt emotionally involved- particularly the elderly who were more likely to have had experiences with the war.
Thu 18 Oct 2012
Written by Eve Winterburn
Bold and brash a play of conflicts and surprises with touches of humour and the spirit of war time, The Guinea Pig Club written by Susan Watkins lands at York Theatre Royal deftly directed by Damian Cruden and warmly received by Wednesdays audience.
Fri 19 Oct 2012
Written by Alfred Hickling
Damian Cruden's production expertly recreates the camaraderie of the ward, though Graeme Hawley's McIndoe emerges as a deeply conflicted character – a caustic Kiwi whose fondness for mind games and whose...
Mon 22 Oct 2012
Written by Steve Pratt
How pleasing to report that The Guinea Pig Club – the story of the maverick surgeon who pioneered the treatment of badly burnt Second World War air crews – succeeds on all counts.
Tue 23 Oct 2012
Written by Clare Brennan
Writer Susan Watkins's debut drama about the second world war pilots who became the "guinea pigs" for innovative plastic surgeon Archibald McIndoe delivers a great story in a deceptively simple and direct style, economically conveyed through Damian Cruden's incisive direction.
Wed 24 Oct 2012
Written by Tim Walker
This play about the plastic surgery given to injured RAF pilots in the Second World War is a compelling celebration of the human spirit
At the outset of World War II cosmetic surgeon Archibald McIndoe - whose expertise in fashioning the noses of starlets brings him fame but not fulfillment - must abandon plans for retirement to pioneer the most challenging procedures in surgical history, including the complete reconstruction of the human face. His new group of patients: the savagely burned fighter pilots and aircrew who helped to thwart the German invasion of Britain.
But McIndoe soon discovers that all his efforts in the operating theatre are futile unless he can also save the shattered man behind the face. ‘For what good is a face without a man – a whole man?’ This then becomes his mission - and his own salvation.
Emotions run the gamut from poignant to hilarious while challenging our attitudes towards beauty and its relevance to success.
"a moving and funny play which stands as a hymn to the glories of stubborn humanity"
"Watkins’ drama deserves multiple viewings."
"this production is well worth a visit"
"The power of this true story is immense"
"tells a story that needed to be told, very well indeed”
"infused with humour… beautifully paced and visually stunning"
"Stefano Braschi's performance is raw and heart-breaking"
"triumphant characterisation"
"The cast were given a well-deserved standing ovation at the end of the performance; this is a play not to be missed."
Related News
Wed 07 Nov 2012
Hosting the world premier of Susan Watkins’ The Guinea Pig Club led to York Theatre Royal becoming a beacon for Formula One greats this October.
Wed 24 Oct 2012
The Telegraph awarded 5 stars to The Guinea Pig Club at the weekend to add to the collection of positive national newspaper reviews that the production has garnered, including ones from The Guardian and The Observer. This week sees the final perfomances, so don't miss out!
Tue 23 Oct 2012
In part I of the Exploring York Theatre Royal series, the first act of the theatre’s history was played out as naughty nuns and innovative thespians set the stage for York Theatre Royal’s beginnings. Now, as we move deeper into the theatre, it’s time to lay aside the medieval history textbooks and turn our attention to the nitty gritty world of acting and performance. For away from the bright lights of the stage, a whole myriad of spaces and hide-outs open up, riddled with the history of theatre .
Mon 15 Oct 2012
From The Telegraph: Sir Jackie Stewart joins the RAF airmen who were badly burnt during the war at a special performance of Susan Watkins's inspiring play, The Guinea Pig Club
Thu 11 Oct 2012
Fiona spoke to YorkMix about The Guinea Pig Club, her television roles and her acting heroes.
Tue 09 Oct 2012
Second World War glider pilot, Dr Sandy Saunders, was the guest of honour at the premiere of a play about the plastic surgeon who helped transform his life.
Mon 08 Oct 2012
A blog post from our Assistant Director on the opening night of the show.
Fri 05 Oct 2012
Fresh from directing The York Mystery Plays, Damian Cruden is now in his fifteenth year at York Theatre Royal. Whats On Stage caught up with him during rehearsals for a new play by Susan Watkins. Interview by Sue Casson.
Mon 01 Oct 2012
Things are hotting up as we move into the last few days before opening. Hear the news from the inside with Ruby...
Mon 01 Oct 2012
During rehearsals the cast of upcoming the Main House show spoke to a member of the actual Guinea Pig Club in a visit to a local Air base. Here they speak of the experience and of the production
Mon 01 Oct 2012
Whilst Marlowe’s hapless Doctor Faustus may have seen a sticky and unfortunate end for his dangerous dealings with Lucifer, actor Graeme Hawley seems to have got off pretty lightly with his brush with the devil. For the former Coronation Street star thankfully bears no traces of the devilish alter-ego that has stalked him throughout this summer as he nightly performed the arduous tasks of damning mankind and battling with God, transformed into the ultimate baddy, Satan, for the York Mystery Plays 2012.
Mon 24 Sep 2012
Hear how rehearsals are going from Ruby, our Assistant Director on The Guinea Pig Club. Last week saw the first run through of the play.
Wed 19 Sep 2012
The third instalment from our Assistant Director, Ruby, after the first week of rehearsals.
Wed 12 Sep 2012
Second Blog from Ruby Clarke, Assistant Director of The Guinea Pig Club
Fri 07 Sep 2012
Ruby Clarke, Assistant Director on The Guinea Pig Club shares her experience of making a York Theatre Royal show.
Fri 07 Sep 2012
York Mystery Plays 2012 star Graeme Hawley is set for a speedy return to the City of York after landing the lead role of maverick plastic surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe in York Theatre Royal and Vroom Productions play The Guinea Pig Club.
Your Comments
Multimedia
Graeme Hawley and Damain Cruden take a break from rehearsals
The Guinea Pig Club Production images
Production Trailer
The Guinea Pig Club Rehearsal Photographs
The Guinea Pig Club read through at Yorkshire Air Museum
The Guinea Pig Club Rehearsal Video