Mary Rose by J M Barrie

Adapted and directed by Angie Millard

Our Press Officer, Steve Pratt caught up with director Angie Millard, ahead of the opening performance of Mary Rose.

One of York’s newest stage companies York Actors Collective make their debut at York Theatre Royal in the Studio with a revival of the J M Barrie drama Mary Rose from 30 October to 2 November.

YAC was formed by a group of like-minded actors in York whose aim is to produce entertaining and thought-provoking theatre.

The company’s first production was Joe Orton’s black comedy Entertaining Mr Sloane, followed by a change of mood with Beyond Caring, a gritty improvisational piece about zero hours contracts. Both were staged at Theatre@41 in York.

Mary Rose by J M Barrie, the author of Peter Pan and Quality Street, explores a very different world. As director Angie Millard explains: “In the play Mary Rose, Barrie uses dimensions of time to great effect. His treatment of love, loss and unwavering hope draws in an audience and gives it universality. I have adapted the script to appeal to modern thinking but his themes are intact”.

The dates of the production in the Studio couldn’t be more appropriate as they include Halloween on October 31. “The strange and ghostly atmosphere of the play fits beautifully into the autumn slot which includes Halloween and is a time for considering other worldliness,” says Angie.

“I have wanted to direct Mary Rose for many years as it was a favourite if my mother’s and I wanted York Actors Collective to produce something with a lot of theatrical effects, a contrast to what we have done before”.

In the cast of the YAC production cast are Beryl Nairn, Chris Pomfrett, Tony Freud, Victoria Delaney, Clare Halliday, Xandra Logan, Joe Gregory and Joy Warner.

Mary Rose first opened in London at the Haymarket Theatre in April 1920, running until February the following year. Fay Compton played Mary Rose, a role written for her by Barrie. The play opened in New York on Broadway, running at the Empire Theatre for four months with Ruth Chatterton as Mary Rose.

A 1972 production by Manchester’s 69 Theatre Company starred American actress Mia Farrow. At one time movie director Alfred Hitchcock planned to turn the play into a movie.

Mary Rose is at York Theatre Royal, 30 October-2 November.

Find out more information and book your tickets here.

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A ‘strange and ghostly’ production from York Actors Collective

Mary Rose by J M Barrie

Adapted and directed by Angie Millard