Becket

The Barn Theatre, Southwick Community Centre

February 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 1970

Becket

by Jean Anouilh

Directed by
George Rawlins


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“Stunner!”
– Brighton & Hove Gazette -–

Cast

George Rawlins – King Henry of England

Barbara Moulton – Page

Rosalind Tripp – Page

John Rankin – 1st Sentry

Richard Porter – 2nd Sentry

Kenneth Wilson – 1st Monk

Anthony Deasey – 2nd Monk

S. Brown – 3rd Monk

H. Goldsmith – 4th Monk

David Creedon – Thomas Becket

Raymond Hopper – Servant to Henry

Wilfred Perkins – Archbishop of Canterbury

David Geere – Bishop of Oxford

Richard Nicholas – Bishop of York

Douglas Tucker – Gilbert Folliot, Bishop of London

Norman Hutchins – Saxon Father

Julie Morgan – Saxon Girl

Anthony Deasey – Saxon Son

Graham Loder – 1st Baron

Jack Bingham – 2nd Baron

Mike Donkin – 3rd Baron

Barrie Bowen – 4th Baron

Pat Coplan – Gwendolen

Caroline Creedon – French girl

David Peaty – Little Monk

Raymond Hopper – Provost Marshall

Richard James – William of Corbeil

Elizabeth Penney – Queen Mother

Margaret Ockenden – Young Queen

Stephen Moulton – Prince Henry

Neil Shepherd – French Priest

Stephen Brand – French choir boy

Ralph Dawes – King Louis of France

Wilfred Perkins – 1st French Baron

Norman Hutchins – 2nd French Baron

Raymond Hopper – Arundel

Roy Davidson – The Pope

Neil Shepherd – A Cardinal

Members of the Company – Crowd

Production Crew

Assistant DirectorGeorge Porter

DesignersTeddy Morison, Barrie Bowen

Stage ManagerBrian Moulton

Assistant Stage ManagerSusan Brown

PropertiesMargaret Perrett

LightingFrank Hurrell, Ken Parsons

Sound EffectsTerry Mase

WardrobeCarol Brand

WardrobeMorfydd Bowen

Decor and PropertiesBess Blagden

Decor and PropertiesJanet Leaney

Production SecretaryJean Porter

Music ComposerPatrick Johnson

Programme Note: Becket

“Nearly 800 years ago Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral – whether at the direct instigation of Henry ll has never been decided. At the beginning of their association, Becket and the King shared the closest possible friendship, but later, when he had become Archbishop, Becket’s loyalty was to the Church and not the Crown.
Anouilh’s play, in the English translation, does not pretend to be historically accurate, but shows the development and later the destruction of their friendship between the two powerful personalities – Henry, a man of passion and Becket a man of principle, two men who differed only in their definition of loyalty.

The action takes place between 1156 and 1172. It moves from the Cathedral at Canterbury, through the English palaces and forests, to the French countryside, the Court of Louis of France, the Pope’s temporary palace at Sens, and back to England and Canterbury. The presentation of the play is continuous, with no intervals between scenes, and it is hoped that the fusion of colour, light and music will, together create ‘an experience that is entirely and only theatrical’.

George Rawlins, who directs tonight’s play, in which he appears as King Henry, is Drama Adviser to West Sussex County Council. Before taking up this post, he was Director of the Octagon at Bolton for eighteen months. The Octagon is famous for its very flexible layout. Under the direction of E. Martin Brown, George appeared as Henry in a touring production of Becket. He often reads the Morning Story on radio and is a teacher of mime, dance drama and drama. He adjudicates at many drama festivals.”