The Anniversary: A Black Comedy by Bill MacIlwraith, Greenwich, London
29 October 2008: The Anniversary: A Black Comedy by Bill MacIlwraith
You're invited round to Mum's living room in The Anniversary by Bill MacIlwraith to celebrate her wedding anniversary with the rest of her family. Nothing too strange about that – except her husband has been dead for several years. Come along and wit
Ever wondered what it might have been like to live with one of theatre's evil mothers? From Medea to Gypsy, Carrie, Marie Christine and Mommie Dearest theatre and film audiences have always been mesmerized by overbearing mums. Now you have a chance to meet one of them.
You're invited round to Mum's living room in The Anniversary by Bill MacIlwraith to celebrate her wedding anniversary with the rest of her family. Nothing too strange about that – except her husband has been dead for several years. Come along and witness this evil, charming woman as she vilifies all those around her, especially her three sons. Be warned – you'll be in for an evening of delicious comedy and toe curling embarrassment.
The lead role of Mum has previously been played by such stars as Sheila Hancock, Bette Davis and, originally, Mona Washbourne. Now Ellen Sheean will be taking up the talons of possibly the theatre's most feared mother in this deliciously dark comedy.
Ellen has worked with a variety of well known companies and directors including several lead roles with The Citizens' Theatre in Glasgow. During the course of many years in the profession Ellen has gathered several funny anecdotes – a couple of which have been included below.
Following their successful production of A Christmas Carol last year, Flat Pack Productions return to the Greenwich Playhouse to collaborate with director Joseph C. Walsh.
Additional information
Please find attached a pdf version of the press release, and a low resolution production shot.
For further details about the production, cast and company visit our website where there are further high and low resolution images available to download:
www.flatpackproductions.com
Production: The Anniversary by Bill MacIlwraith
Director: Joseph C. Walsh
Dates: 14th October to 9th November 2008
Tuesday to Saturday @ 7.30pm, Sunday @ 4.00pm
Press night: Thursday 16th October 2008 @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £12.00 and £10.00 (concs.)
Box Office: [number available to members only] 256
[email address available to members only]
Venue: Greenwich Playhouse
Greenwich Station Forecourt, London SE10 8JA
Quotes and Anecdotes
Joseph C. Walsh: As a director it is a rare privilege to be able to work on a piece that is so taut and beautifully constructed. Bill MacIlwraith has written a masterpiece that is dark, shocking, moving and extremely funny. The play works because it examines the universal struggle of family dynamics and exaggerates them.
Ellen Sheean: Interview with Susan Mansfield, The Scotsman, October 2002
She was a "star-struck slave" at a summer theatre in Massachusetts, when Marlon Brando and Jessica Tandy arrived to put on A Streetcar Named Desire. "I was absolutely hopeless at almost everything. In lighting I was a disaster. I once sat on the lighting board and there was a total black-out just as the star came on. So I was always on wardrobe. Brando was in his 30s, the most beautiful man I had ever seen in my entire life. Everyone was absolutely transfixed. I expressed my love by washing all his clothes all the time and ironing them very, very carefully. He was very courteous and eventually he came to me and said ‘I'm playing Stanley Kowalski, I don't need a starched T-shirt!'"
"Hermione Gingold drove me mad. She was a terrible tease. She had apparently been refused admission to RADA, and someone told her I was going, so she couldn't have been nastier to me. She told me she needed to have her underwear washed in Indian tonic water, which isn't that easy to find in a small town in Pennsylvania. Of course it was a complete tease, she was just making my life hell."
Previous reviews: A Christmas Carol, Flat Pack Productions, Dec. 2007 to Jan. 2008
"Book your ticket today. It really is worth it."
The Stage
"it's by far the best version of the story I have seen"
Macela Olivares, indieLondon
"An excellent dramatisation of Dickens' classic ....... you can only enjoy it"
Richard Woulfe, UK Theatre Network
OUTeverywhere member organiser
This event has been added to the OUTeverywhere calendar by Joe W from Greenwich in the London area.
Met some nice guys who were out for a few drinks from this site so thought I would join. I love going to the theatre, enjoy the cinema and nice chats in pubs. Am a fun-loving and interesting guy. Looking to broaden my circle of friends and maybe meet some new mates to go to theatre, cinema, explore the city or just have a pint and a laugh with. Originally from Boston came here
More details are available to members
Become a member of our gay social networking website and membership organisation: you'll be able to enjoy this great event on 29 October. Get in touch with the people who will be going:
Already a member? Find out who's going. Click quickfind:366385; otherwise click to sign up to OUTeverywhere and start chatting to more gay people.
Other similar events coming soon
When you become a member, you'll discover how easy it is to create and promote your own events and to feel like the hub of social activity in your area! Read about our events and see what our members say about OUTeverywhere.
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 25/11/08 | Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis | Brockley |
| Wed 26/11/08 | Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis | Brockley |
| Wed 26/11/08 | The PINK POODLE CLUB - Soho GAY STAND-UP COMEDY- Free Guestlist for OutEverywhere Members | London |
| Thu 27/11/08 | Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis | Brockley |
| Fri 28/11/08 | Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis | Brockley |
| Sat 29/11/08 | Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis | Brockley |
| Sat 29/11/08 | South East London Coffee Posse | Greenwich |
| Wed 03/12/08 | Theatrically Bent III | London |
| Sat 06/12/08 | Listen to My Heart: The Songs of David Friedman | London |
| Sat 06/12/08 | Listen to My Heart: The Songs of David Friedman | London |
| Sun 14/12/08 | 'Instant Opera Co' - Birmingham's Gay Opera Group | Digbeth, Birmingham |
| Sun 28/12/08 | 'Instant Opera Co' - Birmingham's Gay Opera Group | Digbeth, Birmingham |
| Sun 01/02/09 | Singalonga Sound of Music @ Bristol | Bristol |
Link to this event information from your own site
Click on the code in the box then copy and paste it into your own HTML web page document. This will create a link to this event information from your own website.
Enjoy more great events like The Anniversary: A Black Comedy by Bill MacIlwraith
Imagine joining a social network of people from all around the country and see how you'll feel a year from today. You're increasing your circle of friends. You're doing more of the stuff you enjoy. You're having a great time meeting new people in your area. You're seeing all the benefits of becoming a member of OUTeverywhere. It still feels great making new friends and every day you're hearing more and more about the stuff that everyone's doing. You're joining in. Now, that was easy, wasn't it?
We make meeting people easy. Click to sign up to OUTeverywhere and get up and do something different!
- Our member website puts you in touch with everyone online right now and our free trial gives you unlimited access to everything.
- You'll have a better chance of making new friends and meeting a diverse range of people on your wavelength and away from the gay scene.
- You'll meet other people sharing your interests online and at great social events organised by members all over the UK each year. We'll even provide you with all the advice and resources you need to organise and promote your own event.
- We're unique in trying to make a real and enduring difference in redefining gay social interaction and promoting an ideal that is not based on equating a non-straight sexuality with finding quick and easy sex.
- We strive to provide a safe relaxed atmosphere where gay people are able to interact without fear or prejudice to make genuine lasting relationships.
PLEASE NOTE: Events are listed on this website on behalf of organisers in accordance with the Terms of Membership of OUTeverywhere and only if they have chosen broad publicity when adding their event to the Member Events calendar. As such, events are not necessarily affiliated to or endorsed by OUTeverywhere and may not be organised by the person who has listed the event: the person listing this event may simply be attending an event organised by another person or organisation and may wish to meet other people sharing their interest in the event. The mention or appearance of any person or organisation featured on these pages is not to be taken as any indication of sexual, social or political orientation of such persons or organisations. We cannot guarantee that the information is accurate and recommend that you always seek to contact the organiser directly to confirm full details of any event. Under no circumstances will we be responsible for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on, use or misuse of, the information on this website.
Our Vision | Our Team | Privacy Policy | Identity Theft Protection | Terms of Membership
